I know, I know...I just had my first day of school. But that was my own teaching quarter. As it turns out, I'm also
taking a class, and my first day of Patternmaking at a local community college began this past Tuesday! Of course I had to make something to wear!
(Awkward arm angle to show the side panels :)
Twice a week, I teach my own lab and then drive to another school for Patternmaking class, so my new outfit still had to be professional. For my sewing time, a single-garment outfit (aka, dress) is the way to go and I chose
Vogue 8902 for its interesting design details. This pattern has multiple bodices for various cup sizes, so I went with cup size A and planned to cut a straight size 10. I completely spaced and cut the pattern size 8. Yikes! In the end, it was just fine, and I even took the sides in a bit.
The design of the dress is interesting--several panels make up the front and back bodice, and they are cut on different grainlines. The pattern envelope even shows variations with striped fabric. The result is a nicely fitted dress with some stretchiness, since the bodices and side pieces are on the bias. Unfortunately, the result is also that the invisible zipper bows out a bit (at least for me, and I redid the zipper 3 times!). Next time, I might underline the back bodice, with the underlining cut on the straight-grain, to stabilize the zipper a bit.
All the seams are topstitched as they are sewn, so that made fitting a bit more challenging. Not only did I reapply the zipper multiple times, I also had to recut the back bodice top after I attempted to fit the dress by only taking it in along the center back. In the end, recutting the back bodice, ripping out lots of stitches and taking it in along the sides worked much better!
The fabric for the dress is incredible (and from Britex's remnant department!). It's a very lightweight wool, which is slightly brushed and extremely soft. It's gorgeous and perfect for this dress style. While the pattern calls for only lining the bodice (what is that about, anyway??) I lined the whole thing with nude-colored Bemberg (also from Britex)
It's not quite warm enough to go with only cap sleeves, so I wore this with a close-fitting 3/4 sleeved magenta cardigan and light pink sparkly flats.
I finished this in January, so this is garment #2 for that month. I'm ahead of the game with my "resewlution"! And for those eagle-eyes out there, I got my hair cut by the time I took the last photo :)
Such a pretty dress, and love the cardigan with it.. Perfect bit of color..
ReplyDeleteHave fun with your class. sounds wonderful
Wow! THis dress is divine. I love the sort of interest that those sections give and such a lovely shape too. The pattern with the topstitching gives the lovely plain fabric a chance to shine! Worth all the hassles.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dress! The design lines make it very interesting.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work! I never gave that pattern a second glance. But your version is fab.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely piece! You will be able to style it so many ways. I have a deep inward arch in my lower back (swayback, maybe?) and I find zippers do the same thing in the back--I've started putting the zip in the side of dresses--wonder if that might work better?
ReplyDeleteI think you are right--I suspected it was my sway back coupled with wide shoulders and thought a side zip would help, but I chickened out, since there are so many seams on the sides. Next time!
DeleteI love it. I may have to give this pattern a try. I recently put an invisible zipper into the Hollyburn skirt pattern, made with a Robert Kaufman railroad stripe chambray. This also has bias cut pieces. I used this tutorial and it worked like a charm: http://shopnews.afashionablestitch.com/stay-tapes/invisible-zipper-tutorial/ No buckling or bowing or anything.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Amanda! I will definitely try out that tutorial next time...actually makes me want to redo this dress, but I've already torn out and resewn the darn zipper three times!
DeleteLovely dress Nicole. Vogue really does have some beautiful, chic dress patterns. I was going to suggest the fusible tape, and I see that Amanda has directed you to a tutorial on the same subject. It really does help with bias cut fabric.
ReplyDeleteThe sparkly shoes are the perfect accessory!
Such a pretty dress, and it's a great style on you. And I'm a bit envious of your pattern making class. Have fun and share what you learn. :)
ReplyDeleteLove your work! This so simple and classic but the lines, detail and fitting is unique and beautiful!
ReplyDelete