Disclaimer: I work for Cake Patterns as a Distributor and have received this pattern for free in exchange for photos for Steph to put up on the SewingCake site.
The new Cake Patterns are coming out! I’m reviewing the Red Velvet dress. Just to be clear, it’s not a dress for velvet fabrics. It works really well with 2 way stretch knits that are lighter weight. For an earlier test, I made the dress up in a 2 way velveteen and it was a bit bulky. The Red Velvet dress I bring you today is made out of an Poly/Lycra knit jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics. You can still get some if you like it as much as I do. It’s got 60% crosswise stretch. (Yes I know! It’s a print! And it’s kind of an animal print! What will I do next?)
Let me show you pictures first and then I’ll tell you some stuff. 
First thing that’s obvious is that I seem to like this dress a lot cos I have put up more photos than normal. I should tell you that the Hubbinator also loves this dress and he was photographer so it’s a compliment that he wanted to take so many pics. Thanks Hubbinator!
Sizing and Alterations
My measurements are Bust: 38.5″/Waist: 30″/Hip: 38.5″
My high bust is 35.5″ – I add that in just cos I think more information is better than less.
Size I cut:
Bodice size: 35D; I added to the bodice length, tapering it to the side length so I wouldn’t have to deal with a side bust dart- or rotating a dart or anything like that. Next time, I”ll lengthen the side seam of the bodice an inch in the front and match the back to that. I feel like it rides up just a bit.
For the next go at this pattern, I want to figure out where exactly I need bewb length cos I almost feel like I could go down to the 35C. Before you cut your bodice, make sure you really read the instructions on how to choose a bodice size. The letter of the bodice size does not correspond to your bra cup size. I’m a 32GG and there’s no way I’d ever wear a 34 (or 35 if it existed) C. Ever. Steph has a handy chart so you can measure yourself and choose from that guide. Don’t skip that part. Please don’t skip that part.
Also, knowing and understanding the shape of your bewbs will help you with how you choose to lengthen your bodice. You might be wider set, in which case you’ll want the length of the bodice to go all the way to the side seam. Muslin this part first.
Midriff drawn from the 35 at the top to the 30 at the waist. For next time, I’m going to draw the midriff straight from 30 to 30 since I have a small ribcage. I’ll probably have to make a larger dart. I’ll muslin that before cutting a nice knit.
Skirt cut for the 32.5 size. I did the boxy pleat on the front of my dress and the scissor pleat on the back.
Construction:
Everything went together as you’d expect from one of Steph’s patterns. Everything matches up beautifully, the skirt scissor pleats are fun and the hem does make a difference on this dress. Don’t skip that. I know knits can live without a finished hem but follow the directions. You’ll be pleased.
All the work Steph puts into drafting so that I can just connect the dots on my pattern makes for such an easy sewing experience. On most patterns, I spend a lot more time measuring the pattern and fiddling with fit and ease and I tend to jump right into Cake Patterns.
The fabric from Gorgeous is to die for. There is something to be said about buying higher quality knits, that’s for sure. I highly recommend this fabric. It’s lightweight and drapey and has the softest feel to it.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the collection. Go check it out if you haven’t seen it already.
The run down. Fabric for my Red Velvet is from Gorgeous Fabrics, pattern is from Cake Patterns, shoes are from Nordstrom Rack, bricks by the brick place over in the brick district- kidding on that last one.
What’s your take on the Red Velvet dress? And can you believe this print I’m wearing and liking? Any of the patterns from this collection call out to you? Did I forget to mention anything in my review? Anything else you’d like to know about this pattern?
You look great in that dress. It is great fitting and very flattering. You have been looking absolutely super lately, BTW. Nice work. Good careful review with good points and tips. I’ll check out the patterns.
Thank you so much.
i love it. can’t wait for this pattern! gorgeous pics too. that colour suits you so well and the style is great.
Thanks. I forget how much I love blue.
Dress looks fantastic on you! And it’s always fun to find another body twin, we’re pretty much identical for everything 🙂
Thanks! Body twin! Awesome. Identical, eh? Very cool.
That blue is amazing on you! No wonder the hubbinator loves the dress! I really like how the somewhat abstract print looks with this pattern. Beautiful photos – you are such a great model!
Steph is smart to trade you for photos. You make me want to try the pattern just because you look so happy in it! =)
Thanks Brooke. I’m so flattered. 🙂
Hey pretty lady, I like your new dress. That fabric is awesome both in color and in print. Makes me want one of my own.
Thank you Heather. I totally fell in love with that fabric when I saw it, then I got shy about it and now I really dig it.
I cannot wait!! Looks awesome and the jacket looks perfect, as well as the dress, and it was just going to make some leggings…..
I really want to sew up the shrug or the jacket in the Red Velvet collection from Cake, too. It would pair up so nicely. And thank you!
Oh, that’s pretty.
thank you.
