Quick sew festive outfits
Don’t have anything to wear for Christmas and New Year’s? Don’t panic, we’ve got some quick sewing ideas for you!
If you’d like to impress your guests with a 100% handmade outfit, we’ve got designs that are accessible to beginners too!
A shiny jersey dress
If you’re short of time to sew your party outfit, you can try your hand at making a jersey dress. If you have a serger, these projects will take even less time! But all dresses can also be sewn on a conventional sewing machine, simply by using a jersey foot and an elastic stitch.
Many easy patterns are available online as PDFs, such as Studio Schinttreif’s Madame Selma pattern, with its pretty back neckline, or Coralie Bijasson’s wrap dress pattern.
You can also opt for a skater dress, a classic and effective dress pattern with a fitted bustier and flared skirt. They’re easy to find on the Internet, including this one by Deer and Doe. It’s also a model that’s perfect for children.
The most important thing for a successful party outfit is to choose the right fabric! Choosing a jersey model opens up a wide range of possibilities. You can opt for a sequinned jersey or a lurex jersey to add shine to your outfit.
Children can add star-printed organza to their jersey dresses. Simply cut it to the same size as the skirt and take it from the waist seam. This will add a touch of Christmas magic to their outfit!
A brilliant dress
As we said earlier, the dress pattern is less important than the fabric used. Don’t hesitate to use a simple straight dress pattern like this one from Deer and Doe or this one from New Look. For children, head for La Droguerie and their ultra-simple Saint Tropez pattern.
We then sew these patterns with beautiful fabrics. You could, for example, choose a velvet that will bring a shiny effect to a classic straight dress. Or simply choose a cotton fabric in colors reminiscent of the holidays: a beautiful deep green, red, off-white…
If you want to dazzle your guests, then you can use a sequinned fabric. They’re easy to find in fabric stores. They come in red, black and multicolored… Make sure you take your time sewing the sequins, and use a sturdy needle. If you’re afraid of damaging your machine, you can unstitch all the sequins on the sewing line. But this will considerably increase your sewing time!
A flowing satin dress or jumpsuit
Fluid dresses are a must for party outfits. You could, for example, opt for the short dress by Marliou Studios, the Patronnes dress or the Patternette dress with its puffed sleeves and back neckline. All these patterns are suitable for beginners.
In the same spirit, a flowing jumpsuit is also a good idea for a holiday outfit, to be worn with a jacket and a pair of ankle boots or even sequined sneakers. You can choose the Clématisse Pattern, which has a pretty bow detail on the side, or the Vogue one, which ties at the waist.
To sew a flowing dress, you can choose a gold lamé fabric that will give a beautiful fall and is sure to sparkle, or a viscose containing touches of lurex like Lise Tailor’s floral viscose with its gold details. Or opt for a satin fabric. Either a silk (which will be rather expensive), or a polyester satin, a much more economical solution.
To stay in the Christmas spirit, you could choose a red or green satin fabric and accessorize with a mohair cardigan or jacket.
What about you? Will you be sewing yourself a holiday outfit? Which models would you like to try out?
