You might be wondering why I made a dress for which I didn’t have very high expectations. I actually did think Vogue 8873 was a really cute dress design, and I am kind of crushing on cowls right now, and I wanted to use a piece of insanely-gorgeous fabric from EmmaOneSocksome great fabric store…..so I was initially sure the finished product was going to be lovely.
Somehow, don’t ask me how because I can’t explain it, I didn’t realize until the project was underway that the waistline was dropped below the natural waist. Yes, the technical drawing/pictures give a hint of this. Yes, the front bodice darts indicated this. But somehow I was not paying enough attention. And a dropped waist on a high-hipped lady usually spells trouble. So I fretted and stewed. Worried that I was putting effort into something that was not going to be wearable. Worried I was “wasting” my beautiful fabric. Worried that my all-too-precious sewing time was being wasted.
So I constructed the dress front and the dress back, and basted the side seams together. I tried it on. And I was stunned. Stunned, I tell you.
It worked on my figure! It fit perfectly! It was not wasted effort in any way! And since I have at least one wedding to attend this summer I now have a pretty new dress to wear that makes me feel all flirty and feminine. Winner-winner chicken-dinner!
The fabric is a super comfy ponte in an inky navy blue paintbrush print. I fell in love with this fabric and ordered several yards (how many months ago?), not knowing for certain what it wanted to become. When I saw Vogue 8873 it was a natural pairing.
The instructions call for this dress to be lined, but I didn’t have any stretchy lining in my stash, and couldn’t find any tricot when I made a feeble attempt to find a suitable lining. I took a risk that the lining was not required. That decision did require binding the armhole with ivory bias Ambiance; easy-peasy. I also lined the pockets with the same ivory Ambiance.
I made my usual “petite above the waist” adjustment, and lengthened the skirt by almost 2 inches. (Thanks be to God, since it ended barely at my knees!) Other than that, a straight size 14. This dress is very easy to sew, and I am thinking about making another version with the bias skirt, maybe in a floaty rayon fabric? In the meantime, I plan to wear the heck out of this pretty frock!
Geez, too many selfies in this post?!? 😉
Happy sewing!
Maris