Pattern Play: When Your Favorite Fabric is Sold Out

Like any other store, Mood sells out. It’s always a bummer when a beautiful fabric you’ve had your eye on for the past year ends up sold out, especially when you’ve already got plans for it (I’m looking at you, designer closeouts). When a fabric we’ve used for a pattern sells out, that doesn’t mean the pattern is no longer viable, though! That’s when it’s time to find a fabric thesaurus and adapt. Here is a list of Mood’s fabulous patterns that feature fabric that has sold out, or almost sold out, and what changes you can make to create them with different fabrics.

1. The Geranium Coat

Shavonne absolutely crushed the Geranium Coat. She looked so Fierce, I need to capitalize the F because she looks too good for lower case compliments. Featuring a full lining and some well-placed pockets, the Geranium Coat is perfect for heading to brunch on a blustery spring day or throwing on over your party dress before heading to the evening’s events. Originally, Shavonne used a stunning African print (describing an African print as stunning is redundant because all of them are stunning), which of course sold out like hot cakes and while it’s occasionally back in stock, it never stays that way for long. Cotton canvas and cotton sateen would be two really good, durable alternatives to the African print. I’m particularly fond of Chanel’s original style, so I’d love to see the Geranium Coat in a tweed, particularly this beautiful Italian Green and Blue Wool Tweed, paired with black wide-leg pants and the Rosa Blouse in gold!

2. The Gardenia Skirt

When I saw Brittany wearing the Gardenia Skirt, it immediately invoked images of a tawdry paperback novel you’d find in an airport about a young woman who murdered her husband for money and fled the country with the Gardner, who is clearly based on Fabio, to live out their days on the Amalfi coast. I live for this aesthetic, to be honest, and although the fabric (the lovely Mood’s Exclusive Persephone’s Bouquet Black Stretch Cotton Sateen) isn’t sold out, I have a couple of other fabrics in mind if Brittany needs to go into hiding for a little while. I think the Gardenia Skirt would be absolutely beautiful in pleather, paired with a matching pleather bralette and some very high heels. I’d also love to see it in velour, but that would require some minor adjustments. Since the Gardenia Skirt is made for a woven fabric, you would need to size the pattern down slightly and omit the zipper. Lately, lace has been everywhere on the runway, so I think the Gardenia Skirt would be lovely as a lace overlay, worn over a slip skirt and paired with a leather moto jacket.

3. The Forsythia Jeans

Courtney gave off some SERIOUS seventies vibes in the Forsythia Jeans, and I fear I’ll be losing her as a coworker soon when she runs off with a Fleetwood Mac cover band named something like Fleetwood Mac and Cheese. High waisted with flared legs and some fabulous buttons instead of a zipper, the Forsythia Jeans are the perfect addition to any wardrobe. Although jeans are traditionally denim, I think these would be really cool in linen for a summer style, or wool suiting for the winter. For a style that transcends the seasons, the Forsythia Jeans could be made from cotton sateen, especially Mood’s Exclusive La Fortuna de lo Memorable Green Cotton Poplin from the Avenable Collection.

4. The D’Arcy Bralette

The D’Arcy Bralette utilized a lovely stretch lace, and dare I say, that dress form looked particularly pretty in the rich green textile. For a more athleisure style, the D’arcy bralette would be well-made from jersey or tricot. To dress it up as more of a lingerie piece, an embroidered mesh would be perfect for the D’arcy bralette.

5. The Petunia Romper

In the Petunia Romper, Brittany gave more of a beach babe vibe, as opposed to her fugitive-chic style in the Gardenia Skirt. Another pattern, another African print I should’ve bought as soon as I saw it but now it’s gone and I’m left looking desperately for something as stunning. Probably another African print, to be fair. But, a cotton sateen would also look lovely, in a rich floral print or even a solid. Twill would also be nice, as it would hold structure well. The Petunia Romper is definitely a summer style, but it can also be transformed for boudoir use by using a silk charmeuse, giving it a more lingerie-esque look.

6. The Olea Maternity Shirt

The Olea Maternity Shirt was glowing on Nakya, but the lovely striped cotton chambray came full term and has left Mood’s shelves forever. The cotton chambray could be replaced beautifully by a cotton voile or even a poplin. For a delicate, summery style, linen would be great for the Olea Maternity Shirt!

7. The Lunaria Dress

The Lunaria Dress is one of my favorites (which is also redundant because I’m obsessed with every Mood pattern ever made). Hannah looked ready for anything in the classic shirt dress, professional and pretty. I think a shirting would be really good for this pattern, as shirting has a nice stiffness about it. Poplin is another good alternative, especially since it is slightly more wrinkle-resistant and easier to iron. The Lunaria Dress is lovely, and if made from satin, it would make a stunning cocktail dress.

