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The Avalie Top & Dress: Release & Tester Round Up
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Time to read 3 min
![Pattern Options](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/1_686885d1-4265-41ca-98a0-335738236f5d.jpg?v=1720706939)
A new pattern has made its way to PSCo! I don’t know about you, but I love versatility and this one delivers! Meet the Avalie top & dress!
Avalie is an exquisite combination of both beauty and comfort. The airy design combined with the clean, crisp feeling of woven fabric (or your favorite buttery knit) will leave you feeling indulged. Avalie creates a striking silhouette with a slightly fitted waist that is beautifully contrasted by flowing sleeves. A shirred waistband in the back bodice provides extra comfort and dressing ease. Back waist ties add interest, while the skirt options provide greater versatility and make Avalie the perfect choice for all occasions!
Avalie Options & Features
![avalie line drawings](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/Avalie_LineDrawing-Kids.jpg?v=1720700776)
Crop, Modest Crop, and Peplum Tops
Regular or Low (Adult only) Neckline
Short or Long Sleeves
Shirred or Elastic Waistband
Optional Waist Ties
Mini, Knee, & Midi Dress Lengths
Optional Front Slit for Midi Length
Optional Pockets for Dresses
![Pattern Options](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/4_aafa08c7-1bd4-46b4-80b1-c3f3205c27c0.jpg?v=1720990996)
![Pattern Options](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/5_7614daeb-b004-4bea-a335-a962c8722050.jpg?v=1720991049)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/copy-of-blog-banner-images-2024-5.png?v=1720706502)
Choosing Fabrics for Avalie
This versatile pattern lends itself well to both wovens and knits! Our fabulous testers used quite a variety of fabrics for their garments!
Before we take a look, let’s talk about how different fabrics will affect the fit. A garment made in a stretchy fabric is going to fit and hang more loosely than a garment made in a fabric with less or no stretch. For example, a rayon spandex knit is going to fit more loosely than a rayon woven.
Other factors to consider are the weight and drape of a fabric. Drape refers to how the fabric hangs on the body. A heavy fabric like wool will be more structured and stiff, lending itself best to more tailored garments, whereas a light weight chiffon will be very flowy and lay close to the body. There are also fabrics that fall in the middle that provide some structure but still drape well, like a cotton jersey knit.
Let’s look a little closer at fabric drape and some examples in each of these three categories.
- Low Drape: does not lay close to the body, hangs with large folds, stiff, provides structure, does not hold gathers well
Ex. denim, corduroy, wool, gabardine, quilting cotton
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Moderate Drape: provides versatility with both structure and drape
Ex. linen, cotton jersey knits, cotton lawn & voile, double gauze, scuba, chambray, french terry, cotton modal, tri-blend, ponte, liverpool
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High (Fluid) Drape: lays close to the body, hangs with small folds, fluid and flowy, gathers very well
Ex. rayon, bamboo, silk, chiffon, georgette, crepe, satin, charmeuse, double brushed poly, modal, ITY
Each of the fabrics will also vary in levels of drape within each category. For example, in the moderate category, a cotton jersey will usually have more drape than scuba. I hope this helps you when selecting fabrics for your next project.
For Avalie in particular, choose lighter weight fabrics with high-moderate to high drape, such as rayon, handkerchief linen, tencel, crepe, stable ribs, and double brushed poly. When choosing knits, be sure to select fabrics with excellent recovery.
As always, it is best practice to sew a muslin when making a pattern for the first time or using a different fabric base before using your good fabrics. The muslin should be made in a fabric similar to the final garment for the most accurate representation. Keep in mind that it may be necessary to make size adjustments if the fabric has a lot of stretch.
Now, let’s look at the many fabric bases our talented testers chose to use when sewing the Avalie Top & Dress Pattern.
![Avalie fabric collage](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/8_9484c557-84b7-47f5-bd5b-72a8665bc1bf.jpg?v=1720990340)
![Avalie fabric collage](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/9_df3eeb44-323e-4ddc-bff3-2c5c6e04b7b5.jpg?v=1720990400)
![Avalie fabric collage](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/7_9c638563-28a4-48e5-8e47-c104bb2246ac.jpg?v=1720990438)
![Avalie fabric collage](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/10_ec2bbb2b-ce36-4151-b0b1-162d4a91aed8.jpg?v=1720990515)
![Avalie fabric collage](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/6_a774bb9f-1bda-4168-be60-dff7576276a7.jpg?v=1720990588)
Patterns to Pair
Tester Round-Up
As always, we could not make these fabulous patterns without the help of our amazing tester team! We are so grateful for all their help making our visions come to life.
Let's take a look at all their gorgeous Avalie Tops & Dresses!
![Avalie tester round up collage](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/tester-roundup-1.jpg?v=1720706930)
![Avalie tester round up collage](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0632/0603/1582/files/tester-roundup-2.jpg?v=1720706944)
Frequently Asked Questions
What sizes ranges is Avalie available in?
The Avalie Top & Dress is available in both Kids (2T-17) and Adult (XXS-5X) sizing. The Adult version of Avalie includes cup sizing for A-G/H Cups (up to a +5" FBA).
What file formats are available for this pattern?
Like with all our newer patterns, you can enjoy A4/Print Pages, A0 File, and Projector formats.
The projector file for this pattern includes a 1" grid for easy calibration and unfolded/mirrored pieces!
What type of fabrics is Avalie drafted for?
Light weight woven fabrics such as handkerchief linen, rayon, challis, gauze, etc. Light weight knits with excellent recovery may be suitable as well, such as tri-blend, DBP, and stable ribs, but, a muslin is suggested before using your favorite fabrics.
What notions are needed for this pattern?
For the Kids and Adults version, woven or knit interfacing is needed for the neckline, depending on the fabric chosen. The waistband will need elastic thread for shirring or 1/4" elastic as an alternative. 3/8" elastic is used for the sleeve cuffs.