I promised I’d show you this dress once I finished it, so here it is! This is the exact same Liesl + Co Bistro Dress, but with the tweaks I shared with you last week. This time around, though, I made it using silk velvet. (Oh, and I raised the neckline too because I couldn’t stand the thought of forgetting that detail again, like I did with the first dress.)
Velvet has been a staple in my sewing repertoire for years, but silk velvet was a new experience for me. I took my time with this one to make sure it turned out just right—and I have to say, I’m thrilled with how it came out! It feels absolutely divine to wear. The silk velvet is soft, drapey, and just plain luxurious. At $40 per yard at Mood (and needing only two yards), it still ended up being cheaper than many dresses of inferior quality at department stores.
Some technical details:
- Before sewing any seam, I hand-basted them all. Every single one. It took a bit longer, but it was completely worth it because it kept the fabric from shifting around. By the time I got to the sewing machine, I felt confident that nothing would go wrong. The edges of the fabric did curl a bit, but since I’d already put in the effort by hand, it wasn’t too difficult to manage.
- I also used a walking foot to be extra cautious, just in case.
- The dress is fully lined, and I added neck facings to give the neckline more structure and stability. For the facings, I used the same black sateen as my first dress because I knew it would provide the right amount of support. The lining is Bemberg, which is getting harder to find here in Spain. It’s becoming a bit of a treasure for me since it drapes beautifully compared to most other lining fabrics, which often feel rough and unpleasant. Next time I come across some, I’ll definitely stock up!
- While I’m happy with the overall fit, I think the front neckline is still a bit too loose and tends to sag instead of staying upright. I’m thinking of adding some sort of stabilizer, but I’m not sure what yet. Fashion tape isn’t an option—I hate how sticky it gets. Boning might work, but I’m open to other ideas if anyone has any!
- At first, I was concerned that the silk velvet wouldn’t hold up well enough to support the pockets, but after testing some scraps, I decided it would be fine. To reinforce the pocket seams, I used 1/4-inch twill tape, similar to the technique described in the Bento Tee instructions. It worked beautifully, and I love how the pockets are subtle—they’re there, but you don’t really notice them until you look closer.
- Sewing and pressing the darts with a velveteen press cloth was surprisingly easy. I made sure not to press too hard—only the lightest touch of the iron ever touched the fabric. Honestly, working with silk velvet was far easier than I expected based on everything I’d read online. Don’t let those “scary†fabrics scare you off! Just take some time to practice beforehand, and you’ll approach your project with confidence.
This dress came together slowly, like most of my personal projects. I’d sew a seam here and there between all the sample sewing I’ve been doing for our upcoming spring pattern shoot. It was such an enjoyable process! Sewing with silk velvet turned out to be easier than I anticipated, and I loved the entire experience.
Now, I just need somewhere special to wear it. And please don’t ask me to walk anywhere in those heels—I think I’ll stick to sitting for now!
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