10 Mar Garment #7, Vogue 8379
Greetings 🙂
There is viscose and there is viscose. I am wearing viscose, more specifically Poppy Abstract Stretch Viscose from Mood Fabrics.
Upon reading the website’s fabric description as “wonderful for wrap dresses reminiscent of DVF,” I placed a quick order and found the description quite accurate.
What is Viscose, you asked? For the scientific definition click here. Viscose, often labeled rayon is a regenerated cellulose fiber resulting somewhere in between a natural and synthetic fabric. I made my dress from a Viscose Jersey, knitted with 4% elastine.
Viscose quality can vary, but this viscose is cream of the crop 😉
My pattern is Vogue 8379, a wrap dress pattern I’ve sewn twice before. I briefly considered sewing a new pattern, but reached for the TNT since I like this pattern for so many reasons.
1. Notice the pleated bodice in the sketch below. The pleats provide a beautiful fit in the bust without pulling or gaping.
No pins or fashion tape are needed to keep this garment in place!
2. The separate skirt and bodice pieces assure a great fit!
and lastly,
3. The combination of the 81″ (207 cm) skirt sweep and weight of the viscose were a good match.
When handled with care, viscose jersey is not difficult to sew.
Two years ago I bought the Craftsy class Sewing With Knits . In spite of not finishing the class or even making one of the five featured patterns, I learned a great deal from the instructor Meg McElwee of Sew Liberated. The class focuses on sewing knits without a serger. Meg gives a detailed lesson about the importance of machine needles to use when sewing with knits.
For this dress I used a Stretch needle.
She also demonstrates how to finish a seam (neckline I believe) by trimming it close to the stitching line, I applied this advice to the hem of my dress.
I stabilized the hem, by applying a 1 1/2″ strip of Mood Fabric’s Marshmallow Polyester Weft Knit fusible interfacing along the lower edge.
Next the hem was folded along the upper edge of the interfacing.
After stitching a 1″ hem, I trimmed extremely close to the stitching line before finishing with an additional row of stitching.
The result is a beautiful flat hem with absolutely no buckling or ripples,
and a dress ready to greet our long awaited Spring. 🙂
Until soon!
Sarah Jo
Posted at 06:44h, 10 MarchOh, what a lovely dress! This is one of the first patterns I made when I started sewing three years ago but it didn’t come close to the beautiful dress you’ve made! (Of course, there’s no surprise there, but your dress makes me want to revisit the pattern!)
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:09h, 11 MarchThank you, Sarah Jo! I also made this pattern during the first year I returned to sewing which didn’t come close to this one either – lol 😉 Maybe you will think about giving it another try!
Margaret M Allen
Posted at 06:45h, 10 MarchBeautiful! Before this page had fully loaded, I loved this dress. Fabulous color on you, terrific use of this yummy fabric. Hooray spring!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:10h, 11 MarchHooray, hooray for spring, indeed! Many thanks, Margaret 🙂
Lesley
Posted at 06:58h, 10 MarchBeautiful as always, I have to give this pattern a try!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:11h, 11 MarchThank you, Lesley! I recommend this pattern for sure.
Laura Casey
Posted at 07:14h, 10 MarchWhat a beauty….perfect fabric for the pattern and the color is wonderful on you. I make lots of knit tops, and have just ordered some the marshmallow interfacing….looking forward to trying it. I usually use French fuse…….but I’ll give this a go.
A good make indeed.
Laura
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:12h, 11 MarchThank you so much, Laura! I have never used this particular interfacing before and its very nice and an excellent price 😉
Mary Stein
Posted at 07:34h, 10 MarchOK – didn’t plan it – but seeing this beautiful dress on you, I had to give it a try. I rushed right over to Mood and ordered the fabric AND interfacing! I shouldn’t be such a copycat – but – WOW I just loved the whole look. I hope mine turns out as well…
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:14h, 11 MarchWell I’m flattered, Mary! I’m sure your dress will turn out just fine 🙂
Cissie wellons
Posted at 07:37h, 10 MarchFabulous dress with the perfect fabric. I pulled out this pattern yesterday so great minds do think alike!,
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:14h, 11 MarchIndeed, Cissie! Can’t wait to see your dress 😉
Graca Resendes
Posted at 07:39h, 10 MarchPretty spring dress! And I think I need to file that hem tip and try it next time I’m sewing a knit. Thanks for the tip!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:15h, 11 MarchThank you, Graca! You will not believe the difference the interfacing makes 😉
Tasha
Posted at 08:05h, 10 MarchSuch a beautiful dress. People have made some amazing garments from this fabric.
