Sorry – blog binge – two dress posts in one day. I am too pleased with this one to wait!
It’s easy to be seduced by the pages of designer patterns offered by Vogue – I am all.the.time. However quietly lurking in the back of the catalogues are pages of timeless designs that look equally gorgeous sewn up.
So here’s one of the unsung non-designer heroes from the ‘Vogue Easy Options dresses‘ catalogue pages. Sorry for the photo spam but there are so many things to like about this dress. After we took the river shots I suddenly remembered this charity If We All Had Wings wall art and wanted to use it as well – because #wings #ifweallhadwings
Vogue 8997 – a classic ‘pretty’ dress
described by Vogue as:
Lined dress has princess seams, close-fitting bodice, front and back V-neckline, raised waist, stitched hems, back zipper, and unlined sleeve variations. A: Butterfly sleeves and narrow hem. B, C: Sleeveless. A, B, C: Flared skirt. D, E, F: Semi-fitted skirt, and back slit. D: Short sleeves and contrast panels. F: Three-quarter length sleeves.
Includes separate pattern pieces for A, B, C and D cup sizes.
Vogue 8997 – pattern cover. Image from Vogue patterns. https://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8997
Things I Love
The back! I love, love, love the v-back on this dress.
I love the back view of this dress. LOVE IT.
Pockets!
Pockets – and I also love the v-neck. I think it’s one of my favourite neckline styles.
I love how the skirt falls in eight panels from the bodice. It skims across your waist and flares out beautifully. Plus it is very comfortable to sit in, eat a large meal in… I know this because I have!
I feel super girly – yet not too fussy – in this dress. I love it.
Princess seam bodice… and it comes in A, B, C and D cup sizes.
Oh and the TWIRL factor.
Twirling – I don’t do this much, since I had children my balance is seriously out of whack!
Construction Notes
I used an invisble zipper so changed the construction slightly to accommodate it.
I turned up the dress hem with bias binding as I like the finish.
I attached the lining differently to the instructions. I find the usual Vogue instructions are much more fiddly and don’t result in such a clean finish. Rather than create a huge online tutorial on this – you can read all about it on the Slapdash Sewist’s blog. I don’t often see the point in reinventing the wheel.
I hand sewed the lining to the zipper as I sometimes find it easier to get a neat finish at the top of the zipper pull. I also hand sewed all the hems. Yes, it took a couple of nights but it’s relaxing and I don’t use my machine once the kids are in bed.
The bodice pieces are all interfaced.
I decided to line the dress with fine cotton lawn. This makes the skirt rather full but I love it.
Minor Things
I think I need to fiddle with the fit a little as it feels a little roomy across the upper bust.
I do wish that the lining had a faced lining around the neckline.
I might run the skirt seams in a little if I make this again as it’s just a little large through the waist… but then again… oh so comfortable.
Holy heck, it’s a lot of hand hemming to sew the lining and the dress hems on this one!
I’m feeling inspired to sew a few more dresses right now!
Thanks Vogue for a lovely pattern, don’t send it to the OOP sin bin too fast!
Pattern: Vogue 8997. Size 6, B-cup.
Fabric: Linen/rayon blend from Lincraft, Australia. Sadly sold out at my store and I can’t see it online *sobs*. I just adore the vivid colours and the drape of this fabulous fabric.
Also see: Barbara Jane Made | Zoopolis | Madame Sew & Sew with lace – so pretty! | Dellia | Sew Limitless | Elle L Silks
Wall Art: If We All Had Wings – a local charity that supports families with cancer patients.
An ‘out take’ with my self-proclaimed ‘posing coach’… she’s 11… stop growing child!
She’s kooky and I adore her. My lovely little Giselle.
