It seems like the DVF wrap dress calls to every woman at some point in her life...!
Wish I could have found a copy of the original DVF for Vogue pattern, but I got the closest thing I could find: Vogue 8379. I used a gorgeous rayon zig-zaggy print knit from Emma One Sock. It is one of the nicest knits I've ever worked with, just deliciously soft and totally opaque. I wish every knit could be so well behaved! I was just barely able to eeek out a version of the dress with my 2 yards. One change I made was to taking a lot of the fullness in the skirt that I didn't want anyway- 20 inches out of the sweep of the skirt! And I shortened it considerably.
OH, and I also made the dress sleeveless. Not only does it save on fabric, but it also allows me to stretch my wardrobe out to all 4 seasons, and adjust to the wide variation of
temperature variations in my environment (freezing office, overly warm
classrooms, etc.) In order to make it sleeveless with a clean line, I drafted
an armhole facing (this was the first time doing that and it was easy!).
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| Sleeveless dress with a long-sleeve bolero made from rayon jersey. |
To fit the
pattern to my body, I cut an 18 waist and skirt and a 16 bust and shoulders,
and still took out another inch around the bust (curved it in under the
armhole). For reference, I'm 12 in RTW in both tops and bottoms. I also reshaped the
front armhole... it had a very extreme curve, which I tamed down a bit. To fit
the pattern onto my 2 yards I cut the belt in two parts-- not ideal but it
doesn't look too bad.
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| With a simple wrap made from a lofty wool/mohair knit from Mood. |
I interfaced the facings with lightweight tricot from Emma
One Sock-- this is the nicest interfacing I have ever worked with. (UPDATE: tricot from Fashion Sewing Supply is also fantastic!) I also put
some strips of interfacing in the shoulder seams to control stretch. I hemmed
with interfacing... first time I've done that, and it is really a beautiful
method. I tacked the facings down with fusible hem tape (I feel like this was
cheating, but I tried hand sewing and everything shows on this fabric, and I
can't stand spending all day tugging at facings).
Before making this dress I made a wearable muslin (will post
pics later) where I skipped the facings and bound the neckline and armholes.
This was okay-- a more casual look, I love it too! For this dress I tried the
facings and love the clean, crisp look. This is also sort of a trial run before
I make it in silk jersey, and my previous attempt at making another dress in
silk jersey was sort of sad-- by the third wearing it has completely stretched
out. It was also a b---- to sew, it kept wiggling out from under my needle. I
think some very lightweight interfacing would help both problems.
An added benefit-- nursing
compatible and adjustable for a changing body, for all those moms out there!
I've been wanting this dress for soooo long, don't know why I waited so long! I plan to make it again in silk jersey! It would also be luscious in wool jersey, fully lined, with a thick belt.
