This year has been all about comfy fashion, from silky sleepwear to jersey loungewear, we’ve loved it all. Enter our favorite new fabric for fall: velour. Smooth, luxurious, and stretchy? This fabric is a triple threat and needs the perfect sewing pattern to go with it. The Bellflower Dress incorporates a few of this season’s top trends, including long statement sleeves and drawstrings along the skirt!
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 3-4 yards Cognac Stretch Velour
- MDF216 – The Bellflower Dress Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Alternative Recommended Fabrics:
Note: This pattern works best with a fabric with at least 60% stretch; if you’re working with less stretch, I recommend sizing up.
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. See chart below for sizing specifications. Note, this specific pattern is available up to a size 30.
Step 1
Begin your dress by sewing the bust darts on the front of your dress following the guide on your patter.
Step 2
Place the front and back of the dress together face to face and pin at the side seams. Sew straight down the sides using a regular 1/2″ seam allowance as if the skirt extension isn’t there like the graphic shows below. I used a stretch stitch down until I reached the extension and then switched to a straight stitch.
Step 3
Add a small eyelet or button hole just past the seam into the extension about 1.5″ from the bottom of your skirt.
Step 4
Once the sides are sewn, fold the raw edges of the extension under and stitch 1/2″ away from the side seam on either side, like you see below. This creates two casings for your drawstring. The top of the casing should be open so you can thread the drawstring up through one and down through the other later on.
Step 5
Finish attaching the front and back of your dress at the shoulders using a stretch stitch.
Note: If your fabric doesn’t have enough stretch to fit over your head, you may want to cut a keyhole opening at the center back and add in a hook and eye at the top once the raw edges are hemmed.
Step 6
Create each of your upper sleeves, sewing up the inseam with a stretch stitch.
Step 7
Create each lower sleeve puff and attach to the bottom edge of the upper sleeve, aligning the inseams on each. Set each corresponding sleeve into its armscye similarly, matching up any notches.
Step 8
Create the cuffs and fold each in half, wrong sides together. Gather the lower edge of each sleeve into a cuff.
Step 9
Create each of your drawstrings, tying off or slip-stitching the raw ends closed. Feed them through your drawstring casings up through one and down through the other on either side. Evenly gather the skirt along each and tie at the bottom.
Step 10
Finish off your dress and neckline with a 1/2″ rolled hem.
Will you be adding the Bellflower to your fall wardrobe? Let me know what color you’re thinking in the comments below!
This is lovely, and I like the color just as it is.
Has anyone tried making it really long? Like LONG? It would have a lot of bulk, but wow.
We just released the pattern today, but I’d love to see this alteration done!
Perhaps if making it long start the ruching lower? It could start at hip height or even knee height.
I just made this, and tried it long, but didnt feel it made sense with the dress, dont know why… but I ended up cutting it to the pattern length and it looked amazing. Absolutely amazing. Its a great dress 11/10.
The skirt’s not for me, but I love those sleeves. That shape in velour is striking.
Thanks for sharing.
I have so many other sewing projects in my studio right now, but I’m about to put them all the shelf so I can make this dress!
The dress looks so beautifully soft and comfy and I will be adding it to my sewing project list. I think the color is perfect and it’s not a color I have a lot of in my closet so I will be sticking with the original hue. I could also see it looking great in an olive green or a deep wine color.
What would you rate the difficulty of this dress pattern? I consider myself an expert beginner. Should I get more practice under my belt before attempting this project?
Thank you so much! I appreciate all of the patterns from Mood!
Hi Joanna! The pattern itself isn’t too tricky, but if you haven’t worked with knits yet, velour back be a bit of a pain. We have these tips for sewing with velvet/velour though, as well as these for stretch fabrics!
Merci beaucoup
This is such a fun pattern! I’m digging navy this year, maybe a navy bamboo jersey if I can find one. I might try the sleeve in a black stretch lace.
This perfect i will be doing this sewing project starting this weekend. I can’t wait!!!
Really pretty and it looks so comfortable. Thank you.
Would this pattern work without doing the drawstring scrunchy bit at the sides? I love the sleeves and the overall shape, but I don’t necessarily like the drawstring deal.
Hi, Shay! Yes it would work, but the skirt would be more of a standard A-line silhouette. 🙂
Hey, I was wondering is it 3 yards or 4 yards of fabric for certain sizes or is 3-4 yards for all sizes just to be safe. I’m super excited to get started on this project.