Thanks for the tip on interfacing the hem!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:17h, 11 MarchThank you Tasha! I agree with you – Lori (Girls in the Garden) and Erica Bunker have made some stunners. Are there others?
Suzanne Landau
Posted at 08:14h, 10 MarchGosh you sew beautifully. What a gorgeous dress. I saw a very similar patterned soft Pima cotton in Tel Aviv (I live in Israel where it’s summer for 10 months of the year) and have ordered the pattern. Can’t wait to get started. I don’t make much in Jersey or Viscose, it’s just too hot!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:20h, 11 MarchSuzanne – Thank you for your nice comment.. The pattern is intended only for stretch knits. If your Pima cotton is not knit I know there are other wrap dress patterns designed for woven fabrics. Good luck 🙂
Deborah Penner
Posted at 08:46h, 10 MarchWow, love this pattern. I have a silk jersey DVF in pink that I purchased RTW about 14 years ago when DVF had yet to be discovered again by another generation. Have several of her vintage pattrens from the 1970s. This looks similar to the fabrics used for those vintage garments. What an inspiring make.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:27h, 11 MarchThank you, Deborah! You must sew your DVF jersey soon 🙂
Karen G
Posted at 08:56h, 10 MarchI love a wrap dress and your choice of fabric. Anything with color makes me happy! I am so tired of all the blacks, grays and other drab colors I’ve seen all winter. I tend to gravitate toward colorful fabric ALL year long.
Thanks for being an inspiration to me. Time to get in the spring sewing mode!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:29h, 11 MarchI’m with you, Karen! I too love color, but find myself wearing black and gray all winter long………… so glad Spring is just around the corner 🙂
Wendy Grossman
Posted at 09:02h, 10 MarchLovely.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:29h, 11 MarchThank you, Wendy!
Sandra
Posted at 09:03h, 10 MarchWow. Very nice. You make it look so easy. Thanks for including the helpful hints! Love your blog.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:30h, 11 MarchMany thanks, Sandra! This pattern actually is easy as long as your accurate 😉
Julie Starr
Posted at 09:10h, 10 MarchLove this dress! The skirt fullness looks like just the right amount. I’m glad someone else asked about your neckline technique because it looks so stable and smooth.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:31h, 11 MarchThank you, Julie! Staystitching works miracles, doesn’t it?
Tomasa
Posted at 09:28h, 10 MarchYour dress turned out beautiful and it fits you perfectly. You look gorgeous! I have seen this wonderful lively fabric made up in different garments. Besides your beautiful dress, Erica Bunker made a jumpsuit from this very same fabric, I made a knit top from it and I believe Lori from Girls in the Garden also made a dress from it. All fabulous!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:34h, 11 MarchThank you, Tomasa ~ and you are right~ Erica and Lori made beautiful garments with this fabric. I’d love to see your knit top 🙂
Melissa Schulze
Posted at 09:37h, 10 MarchSo gorgeous and flattering!!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:34h, 11 MarchThank you so much, Melissa!
Karen Mulkey
Posted at 09:39h, 10 MarchLovely dress sewn so beautifully! I always use a stabilizer in the hem of my knit garments. Karen
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:36h, 11 MarchThank you, Karen! Stabilizers make an enormous difference, and I am so glad I have discovered this great tip 😉
Myra Rentmeester
Posted at 09:51h, 10 MarchYour dress is beautiful as usual Ms. Sarah! The print give you such a fresh Spring feeling! I’m sure you will get lots of wear from this one!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:37h, 11 MarchMany thanks, Myra! I too, think I’ll wear this a lot 🙂
Carolyn
Posted at 09:55h, 10 MarchBeautiful fabric for the perfect dress pattern! It just screams spring! Lovely!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 21:38h, 11 MarchThank you, Carolyn! I was definitely motivated by the anticipation of spring 🙂
Marcia C
Posted at 09:59h, 10 MarchFabulous match of fabric to pattern. Love, love, love this dress.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:19h, 12 MarchThank you so much, Marcia!
P. Art
Posted at 10:24h, 10 MarchLovely on you, very flattering. I hope you don’t mind answering a question: did you underline? It’s hard to tell. I really admire your perseverance and creativity. Go Sarah
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:22h, 12 MarchMany thanks, P. Art 🙂
I did not underline this dress. The pattern does not suggest underlining and the fabric did not need underlining making this a relatively easy dress to sew!
