How to Sew a Dress With Suede Trim

When you are ready to learn how to sew a dress, adding suede trim is a way to make a simple creation look amazing and stylish.

How to Sew a Dress With Suede Trim

Suede trim can be an inset, such as shoulder panels on a western-style dress or an office suit-dress, or you can add suede fringe to a bohemian dress or an 80's-style big-shouldered dress for a fun retro touch.

Dress Sewing Pattern Selection

Not all dress sewing patterns are styles that will look right with suede trim, because suede is a heavy material, commonly added to fall and winter clothing.


Suede is available in any color you want, though, so you can easily add it to a spring or summer garment as an embellishment and have the dress turn out really cute.

Choosing Material and Suede

Usually, you will want to sew suede trim to a fairly thick, firm fabric, and it is a good idea to avoid using jersey or knit fabric because those fabrics require a ball point needle to avoid getting runs.  (You can, however, use a ballpoint needle with synthetic micro-suede, if you really want the dress to made from knit fabric.)


The dual layers of heavy fabric match up nicely and make the combo easy to work with, however, suede fringe trim can look really beautiful on a dress made from light, floaty material if you match up the colors and the fringe is cut narrowly enough to move and shimmy when you are wearing the dress.

Sewing Machine Needles for Suede

Ideally, you will want a leather needle to sew suede trim on a dress.


This means you need a sharp needle, gauge 9 to 11. (This is why I recommended against using jersey or knit fabric for this project.)

Seam Finishes for Suede and Fabric Dresses

For most suede trim that you can add to a dress, such as a suede fringe, a simple line of top-stitching will give you the best result.


If you are sewing inset trim pieces, such as in the shoulder of a western-style dress, top-stitching is a way to finish the seam and give the piece a sophisticated touch.

Care of Suede and Fabric Dress

If you are using a real suede hide to make the suede trim for your dress, you won't be able to toss the dress in the laundry, you will need to have it dry cleaned when it gets dirty.


If you are using synthetic micro-suede, you can either have the dress dry cleaned or wash it in the gentle cycle with wool wash instead of detergent.

The idea of sewing purses can be so intimidating, just like anything you are trying for the first time can be, but with some easy purse sewing projects for beginners, it's so simple to jump in and make yourself a cute one-of-a-kind purse.

Purse Sewing Projects for Beginners

To find a beginner level purse to sew, you can buy a kit, a pattern, or if you feel adventurous you can draft your own basic purse pattern.

Keep in mind, that the simpler the design is, the easier it will be to make the purse - for example, unlined is easier than lined, a divided bag is harder to make than a bag with one large compartment, each pocket the purse has is extra work, and the type of closure the bag features also adds work.

Purse Making Kits

Buying a purse making kit is a handy way to get started because everything you need will, or should, be in the kit - including the directions.

In some kits, the pieces will be cut out ahead of time for you, and in other kits you will get the raw materials and a pattern.

Purse Patterns

Buying a sewing pattern is a way to get started making purses, and it gives you more options than buying a purse making kit.

With a pattern, you often get a basic style purse and pattern pieces to add some extras and embellishment, plus you can mix up the fabric choices and make numerous bag looks from one pattern.

Self-Drafted Purses

Even a beginning sewist can take a plain, worn out purse, tear it apart, and use the pieces as a pattern to cut out and sew a new bag - just make sure the style is basic, without lining or a lot of embellishment if you are just learning to sew or if you are unsure of your sewing skills.

Sewing bags and purses is a fun way to explore sewing and to express your personality and creativity.