Hi Everyone! In this final installment we wrap things up with a look at staging & styling photos and creating memorable gifts! After all the work is done to create a beautiful dress or outfit, it's so important to carry that attention to detail over to the photos or gifting presentation. I have several videos to share with you here, one with a focus on photos, one with a focus on packaging & gifting, and one from a few years ago (pre-covid, no masks) where I take you shopping to find mini props and accessories!

Resources mentioned in the videos:

Large Light Box (on Amazon)

Paper Source ( Large flat papers for backdrops or under flatly)

Photoshop Elements (adobe.com)

Lightroom (adobe.com)

Hallmark keepsake Ornaments (on Amazon) Some work, some don't;. You just need to look at the measurements to determine the scale. The Fisher Price set is perfect!

Worlds Smallest (branded games and toys)

Mini Brands fun branded products, food, shampoo, candy, etc. There is also Toy Mini BrandsThe link is to Amazon, but you can find these int eat toy sections at Walmart and Target. My family knows this is my favorite stocking stuffer, haha! The mini McCormick Cinnamon spice jar is my favorite one!

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!

Hi Everyone! In Part Two, we switch gears a bit and take a look at adding design interest with the fabric itself. There are many ways to manipulate fabric, such as pleating, ruching, and pin tucks. Follow along in this post as I show you how to add ruching to a bodice to add the wow factor to your next holiday dress!

My intention with this tutorial was meant to be a simple outline of ruching a piece of fabric prior to cutting out the pattern pieces. As I began working on the idea and I had a burst of creative energy and continued to create an entire dress using just the piece from the San Marco Top! 

I hope you enjoy this tutorial. The process is pretty much recorded in real time, edited down of course! This is a peek into how I work and create things organically. It's one of the things that I really do love to do; taking something that I can see in my mind and bringing it to life with a little trial and error along the way!

Note: I apologize for the "clicky" camera sounds! After 4 years of SWC, and hundreds of videos, I think my camera is on it's last leg!

For those of you that want to try this project as demonstrated, here's a breakdown of the supplies and the steps:

• I used the San Marco pattern, View B Top, just the front, back and shoulder pieces.
• Measure 1.5" down from the underarm seam allowances, draw a new cut line to create the Front and Back Bodices.
• Cut 1 of each on the Fold for the lining. I used a lightweight dance knit fabric.
• Create flat pattern pieces by cutting them out on a folded piece of paper and be sure to label them!
• Place your underlay fabric flat on your work surface.
• Cut a piece of tulle or mesh wide a few inches wider than the width of the bodice piece. I cut this height all the way across the full width of the tulle yardage.
• Sew basting stitches along both long edges of the tulle. Pull the thread to gather the tulle tightly, evenly on both sides.
• Place the tulle on top of your underlay fabric.
• Baste it down on both long edges.
• Place your bodice pieces on top of the fabric. 
• Position the rushing how you like ti and pin your pattern piece through both layers.
• Thread mark around the edge of the piece, by hand or by machine.
• Trim around the outside edge of the thread line to cut out your bodice pieces.
• If you are using a complete dress pattern, at this point you can continue with your pattern instructions.
• Or continue to make the San Marco Holiday Dress!
• Cut two shoulder pieces from the gathered tulle, each 3.5" in length
• With right sides together, place the shoulder pieces on the Front Bodice, layer the Front Bodice Lining on top, sandwiching the shoulder strap in between.
• Stitch along the armscye, shoulder, neckline, and to the opposite armscye.
• Repeat for the back Bodice, stitching the keyhole cut lines at center back.
• Trim all the seam allowances. Turn right side out.
• Line up the side seams, bodice to bodice and lining to lining. Stitch.
• Cut a long rectangular piece for the skirt. I cut mine 9" x 24" for the underlay fabric and then three layers of tulle at three different lengths to layer on top. The tulle was the full width of the yardage.
• Gather the skirting  to fit the waistline.
• Sew the center back seams of the skirt. With right sides together, sew the bodice to the skirt. finish the seam allowance and gently press up towards the bodice. Sew a hook & Eye to close the center back keyhole opening.
• Add embellishment details to the bodice, maybe even a ribbon sash around the waistline to complete the look!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! I know many of the methods I use are unconventional, I though sharing my process might help to encourage you to go for it when you have an idea! In my mind, there's no wrong way to bring your vision to life. There might be easier ways, but sometimes you learn as you go!

