My Lucia Dress, aka My Valentine
I turned on some jazz as I started to write this. I always find a way back to myself when I listen to jazz. It centers me, it grounds me. And it’s doing just that as I reflect on my Lucia dress.
When I started to make the Lucia dress, my full intention was to wear it for NYE. I honestly can’t remember how I got so behind on it. Probably the busyness of the end of the year and wanting any of my down time to just breathe and rest. I did desperately try to finish it the night of NYE. I was sitting at my sewing machine for hours leading up to the event I was attending. Unfortunately, I had made the straps too short. Being 5’, I guess I underestimated my height for once. I had to completely take the straps out, sew new ones, and put them back in. Thankfully this didn’t ruin the dress, but it did ruin me being able to wear the dress for NYE. I grieved the loss and then told myself I would make Lucia my Valentine’s Day dress. <3
This was my first time using a pattern by VikiSews. I had a great experience with putting the PDF pattern together and following the instructions. I love VikiSews because her patterns make you feel like a fashion designer, and they are some of the most fashionable patterns I have found in the indie pattern world. I haven’t taken any of her courses yet, but I am eyeing the couture one and I’m smiling right now thinking about it. The hardest part about making this dress was honestly the fabric. Sewing a fabric with sequins can be quite frustrating. At least for me. I think I needed a different type of needle, because the needle I was using kept breaking when it would hit a sequin just right. I was feeling so much frustration and fear that a needle was going to break and fly right at me. I laugh thinking about it now, but in the moment I almost walked away from the dress all together. I’m glad I kept going though, moving through my millions of emotions, because this dress made my Valentine’s Day extra special.
This Valentine’s Day ended up bringing a lot of sweetness with it that I didn’t anticipate. My friend and I decided we were going to see the new Captain America movie, so I knew I wasn’t going to be wearing my Lucia that night. I had considered taking it over to my friend’s for a photo shoot, but decided I would have a little photo shoot on my own in my sewing room. There is a long backstory of how I had to move in with a roommate in 2023 to help with finances, but on this day in 2025 I am finally in my own apartment again and for the first time have my very own sewing room. I had music going and just let myself have fun swaying and dancing in my dress - that I had made, in my very own sewing room. Later that evening I was emailed the lease to officially sign and take over my roommates apartment, solidifying that I do indeed have my own sewing room.
I have some beautiful memories making this dress, and I have beautiful memories wearing it. Hopefully I will have an excuse to wear it out soon, but for now, the time I spent snapping photos in it on Valentine’s Day feels extra sweet and full of love.
Love,
Pamela
Pattern: Lucia Dress
Fabric: Mood Fabrics
