Pattern: Tres Belle Dress with Willow Wrap Flutter Sleeves
Designer: Ellie & Mac (Tres Belle), Love Notions (Willow Wrap)
Fabrics: Viscose Jersey from Wattle Hill Fabrics
Skill level: Beginner
Size made: 2XL
Adjustments: I used the flutter sleeves from the Willow Wrap and mashed them straight into the Tres Belle Bodice
Pros: I’ve done this mash a couple of times and it NEVER fails to impress me. It is light, breezy and super flattering.
Cons: The binding on the neckline can be a little intimidating, but take it slow and you should have no problems.

Romance in Every Stitch: Mastering the Tres Belle Dress with a Flutter Sleeve Hack

So, I guess the first question I ask is, can you ever have too many beautiful dresses?

Answer, NO!

I think this is the 3rd or 4th Tres Belle I have made and at least the 2nd or 3rd I’ve made with the Willow Flutter Sleeve hack. I just love the romanticism of the flutter and softness it brings. I find that using soft fabrics such as Modal’s, Viscose Jersey, Bamboo Lycra and Rayon Jersey/Lycra’s work best if you want a really soft look, while something like a 220gsm Cotton Lycra/Elastane will have slightly more structure to it. 

In terms of the hack, its a pretty straight hack. I used the sleeves from the Willow Wrap and put them straight onto the Tres Belle armcyes at the same size. For example, my armcye was an XL, so I cut the XL flutter sleeve on the Willow Wrap and it fit in nicely.

Of course the other staple that is always in any dress I make, is pockets! I just can’t imagine having dresses without pockets now haha. 

I think one of my favourite things about this style of dress is the cross over front that flares from under the bust, helping to skim over my tummy, which is the area of my body I am most self conscious about. I am working on accepting myself as I am, but being able to make clothes that help me feel more confident is definitely part of that process.

I hope this review has inspired you to explore the fluttering elegance and comfort of the Tres Belle with the Willow Sleeve hack. It’s such a joy to create garments that not only look beautiful but also make you feel confident and comfortable in your skin. If you’re looking to enhance your knit fabric sewing skills further, take a look at my free guide, ‘Improve Your Knit Sewing in 30 Minutes or Less’, and start making your sewing journey even more rewarding. 

Use code ‘sewwithmegan10″ on any Love Notions Pattern for an extra 10% off.

Ellie & Mac also have 50% off ALL patterns during November 2023. Grab it while it’s on sale!

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