Puff sleeve dresses are all the rage at the moment and I’ve been dreaming of sewing the perfect one. This month, I’ve collaborated with Caspar by sewing a summery puff sleeve dress using their gorgeous custom printed fabrics! They are a micro factory that not only allows you to use custom prints on different fabrics but also produce custom products! I love being able to create something from nothing and being able to choose the exact fabric type and design is such a nice way to have complete creative control over a project. Use my special code: TAMMY20 for 20% off their website!
Choosing the fabric
Caspar has a range of fabric types that are perfect for different handmade garments from light and floaty fabrics to sturdier, more durable pieces. I knew I wanted to work with a lightweight fabric that would be easy to work with and also have a bit of structure so the puff sleeves would sit nicely. I came across this stunning floral print and it just screamed high-end fashion to me which felt perfect for this look! The combination of colours in the Flower Rhapsody design really feels elegant, modern and so stylish which is something I was really impressed about when the fabric arrived.
I decided to print the design in a Cotton Poplin which feels incredibly luxurious and buttery. I’ve sometimes found other Cotton Poplin fabrics from different shops to feel a little stiff but I was pleasantly surprised by how lightweight and fluid this particular fabric is and the fact it’s not see-through but provides a lightweight feel. You can choose the scale of the pattern in the selection process and I decided on a small scale (18×18 – repeat) that didn’t loose any of the detail on first glance but allowed the flowers not to feel too overwhelming.
Sewing with Cotton Poplin
I still can’t get over how high-quality their fabric is and this cotton poplin really blew my mind with the level or drape, light-weight feel and slight structure that held the puff sleeve beautifully without feeling rigid. I find sewing with cotton poplin much nicer than using a standard cotton because, in general, the fabric feels much more expensive and drapes nicer over the body. It has a more fine and lightweight handle that is also durable so makes perfect blouses and dresses. I’m over the moon I chose this type of fabric to make this dress and can’t recommend using this enough. The quality feels more of a special occasion dress or a high-end outfit that I would wear when I want to feel extra special.
Sewing The Capulet Dress by Stitch Witch Patterns
This pattern has been all over Instagram and as soon as it was released I knew I wanted to try it but with the right fabric to make sure it would suit my style. The Capulet dress is a puff-sleeve dress that features a fitted bodice and a floaty, gathered skirt. I made the size 8 in the puff sleeve view of the dress and have to say the fit is absolutely amazing. I made zero changes and love how the bodice feels on – it’s not super tight and fitted but I like to have a little more room to breathe.
I feel like a fairy in this dress and want to prance around outdoors sipping cocktails haha! The only thing I have to point out is that the length is very short on me and to make this wearable outside I will need to add a gathered ruffle at the bottom because otherwise my behind is on show! It’s so perfect though and I do love the extra mini length, but maybe my legs are a little longer than the pattern was drafted for so next time I will just extend the hem of the skirt by around 4” and that would be perfect. I love the trendy shape of this dress and think the fabric print suits this style of dress amazingly well.
Overall I’m very pleased with this dress and love that it’s sewn in such a fun and luxurious print! If you’re interested in Caspar be sure to check out their website and you can find their cotton poplin here and their fabric pattern l used here. Use my special code: TAMMY20 for 20% off their website!
