Stretch Velvet – SewSophieLynn

Celebrate with the Made For Mermaids Isabel

I’m excited to be joining in the fun of Sewing by Ti’s Celebrate Blog Tour. Thanksgiving kicks off a month of celebrating around here. So many fun activities coming up for us- the perfect excuse to do a little sewing!

It’s no secret I love to sew dresses for my girls. There are just so many amazing dress patterns out there and the possibilities seem endless. I get a little giddy when I go through their closets and realize they’ve outgrown their dresses from the previous year. Add in the upcoming holidays and I was one eager mama ready to whip up another pretty dress for my little girly.

My little one absolutely loved my velvet holiday dress and begged for her own version. I used the Isabel Dress pattern from Made for Mermaids with a twist. I wanted to add a little feminine detail to the dress with sweet ruffles on the hem and sleeves. My sister picked up this stunning velvet for me at the SAS store in Phoenix but this eggplant stretch velvet from Stylish Fabric would be a great substitute. This color is amazing in real life- deep with that subtle shimmer velvet has. Eeeek! I’m seriously obsessed with it!

I did a size 8 maxi length with long sleeves. She loves maxi dresses and this velvet was just begging for the drama of a full length dress.

Speaking of drama… this girly can turn it on when I whip out my camera. I let her style this dress up how she wanted and she piled on the 90’s edgy vibe. The boots, choker, and rocker hairdo just kill me! Totally flashing back to my teenage years and getting a glimpse of hers while I’m at it!

She glammed it up a bit for church with gold accessories and curls. I love the totally different looks!

If you’re wondering how practical a wrap dress is on a little one I have one tip for you- shorties. The dress is nice and secure at the waist but a pair of shorties underneath saves her from any wardrobe malfunctions. She’s still a normal active little girl and heaven knows she’s not the least bit worried about it but I am! Shorties are just a good idea to save any unnecessary flashing 😉

She loves how comfortable this dress is and I know it will quickly become a favorite of hers. She’s all about the extravagance and luxury this dress evokes. Drama queen in training right here!

You’ll love all the great inspiration this month from so many of my blogging buddies.

December 1st Sewing By Ti (intro), Octaves of Color

Sunday December 3rd, Me Made

4th: Sew Sophie Lynn

5th: Hazelnut Handmade

6th: Tales from a Southern Mom

Monday December 11th, Tenille’s Thread

12th: MNW Sews

13th: Mahlica Designs

14th: Very Blissful

15th: Stitched by Jennie

Monday December 18th, Kate Will Knit

19th: Sewing by Ti

20th: Vicky Myers Creations

21st: Margarita on the Ross

22nd: Auschick Sews

23rd: Shalini’s Blog

Tuesday December 26th: Seams Sew Low

27th: EYMM

28th: Sew Like a Sloth

29th: Sewing By Ti

30th: Kathys Kwilts and More

31st: Embrace Everyday

Dreamy Velvet Wrap Dress

This is the dress dreams are made of. It’s one of those things you feel fabulous in but is also so incredibly comfortable you contemplate wearing it everyday- it’s totally appropriate for the soccer field and a Target run, right?!!

My journey for this dress began back in August when I picked up this luscious olive green velvet from Stylish Fabrics. I knew immediately it needed to be a dress for me and couldn’t get a wrap dress out of my head. I searched and searched for the perfect pattern- I really wanted a higher neckline but couldn’t find one that looked right. The details on the Striped Swallow Designs Summer Dawn were exactly what I wanted though. Those sleeves are just about the most awesome things ever and that shoulder gather is perfection! I grabbed it and then sat on this project while I tried to figure out all the alterations I’d need to do to make it work for me…

The changing leaves really motivated me to get this thing done- I NEEDED a gorgeous fall backdrop to really do justice to this dress!

