Lilac Bloom Viscose Print – Lightweight Drapey Dress Fabric

Lavender Bloom has big, soft flowers in lilac and purple, with smaller pale blue blossoms tucked between them and dark green leaves to ground it all. The petals blend into each other like watercolour, so the print is romantic and gentle, with enough depth in the greens to stop it looking too sweet. It’s the sort of floral that makes people ask where you got the fabric.

Why it’s a great summer fabric

Viscose is a natural choice for warm weather, and this one is light, soft and silky against the skin. It’s breathable, so it stays comfortable when the temperature rises, and the drape is fluid, so a dress or a pair of trousers skims the body and moves with you instead of clinging. Loose, flowing shapes let the air circulate, which is exactly what you want on a hot day. Lilac and blue look fresh and cool in the sun, and they suit weddings, garden parties and holidays.

What to make

• Dresses: wrap dresses, tea dresses, shirt dresses and maxi dresses
• Blouses and tops: relaxed shirts, camisoles and tie-neck tops
• Skirts: gathered, tiered and bias-cut styles that swish as you walk
• Trousers and jumpsuits: wide-leg trousers, culottes and jumpsuits

Sewing tips

• Wash gently before cutting, as viscose can shrink
• Choose a fine, sharp needle and a medium stitch length
• Neaten seams to stop fraying, with French seams, an overlocker, a zigzag stitch or bias binding
• Press on a low heat from the reverse, with a pressing cloth if you have one

• Width: 140cm/55" (approx)
• Composition: 100% Viscose
• Fabric Type: Viscose
• Colour: Purple

✔Machine washable at 30°C or lower, on a gentle cycle
✔Wash with similar colours
✔Do not use bleach
✔Do not tumble dry
✔Dry flat or line dry in the shade
✔Iron on a low heat, on the reverse
✔Always test a small sample first to check your preferred washing method

Viscose is made from plant-based cellulose, and this fabric is made to be worn and washed for years. Choosing a well-made fabric with a timeless floral, and caring for it gently, helps your handmade wardrobe last.