Sew a women’s velvet pinafore dress for the holidays 🎄
Today we’re sharing an incredibly special project, making a women’s velvet pinafore dress, perfect for the holidays. The best part is that it’s the ideal project for beginners. Paula, known as @paurovas on Instagram, is here to guide us on this sewing adventure. She has prepared a detailed video tutorial showing the step-by-step instructions to make the dress pattern and sew a dazzling pinafore dress using Velvet Knit fabric by Katia Fabrics. Imagine the satisfaction of creating your own Christmas outfit for the 2023 holiday season, with a touch of sophistication and comfort. Carry on reading to learn how to turn a piece of velvet into a pinafore dress that’ll not only keep you warm but will also make you stand out on any special occasion.
What will you learn in this tutorial?
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How to take your measurements:
In the video tutorial, Paula will show you the measurements you need to take so that the dress hugs your figure perfectly.
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How to draft the pattern:
You’ll learn how to draft a pattern from scratch, using your measurements. This will give you freedom to adapt the design to your style and preferences.
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Advice for cutting assembling and sewing velvet:
Learn the best tips and tricks to work with elastic velvet, a luxurious material that can be challenging for beginners.
Why make a women’s velvet pinafore dress?
Velvet is an elegant and sophisticated fabric. A velvet pinafore dress isn’t only versatile and comfortable, but also perfect for festive events this Christmas. It’s also a piece that never goes out of style.
Materials needed:
- 1.5 m of velvet fabric by Katia Fabrics (the amount will depend on your measurements)
- Pinafore dress pattern
- Matching thread
- Pins
- Tape measure
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing machine
- As well as the materials to create the pattern (drafting paper, pencil, paper scissors, etc.)
Tips:
- Cut all the pieces in the same direction. With velvet fabric, the shine changes depending on the direction.
- Take your time to sew velvet precisely. Also, since it’s a knit fabric, using a ballpoint needle is recommended.
- Don’t iron velvet, not even the seams. It’s a very delicate fabric which will lose its shine if you’re not careful when ironing. If you must iron it, always use a protective cloth on top and use your iron on the lowest setting.
Step-by-step instructions for sewing a women’s pinafore dress
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Choose the pattern and fabric:
You can choose a dress pattern or follow the steps to draft your own pattern. It’s really easy to do!
Choose a velvet fabric like the Velvet fabrics by Katia Fabrics for its excellent texture and shine.
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Cut the fabric:
Use the pattern to cut out the dress pieces. All the pieces except for the straps are cut on the fold.
You need:
- 1 front piece and 1 back piece
- 1 front facing and 1 back facing
- 2 straps
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Seam the pieces:
Seam the dress pieces together. Use lots of pins to make sure that the fabrics are aligned correctly. Velvet tends to roll at the edges, so make sure all your seams are flat or the pieces won’t fit together properly.
After seaming the sides of the front and back pieces, seam the sides of the facings.
Sew the dress straps. The straps are 3 cm wide. Cut 2 straps measuring 45 cm long and 8 cm wide. Fold them in half and sew with 1 cm of seam allowance.
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Dress details:
Leave some openings at the sides measuring 35 cm. Try on the dress to make sure it fits properly. Adjust to fit as needed.
Finally, hem the bottom of the dress and the side openings and your women’s velvet pinafore dress is ready.
Don’t forget to share your makes with us using the #KatiaFabrics hashtag. We can’t wait to see how your velvet pinafore dress turns out!
And remember, Katia Fabrics is always here to help you on your sewing journey. If you have any questions or need any advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
If you’re looking for more women’s sewing projects, you may also be interested in:
- Free pattern to sew the perfect women’s pinafore for summer
- Digital magazine with 8 women’s sewing patterns
- Learn how to sew a fleece dressing gown for women and kids using a free pattern
