Be Dreamy Dress with Woven Chiffon Sleeve

I’ve had this chiffon-like woven fabric from Boho Fabrics for a while and as I was making Be Dreamy Dress #3, it dawned on me to give it a try for the flounce sleeve.

I also caught a vision of a lettuce edge. I’ve never done a lettuce edge before, but I have a serger now and really should explore the possibilities with it. Turns out, lettuce edges exist more in the realm of knits, so the technique I saw for creating such an edge wasn’t going to work.

Instead, I tested a rolled hem and was surprised to see that it turned out quite similar to a lettuce edge. So I ran with it.

About the Fabric

Main: 3 yards Pink/Ivory Floral DBP from So Sew English

• 96% POLYESTER / 4% SPANDEX
• Medium weight
• 4 – WAY stretch

Bodice Lining: Offwhite Double Brushed Poly Spandex Knit from Cali Fabrics

• FABRIC CONTENT: 96% Polyester/4% Lycra
• STRETCH: 4-way 150%
• WEIGHT: 5.5oz (Light Midweight

About This Make

• Size XS
• +1″ to skirt
• +1″ to bodice
• original flounce sleeve, slightly altered
• high-low hemline

What I Did Differently

• The major deviation on this version was using a woven fabric for the sleeves. Being that woven fabrics have little to no stretch, I cut the central hole of the flounce sleeve about 1/4″ larger to allow more ease. Good call.
• Before hemming, I folded the skirt in half, matching the side seams along the bottom hem, and rotary cut a gentle curve. This makes hemming much easier around that area. I think I’d like to redraw the pattern if I can to eliminate that harsh angle where the back skirt meets the front at the side seams.

Notes for Next Time

I just had a vision of longer, flowy, slit sleeves on this, made out of the same chiffon. It looks beautiful and elegant in my head and sounds so fun to wear. I’m not sure what it is, but I love the feel of fabric flowing around me and behind me as I move. Hence my love of capes. Yeah. Need more capes.

I also had a thought to pair this with some kind of open-weave knit, empire-waist belt. I don’t own such a belt…but I sew things. I imagine I might be able to create one.

Project Settings

Serge vs. Sewing Machine

Sewing Machine Settings

Serger Settings