Start your sewing adventure with us.

Join Seamwork Now

Welcome to the July Update

Beat the heat with Ariel and Lucy, by Haley Glenn.

Posted in: Makers & Crafts • June 30, 2018

Hello Seamworkers,

Each year when July rolls around, I end up wearing the same three dresses over and over again. Dressing for warm weather is all sundresses and fun until the weather gets so oppressively hot that even a semi-fitted bodice feels suffocating and jean shorts feel like tiny leg prisons.

I grew up in Southern California’s Colorado Desert. Most of the year the weather sits well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, making me no stranger to seriously hot weather. So I always approach my summer dressing with strict criteria.

Natural fibers all day every day. Linen and cotton are your best friends. Silk may seem like a comfortable and breezy option, but certain varieties can lack breathability.

Give your black clothing a rest. I worship at the altar of black clothing, but if you are committed to beating the heat, ditch the black.

Ease is king. Fitted clothing traps your body's heat. Favoring garments with plenty of ease will help you stay cool.

Keep it simple. Overcomplicated or embellished garments can feel overwhelming in the heat. Pull-on garments with simple cuts and details are the way to go.

These simple tips serve as the guiding principles behind July's designs. Meet the Ariel dress and Lucy jumpsuit—two garments perfect for hot summer days. These simple pieces are easy to sew and add into your rotation of tried and true summer garments.










The Ariel dress embodies easy summer style. With a midi-length column silhouette, delicate straps, and a center-front vent, you’ll feel effortlessly chic without compromising comfort. With large, uncomplicated pattern pieces, this dress is perfect for that amazing print in your stash that you have been dying to use.

A simple and chic jumpsuit epitomizes cool style. Make that jumpsuit in a knit, and you have a stylish garment you won’t want to take off. The Lucy jumpsuit features a sleeveless bodice and wide cropped legs. Clever details like a lined bodice and elasticized drawstring make this jumpsuit fun to sew and comfortable to wear.

In addition to these new patterns, the July issue of Seamwork explores techniques, ideas, and resources to help renew your creativity in the coming month. This month, we go on the road with BERNINA, exploring how this iconic brand maintains its worldwide appeal. We also take you behind the scenes with Birch Organic Fabrics. Learn two different methods for creating bra strap guards. And Sarai talks about how building a routine is the key to prioritizing your creative practice.

Make sure to check out the Patterns in this Issue feature to see all the ways you can customize the Ariel dress and Lucy jumpsuit to fit your wardrobe needs. In each issue, we explore pattern hacks, fabrics, and tutorials that help you create clothing you’ll love wearing.

As always, I look forward to seeing your inspired makes.

Happy sewing,

haley-signature-small

Haley Glenn
 | Editor-in-Chief

Join the Conversation

Sign in or become a Seamwork member to comment on this article.

Sign in            Join Seamwork

You May Also Like

Explore More Seamwork

Seamwork members have access to hundreds of patterns, with two new patterns available each month. Membership starts at just $15 per month!