Maybe you have patterns that have a short dolman sleeve only. You can lengthen short dolman sleeves easily and the Vivace Dolman is perfect for this tutorial. This pattern has been one of my all-time favorites from Love Notions. I’ve already made three versions of this gorgeous design. The Vivace Dolman has a woven version and a knit version, with different pattern pieces that make the drafted ease appropriate for the unique properties of woven and knit fabric. The result is a similar look and style, and you can choose a vast variety of knit and woven fabrics. It is important that the fabric choice be of the drapey variety.
Today I have two more knit versions to share with you! and you are probably already dizzy with all the stripes. The focus is:
- Matching stripes,
- Not matching stripes
- BONUS: HOW TO LENGTHEN A DOLMAN SLEEVE by adding a new extension easily.
Table of Contents
Summary of the Resources already on my site
But as a summary, I’ll group all the resources I have available about the Vivace Dolman right here, so it’s easy for you to find them all in one place…. before jumping into the stripes.
To read the blog post above my Vivace Dresses above abundant sewing content tips, visit my post below 🙂
To see the video that shows how to sew the overlapped V neckline collar step by step, visit my sewing channel below:
My favorite feature of this design is the overlapped V neckline. The sewing is fun and requires precision on the corners. The off set pleat also needs to be sewn correctly for it to match the neckline. If you want to try this neckline technique, eliminating the front pleat can make the process easier!
To read about this pattern adaptation that is ever to easy to do, see the BLOG post below 🙂
To see the front pattern pieces modified and more details of the simplified Vivace Dolman, visit my video below:
Matching Stripes with the Vivace Dolman
I really enjoyed writing a guest blog post for Love Notions all about matching stripes. This post is live today, and I chose the Vivace Dolman because it’s a great style for those of you who have not yet attempted to match stripes in your sewing. There are only side seams and shoulders to match, and it’s fun and doable. Visit the blog post below:
I could not help but also style my new Vivace Dolman dress with my new and recently released Compose Robe from Love Notions! My “robe” is not made with “robe fabric”, it’s a jersey broderie anglaise and can easily morph into a coatigan if I leave the ties at the back. A pair of boots and we are cold weather ready. To read my blog post about the Compose Robe, click HERE and to see my video about the Compose robe, click HERE.
Lengthen short Dolman sleeves
The dolman sleeves of the Vivace are short and I want to extend the use of this beautiful pattern for all year use. Creating a sleeve piece extension is extremely easy, and you can make your sleeve pattern piece in no time! the best thing is that it will fit your arms perfectly.
- Try on one of your short sleeve Vivace dolman. Measure 3/8″ from the edge of the fabric along the top of your arm to where you want your sleeve hem to be, and add 1″. In my case, this is 17.5″ plus 1″ of hem allowance. This totals 18.5″
- Measure your wrist or forearm… depending if you want full length or 3/4 length. Add about 2″ to that for ease PLUS 3/4″. This 3/4″ will be the 3/8″ seam allowance on each side. Example: my wrist is 7″…. I added 2 1/4″ for ease, plus 3/4″ and that equals 10″. That is the width the bottom of the sleeve piece will have.
- Pin the shoulder seams together, as if they were sewn with a 3/8″ and draw the seam allowance on the curved edge of the extended armhole.
- Slide a large piece of paper underneath the armhole curve. Draw a line down the center of the paper and match that to the shoulder seam. This will be the grain line of the sleeve. Pin it in place to secure.
- Use a tracing wheel to mark the seam line on the paper you have on the bottom. This will mark the curve of the top of your sleeve extension piece. Draw the little curve of the bottom of the dolman sleeves. Shown in red below.
- Now use the measurements you got from your own arms. This is great! The sleeve will be perfect because it will have your length and preferred ease on the wrist or forearm. I drew a line 18.5″ from the seam line of the armhole and drew a line 10″ wide perpendicular to this. I also drew my 1″ hem allowance.
- Now you can remove the front and back pieces that were pinned to the sleeve piece. The marks of the tracing wheel will be visible and you can draw the seam line of the sleeve. The curve will match the armhole perfectly..
- Now add 3/8″ seam allowance to the seam line you just drew from the tracing wheel marks. You will need to true the edges. Follow the same shape and angle to from a little “triangle” on both sides.
- This little triangle will ensure that when you sew the sleeve to the armhole flat and press the seam allowance towards the sleeve, the edges will follow the shape of the curve of the dolman sleeve on the underarm.
- Voila! your own custom sleeve extension that will match the armhole of the dolman sleeve perfectly AND will be the exact length you need for your arms. Draw a notch to match the shoulder seams. This is the top of the grainline. Mark the front and the back on the sleeve… no need for single or double notches here, BUT make sure the front of the sleeve matches the front armscye. The dolman armhole IS NOT SYMMETRICAL AND NEITHER IS THIS SLEEVE. Don’t forget to true the hem allowance to follow the shape of the way the sleeve tapers in.
If you can notice, this Vivace dolman dress also has stripes! BUT, they are vertical. You don’t need to match a thing here. Only one minor detail…. make sure the horizontal stripes on the 2 front collar pieces are identical. Two tiny pieces to match, ONLY. This is how you can enjoy stripes without needing to match them.
Let’s see
Video tutorial with both techniques
To see a video with:
- 15 min of detailed match striping tutorial
- 7 min demonstrating how to create the sleeve
- and more! visit my channel below
Listen to the podcast
To hear this video in Audio podcast format, click below 🙂
You can create a sleeve extension to any short dolman sleeve you have in this way. If it’s a woven, I would probably make the wrist 1″ wider. Have fun!
Get your pattern HERE if you’d like to support my work through my affiliate link. This does not cost you extra. Thank you!
DISCLAIMER: I was provided the pattern without cost, as a pattern tester, in exchange for sewing a muslin, providing feedback on instructions and fit. I Purchased my own fabric for both versions.
I have affiliate links in this post to the pattern company and the pattern. If you click on these links, at no cost to you, I receive a small commission that helps finance my sewing, blog and Youtube channel.
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