Embellishing The Holiday Dress: Adding Detail To The Sleeve

Hi Everyone! Have you wondered how to add an embellishment to smaller areas, such as sleeves? In Part 3, we will take a look at adding the embellished details to the fabric prior to cutting out the pattern piece. For this example, I'll be demonstrating on the sleeve piece of the Carnaby St dress using a pre-made embroidered appliqué. Follow along to watch the full process of adding the embellishment and sewing the dress!

In this video I'm using the Carnaby St Dress Pattern that's designed to fit the smaller 14.5" -15" dolls. Watch for that pattern to be published this week!

 

The techniques demonstrated here can be used on any pattern piece, many types of fabric, and in a variety of sizes. The key is the right size hoop to hold your piece flat and tight, making sure it fits into the hooped area.

Resources for this project:

  • Carnaby St Dress Pattern - available for 18" Dolls and coming soon for 14.5-15" Dolls
  • Supplies listed in the pattern - Fabric, thread, fusible interfacing for knits, 1/8" width elastic, hoop and loop tape (or a snap)
  • In this tutorial I used a royal blue velour knit, purchased from Mood Fabrics. This fabric is so soft and beautiful! I'm thrilled with how this dress turned out! Note - I decided to leave the dress hem as a raw edge (un-hemmed). It's a knit so it doesn't fray and it was cut with a rotary cutter so it has a nice smooth edge. It draped so beautifully, I though a turned under hem would really detract from the overall look.

  • The white lace was purchased from JoAnn Fabrics, it was a remnant (which was an additional 50% off). It worked well for this project, but it was a little rough around the edges when cut out. Some other embroidered laces I've worked with have a much more defined edge and are easier to cut apart from the netting, but those are more expensive. 
  • The wooden hoop was purchased from Hobby Lobby, they were just a few dollars! 
  • The embroidery needles, tailors chalk, and thread were purchased at Hobby Lobby as well. These items are easy to find online and in stores as well.

Have you used this method before? I'd love to hear any tips you might have for adding embellished details like this. I'd also love to see your finished project, be sure to share them in the SWC FB group or add them to the Inspiration Gallery!

 

 


4 Comments

Catherine Peterson
Catherine Peterson

November 24, 2021

Loved this, the embellishments made this little dress! Great tutorial!

Lorraine MacLeod
Lorraine MacLeod

November 23, 2021

I have done this many times. Sometimes I cut parts of the lace and sew them on, but Usually I use Steam a Seam and lightly iron it onto the back of the lace. Leave the “paper side” on and don’t remove yet. Turn it over to the lace side and carefully cut all around the parts that you want. Next you scratch the back of the “paper side” with a pin, just enough so you can separate the paper from the “sticky side” of the lace. Place the lace “sticky side” down onto the garment, cover with parchment paper to protect your iron, and iron in place. You can always add a stitch here or there if you think it won’t hold, but steam a seam usually holds very well! Try it on a scrap first and I think you will love it!

Lorraine MacLeod
Lorraine MacLeod

November 23, 2021

I have done this many times. Sometimes I cut parts of the lace and sew them on, but Usually I use Steam a Seam and lightly iron it onto the back of the lace. Leave the “paper side” on and don’t remove yet. Turn it over to the lace side and carefully cut all around the parts that you want. Next you scratch the back of the “paper side” with a pin, just enough so you can separate the paper from the “sticky side” of the lace. Place the lace “sticky side” down onto the garment, cover with parchment paper to protect your iron, and iron in place. You can always add a stitch here or there if you think it won’t hold, but steam a seam usually holds very well! Try it on a scrap first and I think you will love it!

Maureen W.
Maureen W.

November 23, 2021

Beautiful !

Thank You.

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