With a few modifications this dress is all I had hoped it would be. I’ve never even worn a wrap dress before and now I want to fill my closet with them! This style is just my cup of tea- comfortable and classic but with a bit of wow thrown in. I’ll let you in on all my tricks to get the perfect dress for me!

The modifications I made were only to the bodice and straps. In making the alterations I did need to change the construction a bit also. My main goal was to raise the neckline. Every version I’d seen was way too low for my tastes and needs. I’ll be primarily wearing this to church and on the rare special occasion so modesty was key.

I took my front bodice piece and first extended the bottom to fit my front skirt piece. I then drew a line straight up to match the line marked in the picture. From there I extended the diagonal out for more coverage. It didn’t need too much extra.

When I attached the neckline binding piece I folded it in half then serged the whole thing on, creating a neckband instead of the hidden binding in the pattern. This added even more coverage. I sandwiched my waist ties in the binding/bodice seam and tacked them down. The pattern calls for one tie to be placed in the side seam and then sewn across the waist. I knew the velvet would add too much unwanted bulk and chose to simply trim my tie and sew it into the binding instead. I also left the sleeves unhemmed, wanting to preserve the flowiness and not add the bulk of a hem. These might be easy alterations for some but it really took some thinking for me. I’m a rule follower and have the hardest time figuring these things out sometimes! It all worked out beautifully and now that I’ve done it once I can easily whip up a few more!

My cute husband was a gem and met me after work to get these pics. I sure love his creative composition and I know it’s not really part of the marriage package to be the on call photographer. He did a fantastic job even though velvet is just about the hardest thing ever to photograph! Now we just need a killer date night where I can wear this out on the town!

A couple new favorites for ME

With all the kids back in school I now have a couple of hours each day to myself. I’ve been looking forward to this time for YEARS! Little did I know that those two hours would fly by and seem like mere minutes each afternoon. In that short time, I try my best to clean the house, run errands, help in the classroom, and all the other mom duties we have. I had dreamed that every afternoon would be spent at my sewing machines! In the last couple weeks I was able to squeeze in a bit of sewing just for me!

The Key Largo Top from Hey June Handmade has been on my to-sew list since it went into testing! All summer long I’ve been longing to cut into one and I finally moved it up my list as soon as I got my hands on this gorgeous Lecien fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. It’s so soft and I needed it made into a top stat! I tell you, it’s dangerous when your bestie has one of the best fabric shops EVER! A quick stop to visit and I inevitably leave with a stack of beautiful new fabric. She’s the best I tell ya’!

I’m all over relaxed, loose tops and am thanking the style gods who have made them so in fashion. I think women everywhere are rejoicing with me! The Key Largo has that perfect fit through the shoulders and chest and then just skims all the other bits. It’s meant to be a bit more cropped but I added a couple of inches to mine. I’ve got to be able to do the little half front tuck!

My other make was with another GORGEOUS fabric- this time from Stylish Fabric. I had won a gift certificate through Project Run and Play and waited to use it for my fall wardrobe planning. This Old Rose Stretch Velvet is joining my closet full of all things blush/mauve/dusty pink. It’s such a pretty color- not too pastel-y or nude.

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This pretty velvet tee was my inspiration. I loved the cuff sleeves and relaxed fit.

I used my go-to relaxed fit tee pattern- the Mama Ava from Made for Mermaids. I trim an inch or two from the length and have raised the neckline a couple of inches to be more crew neck than scoop. I think I have half a dozen of these tees in my closet now which is saying a ton coming from a pattern hoarding like myself. I rarely reuse my patterns since there’s always a new one to try!

Those cuffs proved to be my nemesis. I tried a few different methods to get the look I wanted and seriously struggled. It was one of those projects that usually takes thirty minutes but dragged into days because I had to walk away from the issue out of frustration! I really wanted to do a cuff like the Hey June Santa Fe- a band that is sewn on the inside and flipped out and tacked on the outside. The issue came with this velvet sticking to itself and becoming super stiff when trying to use the underside of the fabric for a contrasting look. After multiple attempts I decided a thin, simple roll-over hem would just have to do. I serged the edge first to keep it from sticking to itself and then just had to call it ‘good enough’. I think lately ‘good enough’ has won over my need for perfection. Call me lazy- I’m calling it keeping my sanity 😉

What have you been sewing lately? Anyone else super excited to get their sewing time back after summer (however little or long it may be!)?