Seeing as jeans just get more and more uncomfortable all the time, I’m eyeing this and the leggings pretty hard. I swore I wouldn’t sew for maternity, but I miss my sewing machine terribly–so much, in fact, that I’ve even contemplated making another quilt. And I hate quilting. 😯
You must be hard up for some sewing time! I hear ya on not sewing for maternity. Hang in there. You could make a bag or another accessory?
And the overzealous button-pushing gets me again! I’d like to add that I love your dress, the color is gorgeous on you!! And if I get this pattern, I’ll have to take your tips into account, since we are apparently chest twins at least, LOL!
Thank you. yay chest twins. Yeah, I’d be curious to know if this lengthening would work on anyone else. I would go with the 35C instead of the D. You won’t need so much width.
Oh bummer. Looks like there is no way out….
I’m probably going to have to buy this pattern too….
That blue is a fabulous color on you and you look great!
oh bummer! I’m so sorry. hehehe I do love the blue. thank you.
I love this dress! It is so flattering…and looks comfy too!
It really is flattering and very very comfortable.
Aaaaaah Leila, you already know I love this dress, and you’re making me consider buying a poly fabric in a way that I *never* have before. 🙂 Such a beautiful print… Thanks for your awesome fitting tips!
Come to the poly fabric side. There are good polys and bad polys, of course. Anything off Gorgeous Fabrics is gonna be the good poly.
This dress looks stunning on you! And the shoes…! Great detail on fitting and the pattern too!
Thank you. I bought these shoes to go with my Inara costume and they just fit in my wardrobe so effortlessly.
Leila! You look gorgeous in your new dress! This is a marvelous rendition of the pattern. I do wonder, as you have experience with Cake patterns, how easily do the patterns work with smaller busted women? I’ve heard some mixed reviews in this regard. I don’t have a lot of pattern modifying skills, so I’ve always been hesitant to try one.
Thank you Michelle. I think Steph has redone the bodice sizes after hearing that the Tiramisu bodice was so large on smaller busted women. I had to add quite a bit of length to the bodice so I’m guessing that it should be quick to fit. There will be smaller busted women posting in Steph’s Muses posts over on her blog. I’m sure they’ll add in any alterations they had to make, which would be helpful. Even the Tiramisu pattern has been redrafted for the smaller bust sizes. This 2nd Edition has a shorter bodice, making alterations in the lower ranges less cumbersome. I hope this is helpful.
If you’ve convinced yourself to like this print, then I have some cotton woven in my stash with your name on it!!! I think you look fabulous in this dress!
Thanks G. I think I have opened up new horizons with this print, for sure.
Leila, this post is so awesome and informative! Thank you for everything you do to keep Cake running, and for the excellent #watercoolering!
Yup, this ones a keeper- it’s great on you!
Thanks. I think I even found a super lightweight knit at Joann’s today. I was shocked.
The dress looks fabulous on you. I’m a separates kinda gal but this dress pattern is very tempting. It could be either casual or dressy depending on the fabric. Thanks for sharing!
I used to be a separates girl but some great dress patterns have changed my mind!
Oh, for pete’s sake. Is this yet another dress pattern I’m going to have to push toward the top of my list? You look amazing. That print is so much fun.
Thanks. Sorry/Not sorry. 🙂
Oh, YES, I have questions! First, I found your post via another sewing blogger, Debbie Cook, and her review of this pattern. She was not digging the full skirt, but as I looked at the photos of her in her dress, I was thinking that it’s just not as flattering to her body shape and that I might like it on me. So I googled the pattern and found the pictures of you in your dress on the Cake Patterns site, and I was even more interested in the pattern now because my shape is more like yours than like Debbie’s.
So my questions are: 1. Debbie’s review and photos show a problem with the neckline facing causing the neckline to stick out instead of laying flat. Does it do that on your dress, and if not, do you have any tips or tricks for getting good results there? I wish I could enlarge some of your photos because it’s hard to see things like that when they are small. 2. I don’t have much garment sewing experience (because every time I try to make something for my body to wear I end up with a disastrous unwearable mess that sends me back to quilting or making costumes for kids to wear instead). When you say to “muslin” a garment first, what does that mean when we’re talking about knits? Obviously I can’t check the fit of a knit dress by sewing it first out of actual 100% cotton muslin with no stretch. If I just substituted some ugly knit off the clearance table, it’s not going to have the same amount of stretch and behave the same as the “good stuff,” will it?
As I’m sure you know, it’s a nightmare trying to find things that fit well in stores if you have big boobs but are not so big everywhere else. I have all kinds of fancy sewing machines and even a serger for knits, but not knowing how to adjust the patterns to fit my body means that I keep taking gorgeous fabric, sewing the pieces together with beautiful balanced seams, creating lovely perfect coverstitched hems — and then putting the tent dress in the Goodwill bin because it looks absolutely awful on me when it’s finished!