Hi Everyone! Welcome to the topic Embellishing the Holiday Dress! 

How do you take something ordinary and make it extraordinary? With embellishments! In this topic I will show you how adding the perfect embellished details not only elevate the design, but really make your garment stand out. We will begin with a look at a few basic dress designs, fabric types to choose from, and embellishment sources to make or create the perfect finishing details. I’ll demonstrate a few different ways to add the embellishments, both prior to construction and after the garment is finished. And finally we’ll wrap up the topic with a look at staging for the perfect photo or packaging for a memorable gift giving experience! I’m excited to share these tips and techniques with you!

Carnaby St Dress pattern. If you don't already have that one, I encourage you to use your November coupon code to get your copy. This dress includes several variations and both are the perfect canvas for adding embellishment!

Quick note for those of you that bought the Pixie Pack to make the black dress: I forgot to add the cutting layout to the package, the sequined fabric provided is just enough to cut the bodice and sleeve cap pieces, the sleeve just needs to be placed upside down so the top of the cap is in between the front and back bodices.

Follow along in this video to learn more about the dress design elements and sew the View B dress. If you're interested in View C, watch for that tutorial in Part 3.

In this next video we will use the dress that we just made and take it one step further by adding a beaded embroidered appliqué. 

You can follow along with this topic with any dress as your base design. The important details to consider are the fabric choices and the types of embellishment to use.  For holiday dresses, I like to use special occasion fabrics such as Silk Dupioni (poly blends work great too!), Rayon blends, Taffeta, Crushed Velour, Sparkly tulle, Sequined fabrics.

Follow along in this video to learn more about the fabric types and tips for sewing with them.

Video Timeline:

Beginning - 3:30 Supplies overview, needles, tools, etc.

3:30 - 7:00 Chiffon Fabric - Freezer Paper Stabilizer Tip!

7:00 - 8:56 Tailors chalk marking for fabrics that can't be pinned.

8:56 - 12:40 Close up look at fabric types

12:40 - 20:20 Example Garments

20:45 - 21:53 Fabrics A to Z Book Review

21:53 - 24:36  Needles and Stitches

24:36 - 26:30 Velvet

26:30 - 27:53 Sewing With Double Sided Quilters Tape

27:53 - End Sequined Fabrics

For a full list of fabric shopping websites, be sure to check out the Ultimate Resource Guide PDF download in the SWC Bonuses Section.

Embellishments can be cut from embroidered fabrics usually found in the special occasion or bridal sections. On thing to note, this type of fabric is very expensive! The good thing is that you don't need very much when sewing at this smaller scale. I usually buy 1/8 yard, that's the smallest cut  I can get. From that one piece I am able to embellish a lot of dresses, or jackets too! Just look at the repeat of the pattern and the overall scale of the design. You can use small parts if you carefully cut them apart.

Here are a few places to browse online:

Mood Fabrics ( Bridal section/ Embroidered Tulle Fabrics) Also try "Beaded"

Etsy (Search for Embroidered Tulle)

Bridal Fabrics (For the UK audience, although they do ship worldwide)

If you don't want to use the Carnaby St Dress pattern, here are a few other suggestions:

• Starlight Gala
• Hello Oscar
• Opening Night
• Blossom (simplified bodice version)
• Or any dress with a simple bodice and gathered skirt, and maybe puffy sleeves too!

Here's the video tutorial for the Blossom/Starlight Gala pattern mash-up. This version uses the bodice from Blossom and the skirting from Starlight Gala. We'll be showing our embellished version later in this topic!