Fall Fabrics: Stretch Cotton Corduroy

*This fabric was gifted to me in exchange for review. All opinions and photographs in this post are my own. Please see the Sitka website for the best color rendering as it will vary in my photos.*

I had never sewn with corduroy before, and some vague childhood memories of uncomfortable corduroy garments were probably to blame. I took a chance on this fabric because the color looked so incredibly deep and because I thought some stretch may change my mind about comfort.

Sewing this was pretty much akin to sewing stretch velvet, but significantly more stable. I washed and machine- dried it, but the website recommends hang-drying (I will from now on, I promise.) You want to pre-shrink cottons, right.

Anyways, the fabric didn’t shed at all, and barely shrunk. I was able to squeeze two vintage McCall’s patterns out of about two and a half metres.

The skirt is McCall’s 5808 from 1977 and its a very classic a-line, button front, style. I can think of a million ways to style it! Patch pockets were added.

The jacket is a great “70’s Victorian revival” style, McCall’s 4177 from 1974. My copy is missing the instructions, so I had to go off-script a bit, but it is a simple unlined style with darts and cuffs. The hardware is from my thrifted stash of random findings.

I used bias tape to finish the jacket facing and hem, and invisible hand-stitched the hems and cuffs.

The pile of the corduroy is plush and warm, and the stretch was barely perceivable while I was sewing it, but the garments have no restrictions while I wear them and move around. It doesn’t get much better than that for me.