Maris Olsen
Posted at 10:27h, 10 MarchLovely dress, Sara! I have the same pattern and agree – it is a winner!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:24h, 12 MarchThank you, Maris. Recipes and sewing patterns ~ gotta hang on to the good ones!
Elena
Posted at 10:38h, 10 MarchVery lovely dress. How much fabric you bought for this dress? )) Thanks.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:25h, 12 MarchThank you, Elena! I ordered 2 1/2 yards of the fabric, but please follow the pattern chart for fabric yardage recommendations 😉
Carolyn
Posted at 10:40h, 10 MarchWhat a wonderful project. Your results are stunning. I saw this fabric also and was a finger tip away from ordering but we are out of town for a whole month and decided I better catch up on a couple of projects waiting at home before I add to the stash. Love all your insireation and waiting to see what is next.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:30h, 12 MarchThank you so much, Carolyn! Hope you are on a month long vacation 🙂 🙂
Becky Bagwell
Posted at 10:43h, 10 MarchPerfection! Thanks for all the tips, too!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:32h, 12 MarchThank you, Becky and you are welcome!!!
Claire
Posted at 10:49h, 10 MarchThis dress is a beautiful reminder that spring is on the way, Sarah! Thank you. Would love to hear a bit more about your construction. Did you install an invisible snap at the neckline to keep it from gaping? The overlapping front skirt panels on RTW wrap dresses don’t fall evenly to the floor on me, but I see that this pattern does for you. Did you do anything special to make yours fall so evenly? Invisible snap under the ties?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:37h, 12 MarchThank you so much, Carolyn! Believe it or not there was no need to install an invisible snap anywhere. One reason I like this pattern so much is that the pleated bodice is very well designed.lying flat against the chest. I did a careful measurement before hemming to ensure eveness around the lower edge and I really believe the interfacing helps it hang straight. ( I made an earlier dress from this pattern which did not meet properly).
Margene Yeaton
Posted at 10:50h, 10 MarchAnother wonderful look! Thanks for your hem technique and will use that on my next rayon/lycra top coming up shortly.
Question: did you preshrink/wash this fabric before cutting out the dress?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:38h, 12 MarchMany thanks, Margene! I gave this fabric a good preshrinking in the washing machine before cutting 😉
Michele Brunskill
Posted at 11:27h, 10 MarchI do love a wrap dress. You did a fabulous job and your choice of fabric…gorgeous. Cheers, Michele
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:38h, 12 MarchThank you, Michelle!!
Linda B.
Posted at 11:50h, 10 MarchGorgeous dress! I own some of that fabric and can’t wait to sew it up!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:39h, 12 MarchMany thanks, Linda! Do you know what you plan to sew?
Mary Lynn
Posted at 12:10h, 10 MarchI love this dress! The fabric, and fit and color make it one of my favorites of all that you’ve made!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:40h, 12 MarchThank you so much, Mary Lynn! It is one of my favorites too 😉
Art Attack
Posted at 12:12h, 10 MarchGreat wrap, Sarah. You look like a million bucks! Thanks for the tip on the fusible facing. Must try.
Hugs,
Dorcas
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:41h, 12 MarchThank you, Dorcas! I’ll never sew another lighter weight knit without using this technique 😉
Beth (SunnyGal Studio)
Posted at 12:23h, 10 MarchPerfect fabric choice – love the result.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:42h, 12 MarchThank you so much, Beth!
Sue @ A Colourful Canvas
Posted at 12:57h, 10 MarchYES! It’s dark, rainy and windy outside, but your beautiful dress has brightened my day immensely! The colour, the pattern…gorgeous! And it’s a fine example of the right fabric sewn into the right silhouette! LOVE!
Thanks for the hemming tips. It’s doesn’t show in the photos…but you sew a second row of stitching 1/4″ away from the initial row?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:45h, 12 MarchWith your vivid color palette, I can’t imagine you EVER find yourself experiencing a dark gloomy day – LOL!!!!
Many thanks for the comment, Sue. I realize I did not provide a closeup of the second stitching line, but I did use one. Double click on one of the photos for details. If you don’t see it I’ll provide another photo for you. 😉
aminat
Posted at 14:32h, 10 MarchWow, beautiful as always…
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:46h, 12 MarchMany thanks, Aminat!
Denise Reed
Posted at 14:57h, 10 MarchLovely dress, great fabric choice and the fit is awesome.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:46h, 12 MarchThank you, Denise!
