This was my third dress this year. I thought I’d try something different and a bit more of a challenge. The first pattern I used was “very easy” and this was “easy”.
I found this on the vogue website and decided to give it a whirl:
Although it was a lot more material than the other dresses I’d made the sales assistant at Centrepoint Fabric thought it wouldn’t be too hard. So I decided to go for it.
The assistant was very helpful. She suggested I choose a wool crepe. This meant that unlike the model photo my dress turned out more flowy and less stiff. I really like the way that skirt and bodice turned out on my dress but was a little disappointed that the bow didn’t stand up as well as in the photo.
Here are some photos:
I really like the way that this dress turned out to have lots of shape as well as being really comfortable and loose-fitting.
And I think the bow is really cute:
On a side note I thought that if was going to take up sewing seriously then I should measure myself properly. I was surprised to realise that I was a 12 or 14 for bust and waist measurements. However I ended up taking in 2 cm on each side of the bodice waist, tapering off as I got to the arm hole and adjusting the skirt to side seams to match – so there! I wonder if anyone else has found vogue sizes to be quite ungenerous?
Dresses & Me 
I ALWAYS go up a size from my dress size when sewing with Vogue patterns e.g while I’m a 10 usually I always make a 12 in Vogue (the same with any pattern that is a re-release of a vintage pattern). Also, as I go I make adjustments as you have, often using the lining as a toile (and often line patterns that don’t call for it so that I can get the fit perfect this way). The nice thing about taking that extra time is you know for next time how the pattern should work. Great job the dress is super cute! (Did you put any interfacing in the bow pieces? That might help with stiffness).
LikeLike
Wow thanks for the great tips! No I didn’t put facing in the bow but that sounds like a good idea š
LikeLike
Soooooo Cute!!!!
LikeLike
thanks!
LikeLike
Thanks for explaining that. As I say – I am new to sewing dresses. Yes measuring myself made a huge difference for making the dress fit properly (probably shouldn’t have ocme as a surprise to me). Thanks for the compliment too š
LikeLike
Your dress is adorable. You asked about whether or not Vogue patterns were “ungenerous.” The dress you made would be considered a close-fitting garment, which means very little ease. Ease is the difference between your actual body measurements and the garment measurements. First you need a little ease just to move in, then there’s ease for the style of the garment (a coat needs more inside room than a t-shirt), and finally there’s design ease (a swing coat has more ease than a light jacket, and certain designers prefer lots of ease and others prefer very little ease.) Your dress would have very little ease in the bodice beyond the ease needed for movement. That’s characteristic of that style, not necessarily that it’s a Vogue brand pattern.
Often patterns have ease information written on the pattern pieces, although it is somewhat cryptic at times.
Yes, having your accurate measurements makes a huge difference, especially when creating a close-fitting garment. Also keep in mind that pattern sizes are not even in the same universe with ready-to-wear sizes.
I think you did a wonderful job fitting your dress! You should sew more, since you have a good eye and a real knack for it.
LikeLike
Hi the black dress looks great .
LikeLike
Thanks Gail!
LikeLike