I’m working on the storyboard tutorial, and it should be up tomorrow! In the meantime, here is my planned project for this week.
I’m making Simplicity 2591, which seems to be a very popular pattern (recently discontinued.) The inspiration is from Modcloth. I love the piping around the sleeve, and I want to copy it – how would one pipe a sleeve? Would I have to use a facing instead of a hem? I’m leaving off the waist tab (in the technical drawing) because I don’t like them for some reason. I’ve cut the fabric, and I plan to work on the dress when I have time throughout the week. I’m not making a muslin – I cut a size 10, and plan to do a basted fitting. Hopefully that should work, and I’m not cursing myself tomorrow!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
That’s so cute – can’t wait to see it. In my completely amateur opinion to pipe the sleeve I’d be tempted just to cut 2 layers of the sleeves and sew them right sides together with the piping in-between… if that makes sense.
🙂
Wow, i love that dress with the piping. I have that pattern, and have not decided what to do with it yet, i may end up making something “inspired” by your idea (okay, i may copy you).
Hello! I have been lurking on your blog for a few months, and love your ideas! I second the notion of a lined sleeve- I would cut a lining for your sleeve of fashion fabric, insert the piping and then treat the lined sleeve as one piece when you attach it to the dress. Or even slipstitch the lining over the seam allowance for a clean inside. This would probably look a little more professional than a facing. It is a cute idea!
I also agree with the (self-)lined idea. I have made a few dresses with cap sleeves and they are self-lined but attached as if they were a single piece of fabric. It turns out well, tho’ I have never tried with piping. Success to you!
That will be lovely. You might want to consider putting piping in the front princess seams. It will draw the eye and give you a bit of an hourglass shape.
I love the story board idea. Can you tell me where to get info on how to do it? Thanks.
I love this pattern – it was actually the first dress that I made so it holds a special place in my heart! And I love the deep pockets!
Looking forward to the story board tutorials!
If you don’t want to use the lined sleeve option, you can just use a faced hem. Make a 1.5″ facing by tracing the sleeve hem. Then sandwich the piping between the sleeve and the hem facing. You can also buy prepacked hem facing (mostly used for quilts) but you could use it for your dress. It will do the same thing. They should have the prepackaged hem facing at the craft store or Hancocks.
Thanks so much – that’s just what I did, and it worked great!
Your sewing adventures have inspired me to learn to sew, and also to start keeping a blog. Feel free to check it out: http://mistyskiesaloft.blogspot.com/ I’m hoping to reach your level of proficiency at some point, although I think it will take me a bit longer!