Pages

Thursday 4 February 2016

Vogue 8379, the jungle edition



Wooooooahhhhh! While my first V8379 ended up a bit plain and boring, the remake can be described as...well, the opposite. In fact my camera had trouble focusing on the leopard-roses-tropical birds-mix, and the same goes for the human eye. You just don't know where to look in this dazzling print. The pictures were taken on a rather dark afternoon, the flash went off resulting in slightly washed out colours, in real life the fabric is vibrant!

The fabric is a cotton/viscose mix, the pattern is Vogue 8379, a classic wrap dress I made two years ago in solid blue.



What I like best about this pattern are the diagonal soft pleats coming from the waist. They provide nice shaping, releasing extra fabric at the bust without messing with the neckline.




Because of this feature it is gently skimming the curves, which on me is a better look than wrap dresses with a large amount of negative ease at the bust. 

The pattern comes with two sleeve variations: a short sleeve and bracelet length with cuffs. I was short on fabric so the cuffs weren't an option. Without cuffs the sleeves looked a bit wide so I narrowed them below the armscye and shortened the sleeves till just below the elbow.



The fabric had been in my stash for over a year and I knew I would not be able to buy extra in case of emergency. It was very slippery and during an overlocker test run it didn't behave very well, making me think the sewing machine was the safer option.
The instructions mentioned double-stitched seams. Stich along the seam line, stitch again 1/4"(6mm) away in seam allowance; trim close to the second stitching. This results in seams that at first glance look like French seams, but without the bulk coming from the extra fold. I had never used it before, but it looks really good.

I left out the facings, as I knew from the first time I used this pattern that there was no way to let them stay inside.

Neckline turned under and stitched

When I read Debbie's review of the Cashmerette Appleton wrap dress over at Stitches and seams I made a note of her brilliant idea to interface the ties and copied it for this dress. Works really well!

Speaking of the ties: they ended up really short. Of course this may have something to do with the state of my waistline, but that should have been taken care of by sewing up the correct size. Right? When I checked the pattern I noticed a grading issue. Only half of the difference in waist size was added to the next size up. Which would of course be correct if the ties were knotted at the back. But when you tie it as in the envelope drawing, the right tie goes all the way around the waist and the left tie about three quarters. With a difference of 33 cm/13" between the smallest and the largest size this is rapidly adding up, so check it! Adding to an already finished tie is no fun. Ask me how I know ;)

I am very pleased with this dress that is putting a smile on my face everytime I see it. I'm already planning a next version! 

That's about it. As I mentioned a few days ago this dress was inspired by Jungle January, and although finished in time, due to jungle weather conditions it was only ready to join the big parade on the fourth day of Ferocious February.

Thanks to Anne of Pretty Grievances for hosting another fabulous Jungle January! This one is for you Anne, a salute from the exotic woodpecker that is now residing on my right upper arm. Beep beep!







29 comments:

  1. That dress looks great on you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! i'm really happy with how it turned out!

      Delete
  2. Very pretty, And such a perfect fit!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Not perfect yet, but getting there!

      Delete
  3. An amazing print! The dress looks great; I looked back via your link to your blue dress and I like that very much - perhaps prefer - that tells you a lot about my taste in fabrics!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The blue one is okay, but not very exciting. Maybe the print on this dress is a little over the top, but it puts a smile on my face!

      Delete
  4. An amazing print! The dress looks great; I looked back via your link to your blue dress and I like that very much - perhaps prefer - that tells you a lot about my taste in fabrics!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I saw this on IG. Beautiful. Love how this pattern wraps on the waist & bust. Very flattering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kathy. I'm thinking about using the bodice for a top as well!

      Delete
  6. Those colors are so vibrant and beautiful on you! I love how the classic silhouette of the pattern is counterpointed with the fun fabric, very pleasing to the eye.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! My first version of this dress was a bit too classic. I agree on your counterpoint theory, I always felt it would look better in a fabric that would give it a bit of a twist.

      Delete
  7. This dress turned out so beautifully, Marianne! Wow - a stunner and you look so chic in it! About those ties - I always add to the length of the ties (if I have enough fabric, that is) when making a wrap dress. For some reason they always seem short - and it is much easier to cut off length than add it, right? Can't wait to see what is next for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I always add to the ties, in fact the pattern pieces were already lengthened from the first time I used the pattern. I was running out of fabric and didn't want to piece the ties, so I folded the extra length out. What was I thinking? Maybe I need to work harder on the elasticity of my brain ;)

      Delete
  8. such a beautiful dress, and it fits you really well!!!
    love that fabric,so colourful and so appropriate for jungle January!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Aida! Glad to share the jungle search rescue boat with you and your awesome skirt ;)

      Delete
  9. beautiful. That fabric is so interesting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Yep, the fabric designer didn't go for a subdued print :)

      Delete
  10. Oh this was well worth the wait Marianne. I love a wrap dress and I love a colourful print. This is the perfect combination of both. A beautiful and flattering dress...there's no wonder you have a smile on your face.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I would love to have a closet full of colourful wrap dresses!

      Delete
  11. This is so much fun! You look fab! I've often wondered about those Big 4 knit sewing instructions to do the double row of stitching!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've always frowned when I saw these instructions. Glad I tried as at least for this particular kind of fabric it works very well!

      Delete
  12. Your Jungle edition is really very good. good fabrics good pattern and also design.
    African Wax Print, African George Fabric

    ReplyDelete
  13. That has to be the most gorgeous fabric I have seen for a long time and it looks brilliant as a wrap dress. I've not come across double stitching at a seam - something new to learn, it sounds like a good idea to reduce bulk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Debbie! When I laid my eyes on this fabric I just new I had to have it!

      Delete
  14. Fabulous fabric and a staggeringly good design with which t show case it. Flattering and lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ruth. V8379 is one of my all time favourite patterns!

      Delete
  15. I had just the exact opposite experience with the bust darts. I guess I don't have enough bust to fill them out as on my dress they are baggy bits of fabric that look very unattractive! I was going to redraft the bodice to remove them, lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel there's a wrap dress pattern for everyone out there! Just keep looking to find yours!

      Delete
  16. Stumbled on your blog researching this pattern and blown away by how fabulous your wrap dress is! It looks fantastic on you and I love the glorious fabric.

    ReplyDelete