Mary Meree
Posted at 17:01h, 10 MarchThe work and fit of the dress is amazing, so is the colour. .
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:47h, 12 MarchThank you, Mary! It was one of those projects that came together for sure 😉
CarolinasCallin
Posted at 18:06h, 10 MarchHad to laugh when I saw this dress! I’ve had this fabric tagged on my Mood board for at least a few months…and in another color, too! I had it pictured as a bit smaller print than it actually is – but I love what you did with it!
Love the way the dress turned out. That’s a pattern I’ve looked at, but haven’t tried. I did a wrap dress for Steph, but used the Onion wrap pattern with a ‘not so swishy’ skirt, which was a huge success! Yours turned out great – it fits you beautifully!
Thanks for showing me how a fav fabric turns out when you actually purchase it and make it up…lol! Maybe I should just send you my Mood board…so far we’ve loved two of the same fabrics 🙂 Now if I can just MAKE them…!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:54h, 12 MarchCheryl ~ that’s too funny. I would love to see your Mood board!! I find it so interesting to learn how differently people interpret fabric, and I always like your choices 🙂
Alice Elliot
Posted at 19:41h, 10 MarchCan’t wait to try this fabric. I’ve been dying to make a wrap dress and have had so much trouble finding the right fabric. I have a StyleArc pattern I want to use since Vogue patterns don’t fit me in the shoulders and arms without a hassle of alteration. Love your dress! I’m so inspired now.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:55h, 12 MarchThank you, Alice! I think you’ll like this fabric and I’ve heard such good things about the Style Arc pattern. Good luck!!
Sew, Jean Margaret
Posted at 04:42h, 11 MarchSuch a classic dress and beautifully made.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:55h, 12 MarchThank you, Jean 🙂 🙂
Barbara B
Posted at 05:54h, 11 MarchI bought this same fabric from Mood in December with the intent of making a wrap dress for spring. Lately, I have found myself wondering if the fabric is too bold for me. After seeing your lovely version here (you do have a way with wrap dresses) I feel reassured that the fabric is going to work out just fine. Thanks!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:57h, 12 MarchMany thanks, Barbara! I think it’s a natural reaction. I too wondered if this fabric was too bold 😉
Lauren
Posted at 11:36h, 11 MarchYour dress looks lovely and the pattern on the fabric is bright and pretty. I however, just can’t get into and wear fabric made out of plastic bottles. I find the fabric cold on cold days, and hot to wear on hot days. The whole idea of the fabric industry moving to a variety of plastic fabrics instead of nature fibres is disturbing as well. Just try and find quality cottons, linens, wool etc.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:01h, 12 MarchHi Lauren ~ Thank so much for your comment. I was once a purist and would only sew with natural fibers. Now however, I truly believe the new blends make the fabrics sew and wear better. I especially like the addition of lycra to cottons and wools when making a fitted garment. 😉
Lauren
Posted at 22:29h, 14 MarchYes of course you are right. Lycra can help in fabric blends of cotton & wool.. It is the “all man made fabrics” I can’t stand to have next to my skin. Many look great but don’t wear well and are disposed of after a few wearings. One of my personal bug-a-boos. Clothes used to last and stay in style longer.
Sonja
Posted at 12:02h, 11 MarchThis is so beautiful! I just love the color!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:02h, 12 MarchThank you, Sonja!
Vicki Maiorano
Posted at 16:26h, 11 MarchLovely! It fits beautifully.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:02h, 12 MarchMany thanks, Vicki!
Margo
Posted at 18:28h, 11 MarchBeautiful!! I absolutely love this dress!! This is stunning.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:03h, 12 MarchThank you so much, Margo 😉
Denise Thompson
Posted at 09:15h, 12 MarchGorgeous dress! I’ve had this pattern for years and I still haven’t made it. Now I’m inspired!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:36h, 12 MarchThank you, Denise! You can whip this one up quickly 🙂
catherine fowler
Posted at 18:47h, 12 MarchGreat minds. Made exactly the same dress from exactly the same fabric.
Mary Glenn
Posted at 04:01h, 14 MarchBeautiful color, beautiful fit,. You knocked DVF off her pedestel!
Katalin
Posted at 12:42h, 16 MarchYour dress looks beautiful! The colour really suits you!
May I ask if you used your flat sleeve insertion on this? Do you just spread the fabric out evenly when you do that? I got my pattern out and saw that the sleeves were meant to be eased in. I have never eased a sleeve in on a knit garment before.
Many thanks for the hemming tip also!