Sewing again ...
this time it's a velvet hoodie for my sister
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My sister Alberta bought a beautiful vintage dress at an estate sale. It fit her, except for being too long. It also wasn't terribly flattering. BUT, it is made of a gorgeous purple silk velvet. You might remember that I made myself a silk velvet jacket a few months ago. It's cranberry red. I love silk velvet and always have. It was a cranberry red silk velvet dress of mine that I wore from probably age two to four that made me fall in love with the fabric. Mom gave it away when I outgrew the dress, but I never outgrew the love of that fabric. It is heaven to the touch.
When I finished the jacket, I told my daughter to remind me I never wanted to sew silk velvet again in my life. I had made my jacket using the wrong type of needle. It turns out sewing with the correct needle is easier, but not easy.
Still, when Alberta asked me to "do something" with the dress she bought, I said yes. Of course. I'd do almost anything for my sister. And when I went out to Missouri to visit her, she tried on the dress for me. First I thought I'd shorten it and raise the shoulders so it fit her better. But when she tried it on the second time, it looked to me like it wanted to be a sweatshirt. With a zipper.
Then I realized I'd have enough fabric to make a hood, once I shortened it. And voila, the idea of a velvet hoodie was born.
The dress had sleeves with a loop and button closure, and so did the back of the dress. I decided to leave these features on the hoodie. So the back of the hoodie has a little opening (which doesn't actually open), with one of the pretty buttons sew on.
I added the hood and I added pockets, added a zipper. The project is not perfectly sewn because I didn't want to rip out and redo any part of this silk velvet (and I didn’t sew it perfectly). I think redoing it would have looked worse than a bit of wonky sewing.
I was going to add a ribbon covering over the seams of the hood to the neck, but after feeling the ribbon, I think it would be too scratchy. The opposite of what I want. So for now, the seam is uncovered. I have time to think about it before I ship the hoodie to Missouri.
My next project will be a quicky: I have to make myself a new nightgown. I have blue organic cotton on hand, and I think that will be perfect. After that, I want to start on my Chanel Jacket mock up.
Any and all comments welcome. Also, feel free to share, and if you liked this post, please leave me a heart.
Alberta is a very lucky sister. That hoodie is gorgeous and one of a kind. Will be very handy as well as stylish during those Missouri winters.
Great makeover Sandra! What a perfect idea to make that fabric into something that can be worn on a more regular basis. Beautiful and comfy, too. Love it!