Sew The Basic Dress

Artist and designer Sonya Philip demystify the sewing process while teaching you how to make Dress No. 3 from her pattern series “100 Acts of Sewing.” This v-neck dress wears like a kaftan and has a long, relaxed fit, perfect for lounging inside or poolside. Sonya walks you through how to trace a pattern and cut out your fabric, then demonstrates how to adjust a sewing pattern to create two different versions of the garment: a shortened length with round neckline, contrast cuffs, and patch pockets, and the addition of a fabric belt and loops with a cute ruffle at the hem. Easy to sew and easy to wear, Dress No. 3 is beginner-friendly and gives you many options to fit your personal style. This pattern includes a size range of Small (32” bust) to 4X (53” bust).

Learn how to:

Sew a long, v-neck dress
Make easy modifications to a sewing pattern
Sew a contrast sleeve cuff
Sew patch pockets
Make a fabric belt and belt loops
Create a ruffled hem
Make and attach bias tape

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I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]

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