Lace bell sleeve Dress

Dear New Years resolution to be skinny and blog more,

Yes I’ve tried to pretend broccoli tastes just as good as the crunch of a potato chip. I’ve also sewed and created more, but have failed to write about it. So- here I am starting a new series this summer to prove that that the last four months of the new 2017 were just me warming up. Today with this bell sleeve lacy number, just in time for graduation season, I am introducing the best day of the week – Fri-DIY.

First up is this lace bell sleeve dress, which can be constructed from elastic lace or an lacy old curtain (you’d need to add buttons/zipper here to get in and out of the dress without the stretch of the elastic fabric). I am a size zero, and used 1.5 yards of 45″ fabric. So, I would suggest bring a looser fitting dress to the store with you as a stencil. If you want a long dress, find a lacy with 4-way stretch, meaning when you pull it it stretched up down and across.

First, determine the stretch, most lace with be two way stretch. Make sure the stretch is going side to side, so it will stretch along your curves, you pretty lady you.

Materials

Lace fabric (about 1.5 yards – use suggestion above)

matching thread

sewing machine

good fitting dress for size

 Instructions

1. Using an old t-shirt dress trace the front and back of your dress. Now cut out the two pieces. On the piece that will be the front, cut a deeper neckline. Now fold down the collar of both pieces and sew a straight stitch. Then pin and sew together the  shoulders.

2. Using the curve of the armpit, cut our your sleeve. This is way less stressful that it sounds. just fold your lace fabric in half, pulling it snugly up to the armpit of your bodice to create sound overlap. Then cut around the half circle and create the sleeve.

3. Pin on sleeves and sew around the armpit. Then pin all the way from the end of the sleeve to the bottom of the dress and sew.

4. To create the bell: Measure the thickest part of your arm and multiple by 1.5. Cut this width by the desired length (mine about six inches) x 2. Sew to bast around the top of both. Pin and sew to the end of the sleeve to create your bell!

Viola ! You’re graduation ready

Go get em craf-DIY girl & if you aren’t craf-DIY You can get the same look here: