Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Vogue 8764

I fell hard for this pattern when I first saw it in the Vogue winter new patterns section.  I HAD TO HAVE IT!  So I was really thrilled when Vogue put the new patterns on sale so quickly...and as tired as I was last Friday I was even more excited when I opened the mailbox and found it there.




I really wanted to make this dress this past weekend.  I was even willing to throw over my other obsession (the SF Designer Interpretation) for my very own copy of this dress.  But I was tired, really tired and all I managed was to find the fabric in the collection and cut the dress out.  Wait, wait, I need to back up a minute and talk about my fabric selection - because what I ultimately used was not my first choice.  


I knew I wanted to make the dress from a ponte knit because ponte knits are my new favorite fabric to sew with...so it was a matter of finding two coordinating colors in my collection. (Yes, I have amassed a collection of ponte knits but shhhhh that's not what this post is about!)  From the very first sighting I knew that I wanted this as a two tone dress...so it was a matter of choosing.  


My first thought was to mix a solid and a print but I couldn't decide on what print and solid and how to situate them.  Print on top/solid on the bottom or the reverse...no matter how I placed them I just wasn't happy with the combinations.  So I fell back and used a bright tomato red and black combo.  I cut them out Sunday afternoon but I just wasn't feeling them, so they sat.


Then there were the pattern alterations which really weren't extensive because this is a custom fit ABCD cup bodice.  Seriously, if you haven't used one of these patterns you are really missing out!  There is a chart on the first page of the instructions that tell you where to measure to figure out what size cup bodice part you should use.




I used a smaller size bodice than skirt bottom.  I altered the skirt bottom pieces to include enough space for my abdomen which hasn't seen a flat day for the last 22 years!  However, I'm finally embracing the fact that I'm a true pear and I think that when I acknowledge that fact and incorporate it into my sewing that my dresses fit better.  With much trepidation, I cut the bodice one size smaller and as I said before the pieces sat on the sewing table while I watched Sunday night television.


Yesterday was a holiday...well for some people...not for me but I did manage to leave time on work and since the traffic was very light, I made it home in record time.  With all of that extra time and some renewed energy, I decided to baste the dress together to see how my alterations worked...I know, I know, the muslin camp is thinking, "if you had just made a dayum muslin, you would know how it fit"  yeah you're right but since that ain't happening, I basted the dayum thing together! *LOL*


Here's the result...




...pretty good, huh?  I'm thrilled!  I made one simple alteration to the skirt bottom and transferred it to the pattern piece...and then I added this ribbon trim...




Now I can't wait for the weekend to finish this up!  I did take the basting out, serged the edges of the fabric pieces and then pinned it back together...I will definitely finish this up this weekend...so stay tuned!


...as always, more later!

34 comments:

  1. That's awesome!! Great look. I love the ribbon.

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  2. I decided to hold off on this pattern for a bit, since I have like 342 new patterns already calling me. But, dayum! You are making it hard to keep that resolve. Looking good!!

    Word verification: stsha ... mixed up stash! lol

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  3. Awesome, I love the red and black combination and the ribbon makes it fabulous.

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  4. Oh nice! I think you've convinced me I need that pattern. I have some cream colored ponte that could work, too. I just discovered ponte and LOVE it.

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  5. Great combo, love the trim. I am seriously loving the Ponte knits also. Two recent tops made in Ponte are seeing a ton of wear. So comfy.

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  6. It is amazing how the additon of the ribbon totally changes the look of the dress. You have a wonderful eye!

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  7. Wow! What a great dress! I can't wait to see it finished. Every single day you inspire me to do something. g

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  8. I love the colour combination - looks great on you! I have been reading all about ponte on blogs and think I need to get myself some. It sounds both easy to work work and looks forgiving over bumps - both of which I like!

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  9. I agree with Audrey. You have a great eye. The ribbon makes the dress great.

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  10. This pattern has popped up in my blog reader twice today and having not even noticed it before I am looking forward to seeing the finished version. Looks like a great fall dress and your is certainly looking good so far.

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  11. The ribbon trim is inspired! It definitely "makes" the dress. I'm a little skeptical about muslins for knits anyway. If you don't have a knit with the same amount of stretch and recovery, you might as well not bother. Which is what I do, not bother that is, lol!

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  12. Oh yeah! This is so you. I really like this dress so far. I have a small square brooch that is black with red dots that I would wear with this.

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  13. Wow ordinarily I don't like black with other solids but add that ribbon and POW what a knock out. I love it.

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  14. Great dress. The ribbon really makes it shine.

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  15. This is looking really sharp and a real potential flatterer. That striped belt really adds a punch.

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  16. Love it, and especially love how that ribbon sets it off. I've had my eye on a few ponte knits for the fall--you've got my ideas flowing now! Another hit Carolyn!

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  17. Carolyn - i think it turned out wonderful :)

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  18. Looking REALLY good. Can't wait to see it finished.

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  19. The ribbon trim just "pulls" this dress together, and makes it a singular designer model, a "cut" above all the rest.

    Congrats on such inspiration, and I hope your office-move bruises are healing okay,

    Michelle and Zebby Cat, downunder and sending huggles and puRRRRumbles

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  20. Once again, you have picked a Vogue pattern that I wouldn't have looked twice at and me it essential to my life! LOL! Seriously, that dress looks wonderful on you, and as we're similarly built I can extrapolate that it will look pretty good on me too. Thanks, AGAIN, for pushing me out of my comfort zone!

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  21. I <3 the ribbon! But which cup size pattern did you pick, seeing that they only go up to a 4 inch difference and you had 5?

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  22. Really like the color combination and the ribbon is the perfect touch. Looks Great!!!

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  23. Great dress!! And I love your idea of adding the contrasting ribbon. I love the color combination too.

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  24. That's a really nice combination, and the ribbon trim adds a great finishing touch.

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  25. Of those two Vogue patterns that were so closely similar - it was a toss up - but I chose that pattern. I was surprised when you posted it the other day and said "hey, that's my dress". You have clearly beat me to the punch because I just finished alternating the pattern last night and am about to stitch up a muslin tonight. Love that fit on you. I know you are going to line it, right? I'm thinking about lining the bodice only - can you give me your opinion on that since you are so far into construction???

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  26. Your dress, with the ribbon embellishment, looks soo much better than the illustration. Win-win!

    Rose in SV

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  27. Just beautiful. I put this pattern on my wish list for the next sale. I absolutely love it! The skirt part almost looks like dupioni.

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  28. I wasn't inspired by the pattern until I saw a glimpse of what you decided to do. Can't wait to see the finished product.

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  29. Love the colour combo. Love the trim. Hadn't looked twice at that pattern thinking it wouldn't suit a curvy girl...as always you prove me wrong. Gorgeous. Can't wait to see the finished article.

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  30. Love the colour combo. Love the trim. Hadn't looked twice at that pattern thinking it wouldn't suit a curvy girl...as always you prove me wrong. Gorgeous. Can't wait to see the finished article.

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  31. Oh I just LOVE it with the ribbon! This is one of those patterns that I initially thought "meh" but now seeing how your working it up I'm wondering how I could have ever felt that way.

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  32. Really nice! I saw a whole display of red and black garments today in the Macy's store window (formerly Wanamaker's) here in Philadelphia. Your dress looked better. I recognize that trim from Mr. Kashi. I have several yards myself!

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  33. I love the dress Carolyn. Great work at color blocking.

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