Hello you lovlies!

I come to you today all dressed in my finest in my newest arrival to my party frocks… a luxourious velvet Lena dress!

I have had my eye on the Lena wrap dress for a while and actually thought it was a literal wrap dress but it’s a mock one and I’m ok with that as it still has that flattering waistband that I think makes all the difference to one’s silhouette!

Lena is a great pattern, with a lovely shape and it suits this fabric SO well. They were born to be together! In fact it was all kismet as the lovely people at FC Fabrics offered to send me some of their new fabrics and this amazing burgundy stretch velvet was definitely the standout piece. I had already picked Lena as my Simple Sew pattern for this month so was over the moon that this fell into my lap days before I was due to sew it up! They are definitely meant to be and this velvet is SO soft and easy to sew with!

There are some lovely details on Lena – it has a fully lined bodice which I self lined in the velvet and the full length sleeves are totally my style – who wants cold wrists! I was actually sewing this up during a massive snow storm that the ‘Beast from the East’ brought across the UK and that felt very apt because A) This dress made me want Christmas back again and B) It reminded me of the Soviet Union!! I did want to do a photoshoot out in the snow but I just feel like it would be a tad too festive for March!! 😉

I used my overlocker for all of the seams and then stretch stitch on my sewing machine for the trickier wrap and waistband part. I also got to try out my new Pfaff Coverlock 3.0 on the sleeve and skirt hems so this dress is finished off beautifully!

I have to admit I wasn’t sure I loved it when I first tried it on but after a bit of makeup and brushing my hair the second time I put it on for these photos I really loved it and swishing around in it. Now I just need a fancy occasion or Christmas to come around again to wear it out!

I hope I have inspired some more lovely Lena’s – it’s a very versatile pattern that would look great in a number of fabrics on many different body types so give it a go!

Happy Sewing Comrades!