Vogue 1250 - Donna Karan NY Dress

This is the fastest dress I've ever made!  It took longer to make the pattern alterations than it did to construct the dress.

Some stats:

Pattern: 
Vogue 1250 - started with a size 20

Fabric: 
black/white abstract print ponte knit from fabric.com

Notions:
1 yard stay tape

Pattern Alterations:
First you should know that this pattern consists of 3 pattern pieces:  1 front/back piece, 1 top back piece and a back neck facing piece.  That's it.  So all of my alterations had to be made to the front piece.  After checking the finished garment measurements on the pattern piece, I determined that a combination of pivot & slide and adding some inches to the back would give me enough inches to fit my pear shaped bottom. 

I laid the pattern on the fabric fold and pivoted out an inch at the waistline and 3" at the hemline.  I also added 4" to the back seam and 3" to the hemline.  For the top back piece, I also did a pivot and slide to add 1.5" to the center back area.

 

I also squared off the curved top back piece which added another 1.5" to the side seam.

Again, this dress goes together 1, 2, 3.  Before you realize it you have a fully assembled dress. 

Construction Techniques:
The one construction tip that I would offer would be to add stay tape to the shoulder seams and I also added a small square of stay tape to either side of the side seam where the dart is formed. 

I serged the edge of the draped facing so that it would be finished and I also serged the hemline of the dress.  Turning up a one inch hem allowance, I used a double needle to stitch the hem down.  A good press and the dress was done! 

This dress can be made by a beginner sewist especially if you fall within the size range because you wouldn't need to make any alterations to the pattern.  Just make sure that you use a knit with enough stretch and you will be fine. 

Here's a pic of me trying to pose like the pattern cover:

And here is a pic of how I will probably wear it to work ~ with a black doubleknit cardigan that I've had it in my closet for forever.

I'm thinking about changing the pattern up a bit, so that there are side seams, and using my TNT dress pattern to make it happen.  I thought about making that version today but I have alot of patterns that I want to make and sooooooo much fabric to use that I'm not sure if will happen this season.  But who knows, I may yet stumble upon a great knit in the fabric closet and be inspired.

So this is the first garment I've completed during my 5 day sewcation...next up is Butterick 5600 and Toya I'm copying you because your version of this dress was so awesome!

Parting Shot:
Spring really is here in my corner of the world...the windows are open to let the spring breezes in and the trees are budding.  Saw a group of robins in the tree outside my kitchen window and I snapped a quick picture...look carefully he's in there! *LOL*

...as always, more later!