Make It Mine Tour

The Women’s Waterfall Raglan from Chalk and Notch is such a fantastic pattern. Every time another one shows up in my feed I fall in love again. I’m thrilled to be joining in the Make It Mine Tour and sharing my Date Night look with you guys. Make sure to read to the end for your chance at some fantastic prizes!

I ordered this gorgeous stretch velvet from LA Finch Fabrics ages ago with the intention of sewing up this dress for the holidays. A bit late for Christmas but I think Valentine’s Day will be a little sweeter in this cute lil’ number!

I love me a good twirl dress!! I made an easy alteration to the pattern and shortened the ruffle a few inches to make the dress hit right at my knees. I wanted something a little flirty and fun.

I threw on a denim jacket and I’m ready for our dinner and a movie date night! Is it super sad that I’m looking forward to a family date to see the new Lego Batman movie this weekend? We all loved the original Lego movie and this one looks to be just as hilarious! Throw in a trip to the pizza joint and I’m one happy mama! So romantic 😉

Total side note- I just picked up my new glasses and I’m in love! Not with the fact that I have to wear them but with being able to really see again! It’s like the world is in HD and I didn’t know what I was missing out on. This growing older thing is the pits but at least I’ve got my handsome hubby along for the ride!

Now for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Stylish Fabrics head over to Chalk and Notch to link up your Waterfalls! Check out the #makeitminetour on social media for tons of cute inspiration. Thanks for joining me!

Tami – Sew Sophie Lynn | Victoria – Very Blissful | Leslie – Threadbear Garments | Marie-Fleurine – Sew Mariefleur | Emi – Just Add Fabric

Sew Straight and Gather Andromeda Top and Dress

Terri at Sew Straight and Gather has done it yet again. I swear she can do no wrong. Her patterns are always so unique and so well done. The Andromeda Top and Dress is no exception. AND- she’s having an AMAZING Black Friday Sale right now. All single patterns are just $5 CAD! What a steal!!! I suggest heading over there right after reading how much I love this new pattern 😉

I tested the girls version but there is also a ladies- yessssss! The girl’s comes in sizes 2-14 and the women’s in sizes XS-3XL. They both feature banded top, tunic, free flowing dress and gathered waist dress options. Those sleeves make it so incredibly fun!

I made my first one out of pretty double brushed poly from Knitpop. It worked perfect for this pattern. I left the sleeves raw and did a simple neckband. This pattern could possibly be the quickest thing I’ve ever sewn! Just a few seams later and this beauty was done.

She’s worn it a few times since and always gets so many compliments. It’s so darling and definitely has that wow! factor.

Little sis was intensely jealous and was dying for her own. I’ve been crushing hard on stretch velvet lately and snatched up some gorgeous colors from Stylish Fabric. I used this pretty gold and I’m thrilled with the quality and great customer service I received. AND it was also a steal compared to what I’ve seen elsewhere. It was my first time sewing with it and I new this simple pattern was a great choice to begin with.

From cut to finish this was done in under a half hour (it helped my pattern was all ready from big sis- loving that they wear the same size!).

Can we talk about this goofy girl for a minute? She did NOT want to model but the second she got this on she was smitten. She turned on the super model moves like that! She kills me!

I’d say she likes it!

Make sure you grab your Andromeda- you can get the girls, ladies (Terri’s sweater-knit cover version is killer!) or the bundle. Don’t forget to pick up some of my other favs too- check out my versions here, here, here, here, and here.

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Tag: Stretch Velvet