December 4th 2023
It’s officially party season which means it’s time to pull out the luxe fabrics. Sewing with fabrics like stretch velvets and sequins can be tricky so over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing our top tips on how to tackle them so you can be a shining star in your me-made Christmas party dress.
Velvet is always ‘on-trend’ at this time of the year, and the great thing about this fabric is its ability to be dressed up or down. We’ll of course be adding ALL the glamour we can to our makes, but we also love the idea of little velvet dresses with chunky tights and ankle boots. We’ve included some of our inspiration below, but check out Pinterest for lots more.
So now you’ve picked a fabric (or two) and the perfect pattern, its time to getting prepping and sewing. Sewing with velvet is as simple as sewing with jersey so try not to let it overwhelm you. As well as this, follow our top tips and you just can’t go wrong:
- Always cut your pattern pieces with the nap (the direction of the fibres) of the velvet going the same way. Velvet looks darker with the nap going up so will be very obvious if you sew them up in different directions!
- Just like other jerseys you’ll need the right tools to get the best finish: Ballpoint needles and a stretch stitch or zig zag on your machine. If you have a walking foot that’s great but not essential and likewise an Overlocker is an added bonus but not essential.
- Don’t press your velvet! Use the iron on a low heat to gently steam the fabric and finger press where needed. If you do need to press at all, ensure the right side of the velvet is placed facing a towel or another scrap of velvet and press lightly on a low heat. This will stop the pile from being crushed – Always test on a scrap first!
- Top stitching on velvet doesn’t always look great. Test on a scrap of fabric, lengthen your stitch slightly and ensure you’re using good quality polyester thread. Alternatively choose patterns with bands or facings or use the blind hem foot on your machine. You could even hand hem for a really professional finish.
- So there you have it, everything you need to make the perfect velvet dress. The team are already whipping up their Christmas makes (coming soon to the blog) and you better believe there are a velvet piece or two in there!
Sheona is wearing a Friday Pattern Co Adrienne Blouse in Stretch Velvet.
If you’re still feeling a tad nervous, why not book to come along to one of our dressmaking classes?
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