Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Puffy Sleeves, Yes Please!

Hi Guys! Happy New Year.  I hope you all enjoyed your holidays and the new year is treating you well so far.  I’ve been wanting to make the Women’s Oversized Puffy Sleeve Dress by Beaute’ J’adore ever since she released this pattern.  Nikki is known for her statement sleeves and she’s a woman after my own heart because I love a good statement sleeve too.  The sleeves on this dress are serving all the drama and I’m here for it!


Puffy Sleeve Dress

When I tell you that I am head over heels with this make, I mean it.  What is there not to love about an oversized dress with puffy sleeves?! Um, nothing! This dress has two sleeve options, so if you aren’t into the puffy sleeve, you can opt not to add the elastic and just add horsehair to the hem to the sleeve.  The horsehair braid gives the sleeve hem structure and makes them stand out. I went with the puffy sleeve option.

Based on my body measurements, I made a size 16.  I sewed the dress following the pattern instruction and the only modification I made to the dress was to take off two inches from the hem because I’m a shorty.  Pattern comes with step-by-step instructions and a step-by-step YouTube tutorial.  The experience level is set at easy and I would have to agree. There are only a few pieces that need to be sewn together and the hardest part is the zipper install, if you haven’t done one before.  The pattern instructions do a pretty good job at explaining how to do it and there are tons of video tutorials on YouTube if needed.

Besides the puffy statement sleeves, my other favorite part of this dress is how the lining is sown together.  I don’t recall ever installing a lining this way and I thought it was clever. There are a few steps to this process, and I can’t really explain it without sharing photos of each step. (which, unfortunately, I didn’t take) I did take photos of the lining installed and it just looks so clean.  I love it.

Fabric Used

In order to get the puffy sleeves to stand out, you need to use a fabric that has some structure. If not, your sleeves will not stand up properly. The fabric suggestions for this pattern are wool, twill, cotton, taffeta, and denim.  I knew I wanted to make this dress using a denim fabric and was excited when Fabric Mart had a denim sale last month.  I picked up a few yards of this Twilight Dark Wash Cotton/Lycra Stretch Denim Twill 59W.  I love really dark denim and it has some stretch and I think it would be perfect for making a pair of stretch jeans.  I only washed this fabric once and it washed well and did not fade.

Nikki from Beaute’ J’adore paired her dress with knee-high white boots which I really enjoyed.  I paired my dress with a pair of faux snakeskin knee-high boots, and a small purse with some shades.  I feel like this dress could also be dressed down with some sneakers just to run errands or go out to lunch.  If you like a good statement sleeve and an easy make, then I would suggest you give this dress a try.  When looking for fabric, ensure to look for a fabric with some structure to ensure your sleeves stand up.

Until next time!



JOHANNA @soveryjo 


Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: COTTON & DENIM.

Comments

  1. Beautifully styled and I appreciate the extra interior pics.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you! I usually try to take some photos of the process or try to share something new I learned with each make.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made by a Fabricista: Structure

Hi everyone!  I can’t believe the year is nearly wrapping up already and this is my last post for 2024! You may have noticed but the barrel silhouette has been very much in right now from pants to sleeves.  To be honest I was a little bit hesitant about hopping on to the trend.  One I was not sure if the proportions would work for my body also I considered would this be a long lasting trend to keep incorporated in my closet?  But after a few seasons the barrel seems to stay in many variations, I think exaggerated proportions are such a thing now.  I saw this Cult Gaia x Gap denim dress collab with the barrel sleeves and wanted to remake it.  When I saw this brown distressed denim twill I knew it was perfect.  I had been debating between making cargo pants but I wanted to try to do something different and went for the dress once I saw the inspiration.   I used McCall’s pattern 8139 as my base with the following modifications.  Instead of...

Made By A Fabricista: A Wool Pinafore for Winter

Hello exciting wintry weather! Brrr, though. For my December post, I wanted to sew something more unusual for me, something outside my wide leg pants and big boxy sweaters, and this pinafore combination is exactly that. I really like the layering aspect and how easily one could switch up the look based on the top worn underneath, and how this pinafore pattern could easily work for all seasons based on fabric choice and possibly adding leggings. The new Love Notions Pianoforte Jumper in this incredibly charming polka dot wool blend suiting is just right. I wanted wool for warmth, and the sweet print just sent me. Of course a pinafore looks SO darling in dots. The Pianoforte is a slightly-cocoon shaped dress with princess seams and some large and handy front inset pockets. There is a zip-front option, but I went with the pullover plain front. I love the vintagey, sort of old-timey vibes of this style, and categorize this one under dopamine dressing.  Because the wool is on the heavi...

Made by a Fabricista: Know Me Pattern ME2052, An Oversized Button Front Shirt

Hello friends,  I’m Byrd, and today I’m excited to share my latest Fabricista project with you—an oversized button-front shirt made from the Know Me Pattern ME2052, sewn using a gorgeous 100% Tencel sand-washed  challis  from Fabric Mart called “Chalkboard Black.” This shirt has quickly become one of my go-to wardrobe staples for fall, thanks to its versatility and classic design. One of my favorite things about this oversized shirt is its versatility, especially as we transition into cooler weather. In the first photo, I’ve paired the shirt with wide-leg pants, which I think is perfect for fall. I used New Look 6271 for the pants. The loose, flowy fit of both the shirt and pants creates a relaxed but put-together outfit that I can wear just about anywhere. In the second photo, I’m wearing the shirt layered over a jumpsuit. This is such a fun way to wear it, turning it into a light jacket that adds a casual but stylish layer. Whether you’re wearing it as a standalone piec...