Minerva Fabrics Stretch Velvet Beauty

I used McCall’s 7186 to make this Minerva Fabrics stretch velvet beauty. Not to toot my own horn, but this dress is gorgeous! I attribute that not so much to my own skill, but to the fantastic fabric.

The Fabric

Minerva gifted me this fabric. I am a Minerva Brand Ambassador. This project featured a new exclusive fabric for them. It’s called a Crush Velvet Stretch Knit. It washes and dries beautifully (in the washer and dryer-cold water, low heat).

The Pattern

The drape of the dress is why I chose this. I made View D. There are gathers at the shoulder that create the drape in the front of the dress. This is the second time I’ve made it and this view. Although the pattern is OOP (out of print) it’s available on Etsy or Ebay.

This is a pattern designed for knit fabrics.

Alterations Made

Because I made this pattern some time ago, I needed a bit more room in this one. I am still able to wear the dress I previously made, but it was a little tight and I just want more breathing room. 1″ was added to the center back seam and 5/8″ added to the side seams.

Once I got the sizing the way I wanted, this was a very quick make. I love making things that look like I spent a lot of time on them. The reality is, the majority of the sewing was done on the serger, so this only took a few hours to make!

Helpful Hints

A walking foot is a terrific help in sewing stretch (or any) velvet. It will keep the layers of fabric feeding into the machine at the same rate so that your seams will line up properly.

Be sure to use a press cloth and/or an iron shoe. Velvet can easily “scorch” and you could end up leaving a mark on your garment.

Conclusion

This is a fantastic dress pattern that is perfect for a stunning fabric like this.

Brother walking foot

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Here’s my YouTube video I made about this dress and the sewing process:

Plaid Matching Using Butterick 4463

I decided to try plaid matching using Butterick 4463.

The Pattern

Butterick 4463 is an older pattern that’s out of print (OOP). It’s from 2005 but I think that these days, it would be called a shacket. I have made this multiple times before and it is one of my favorites. I believe it’s available on Ebay and Etsy.

The jacket is unlined. It features two inseam pockets, front and back yokes and collar. There are a couple of lengths and a belt pattern included.

My Jacket: Plaid Matching Using Butterick 4463

I used this fabric I was gifted from Minerva for this project. It is the perfect weight fabric for something like this. It’s medium to heavy weight suiting and is terrific for an unlined jacket.

Since this jacket doesn’t have a center back seam or gathers in the back, it was a bit easier to figure out how to match this plaid. I laid out the back piece first with the fabric folded and pinned so it wouldn’t shift or move around. Then I matched up the back yoke with fabric right-side up. After that, I used the notches in the pattern pieces to do the best I could to match up everything else. Luckily, that worked out.

It’s always nice when all the effort works out and things match the way you want. But I have also learned not to stress too much about it. Nothing is going to be perfect. I would proudly wear this jacket regardless.

Because I wanted the buttons to blend in, I made covered buttons using the dark part of the plaid fabric.

Doing the buttons this way also meant that I didn’t have to worry about matching the plaid on the covered buttons.

Conclusion

Overall, this is an easy pattern and fairly quick to put together. Of course, if you choose to use a plaid fabric, the layout and cutting phase will take a bit more time and patience.

As far as this Minerva polyester viscose suiting is concerned, it is fantastic to sew. As I stated, it is the perfect weight for an unlined Fall season jacket. Here is the post I wrote for Minerva featuring this project.

Butterick 5030 Wrap Dress

I chose this pattern to make as my latest Minerva Fabric project. I was gifted this fabric from Minerva since I’m a Minerva Brand Ambassador. Butterick 5030 wrap dress seemed like the perfect pattern to pair with this gorgeous exclusive viscose linen.

The Pattern

This dress pattern is described as a flared wrap dress below mid-knee and semi fitted bodice. There are variations for neckline, sleeve and collar. I made View F which has the flutter sleeves. This one doesn’t have a belt or sash. The pattern says to use a purchased belt.

My Sewing Process

First, I didn’t make any alterations to the pattern itself. I cut out size 18 on this one and started to sew. Because this is really a wrap dress and not a mock wrap, there basically isn’t anything to hold the dress closed. The pattern says to use hook and eyes (just at the waistline). I chose to use snaps on mine. I felt they would be more secure. Also, I added additional sets of snaps so there are four total on mine.

There are two sets of snaps at the bust line/bodice and two sets at the waist.

It’s possible to add inside ties to the dress to keep it closed. There are different options you can use that the pattern doesn’t suggest.

As it was a bit windy when I took these pictures, I can tell you that adding a large safety pin or something to keep the front skirt closed can be helpful, unless you are trying to have a Marilyn Monroe type moment.

The Pattern And Fabric

Butterick 5030 wrap dress is a pretty quick make. It took me more time that usual simply because I added the sew-on snaps (done by hand).

Butterick 5030 wrap dress front with belt

The fabric I used for this is fantastic! Viscose linen blend is breathable and about a medium-weight fabric. It really has a great drape to it as well. I chose a fabric called “Pollen Passion” and can be viewed here. If you are like me, you want material that will wash and dry well. This one does both! Although the material was soft when I received it, it got even softer after washing and drying. However, be forewarned that there is a lot of lint that will come off.

Butterick 5030 wrap dress belted back view

Here is another dress I made as a Minerva Brand Ambassador that I truly love.

Conclusion

Great fabric and terrific pattern! I hope you will give at least one of these a try.

Butterick 5030 dress Simplicity 8546

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