8. The Hyacinth Gown

I don’t know many people who could rock a chainmail gown, but Tina looked absolutely beautiful in the Hyacinth Gown. Although Mood has definitely not sold out of chainmail (and I pray they never do), making a chainmail gown is intimidating and it would be a shame if someone decided not to make it because they were unsure of what fabric to use. Both silk charmeuse and silk satin would be absolutely lovely, as they cling to the skin and drape perfectly. I also think lace would be lovely, with a short slip underneath for a couture, Alberta Ferretti style evening gown.

9. The Aralia Shawl

Now that I’ve realized Courtney is definitely leaving for Fleetwood Mac and Cheese, I almost hate the Aralia Shawl because it’s clearly when she realized her potential to become the millennial Stevie Nicks, prancing around in this showstopping shawl and empowering woman around the world. But, I can’t hate something so beautiful. To keep with the Stevie Nicks style that Courtney has cultivated, an embroidered mesh or cotton voile would be perfect in recreating the Aralia Shawl. For an Aralia Shawl that’s more evening-wear than concert-ready, the Aralia shawl could be made from silk charmeuse, and maybe a lovely rhinestone trim.

10. The Achillea Coat

There she is again, ruling the world in dramatic fashion. Courtney in the Achillea Coat gives me life, and the color palette is lovely. The lining is definitely the show stopper in the original Achillea Coat, but for a statement piece all the way through, jacquard would be perfect. This Silver and Black Landscape Jacquard would make an AMAZING coat, but Courtney isn’t allowed to have it because then she’ll definitely leave for Fleetwood Mac and Cheese. A tweed or wool coating would work great, too, especially for a warm winter garment.

11. The Begonia Jacket

The Begonia Jacket gives me some serious thirties vibes, and Hannah wore it beautifully paired with black jeans and a basic black shirt. Any jacquard would be ideal for the Begonia, but I think a sateen would also be just darling! For a really retro look, I would fashion this fabulous jacket out of tweed.

12. The Xyris Dress

Brittany transitions into a video game goddess with the Xyris Dress, looking like the main character in a dystopian city as she attempts to take back the world, one chic ensemble at a time. This dress is super cute and would be great made of twill and paired with a little black dress underneath. For a lighter, summertime style, I would utilize a floral cotton poplin, like Mood’s Exclusive Libertad de Excelencia Hot Coral Cotton Poplin. For a more upscale style, I would love to redo this dress in lace, worn over a silver slip dress, ideal for attending a summer wedding.

13. The Cassia Skirt

Holly is the cutest leopard in the jungle, and I’m in love with her style for the Cassia Skirt! The Brown and Black Leopard Printed Faux Fur Backed by Faux Leather isn’t sold out yet, but it is a closeout (so if you’re loving this exact skirt, you might want to snatch up some fabric ASAP). But, the simple shape of the Cassia Skirt is so perfect, I think it would be really lovely made up of suede or wool tweed. I love that Shavonne utilized both the face and wrong side of the fabric, so I also would love to see the Cassia Skirt made up of the Bonded Velvet and Shearling Fleece.

14. The Hibiscus Robe

Brittany may have been the widow on the run, but Shahla in the Hibiscus Robe is the widow who isn’t going anywhere. She looks like a 1930s screen siren, fake tears running down her face as her late husband’s estate passes down to her, no Gardner in sight, Clark Gable comforting her in her time of… need. The lovely Red and Black Ombre Silk Charmeuse that Courtney used to create this amazing look is still in stock, but I love the idea of this robe being made up of cotton voile, perfect for lounging on a Parisian terrace in the middle of summer. The Hibiscus Robe would be excellent made up of mesh or embroidered lace, paired with a pink slip dress and some slippers with marabou feather trim on top.

15. The Ash Pants

The Ash Pants, who were those modeled by again? So charming, so stylish, so pretty. Well, whoever she is, she looks like a professor at a top college, like a beautiful English professor and all the students are in love with her and she’s smart and funny and writes amazing novels on hiatus in London and Egypt. The Ash pants were made of a beautiful Orange Two-Toned Linen, which has unfortunately sold out, but the rest of the two-toned linens are well-stocked! The Ash Pants would look really nice in denim, a fit-and-flare pair of jeans paired with a studded crop top. For a more professional style, a wool suiting or twill would be perfect!

16. The Willow Cardigan

The Willow Cardigan featured shortened bishop sleeves and was fashioned out of a lovely waffle knit that was both light-weight and cozy. Brittany looked gorgeous in it, paired with cute little shorts, but I’d love to see this in a fleece or chunky knit for a nice winter style. For a more sophisticated style, embroidered mesh or guipure would be an excellent option!

Which pattern will you be making next? I’ve got my eye on the Hibiscus Robe, but don’t tell my husband… Tell me about your pattern plans in the comments!