Hi Shiloh! I used about 3 yards for a size 10, but larger sizes may need more. If you’re using a printed fabric, you’ll also want to get a bit extra if it’s directional. 🙂
Hello ! I downloaded some of your patterns, they are great. But how much is the seam allowance ? Thanks in advance for your response ! 🙂
Hi Jeanne! A 1/2″ seam allowance is included on patterns. 🙂
When you cut out the patterns are the back and front supposed to be the same length? Thx
Hi, Elizabeth! Once the dart is sewn on the front bust, the side seams should be the same length.
I am so excited to make this! I’ve had some velvet sitting around my sewing collection for two years now that’s been crying out for the right pattern, this is it!
My fabric is stretchy enough to fit around the neck, but I have no idea how I’m going to get a stretchy enough hem to also fit. Anybody made this pattern and have any ideas? A really wide zig-zag hem? I serged the edge, and even that was struggling to be stretchy enough.
I could do the keyhole, but I’d rather not if I can get away with the standard neck.
Hi Hannah! I did mine with a really wide straight stitch, but most home machines also have an overlock stitch which is great for stretch. 🙂
Unfortunately, I don’t have one of those home machines 🙂 I’m using a vintage machine that has 12 stitches total, 5 of which are buttonhole stitches. I’m going to go with a zig zag on the widest setting and see where it gets me. Thanks for the quick response! And thank you for the advice! If I ever get a machine with that stitch, I will definitely keep it in mind!
Ahh, that’s very cool though! I hope your dress comes out fabulous! 🙂
I made the Bellflower Dress!!! In the Sewing Workshop with Helen Castillo!!
Amazing!! How was it? 🙂
I’m in the middle of making this with Mood’s Purple Stretch Velour. I’ve never been so excited about a pattern! The fabric is beautifully luxurious and the dress is looking fabulous already. I can’t wait to finish it and show it off. Thank you so much for this gorgeous design!
Amazing, let me know how yours turns out!! 🙂
Working on my Bellflower dress right now in a red and black stretch velour for the holidays. Such a cute design.
That sounds gorgeous! 🙂
Finished the Bellflower dress for my daughter today. It really went together easily and beautifully.
I adjusted the neckline so it was a bit looser. Made the cuffs little longer. Made this from a purple burgundy stretch velour. I absolutely love the silhouette on my body shape. Can’t wait to wear this out to dinner!!!
Its stunning, I have a question.
does the fabric need a 4 way stretch to or is a fabric with the stretch going one way okay for it?
Hi Gisela, a 1-way stretch is totally fine as long as it goes across the body! 🙂
Can the pattern work with satin too?
My daughter made this dress with a black and gold flower print fabric from Mood. Turned out gorgeous, although she had to re-cut the sleeves. It was a 4-H sewing project that was chosen for the state fair, and chosen for the design gallery at the state fair. Pretty exciting!
After a long time with the fabrics, I finally made my Bellflower dress in a black flowery velvet, but it was very large for me and I had to make some ajustments, besides that, it’s my new favorite piece!
Beautiful dress. My daughter just made it. Thanks for the pattern!
I was wondering what the skirt is like without the gathering on the sides? I’m making this for homecoming but want a simpler skirt.
Hi Jesper! If you download the pattern and take a look at the pieces, you’ll get a pretty good idea of how it’ll look! The dress will be a-line, with a nice flared skirt, and the hem will be very curved. 🙂
My only question on this pattern is whether the darts are really needed, with a STRETCH velvet? I have a. really nice 4-way stretch velvet I’d like to use. Heavier velvet with a really nice weight and hang. I feel like the seam that comes w/ the darts would take away from the sheen/hang/stretch of the fabric.
Hi Krissy, It’s really up to you! If you want less of a form fitting look, you can omit the darts. Just adjust the back of the pattern accordingly.
Hello!
I have two questions:
First – how hard would it be to make the sleeve a single piece in stead of attaching two pieces then adding the cuff? I am not too much a fan of the seam line on the sleeve cutting it in half.
And second, my particular measurements are so wildly off of the measurements on the chart. Can someone tell me which measurement is more important to choose, then complete alterations on the rest?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Kaitlin, we’re sorry for the delay in responding to your question! We get dozens of comments and questions each day, and so many questions get buried and, unfortunately, unanswered. Although this is late, we wanted to respond in case anyone else has the same question: you can make the sleeve a single piece! You would just have to make the bicep of the top sleeve bigger by adding more ease. The bust measurement is the most important measurement for this pattern: we recommend making a muslin first to get your proper fit.
Thanks so much for sharing this pattern! Do you just do a rolled hem along the neck and the bottom of the skirt?
Yes, you can finish the raw edges with a rolled hem.