V1287 DKNY dress, not quite a winner

It seems my streak of success with Vogue designer patterns may have hit a snag recently.  My latest selection was Vogue 1287, a DKNY dress pattern that may be a bit too much dress for me.  If I could magically grow to 5' 8" it might be just right, but on my 5'3" frame plus the oversize nature of the design it makes me feel like I am wearing a sack. Here is a look at me wearing the dress, this photo was taken in a big rush by Karen, my sewing student, as we were racing out the door to meet our fellow sewists. Once again my shoe selection is not what what the outfit calls for, so it looks a bit goofy with my thong sandals, which I changed 5 minutes later. 

On their version the skirt is much more narrow, so I wish I had sized down from my usual size 12 in Vogue patterns, although mine looks more like their line drawing. 

Dress form photos.  Note this is not a custom dress form, I bought it at a yard sale for $ 40 and I use it for photos and to hang projects on whilst they are in progress. So it is not my shape - but it is not that far off.  You can see there is a lot of extra fabric in the waist and in back.  I was a bit concerned that the hips might be too tight, so I can't exactly recall but I may have graded up to a size 14 in the hips.   Mistake !  Way too much fabric around the waist and hips. 

I did do a couple of "after the fact" alterations on this.  Once I had it put together, the waist seemed too low, there was a lot of fabric bunching up around the waist, so I took it up at the shoulders a good inch.  I took it in at the bodice side seams about 1" each side, however the waistband and elastic was already in, so no alteration on the skirt.  This is one of those patterns that don't permit a lot of alteration once assembled.
I think the back, with that elasticated waistband is not the most lovely, so I did wear it with a belt as you can see in the first photo.  I think it would help if I stand up straight too!


This whole process has confirmed a thought I have had lately, that I should shift to a size 10 and then do alterations for everything below the shoulders.  Sounds like a lot of work, huh?  And this is not really the dress to confirm a theory like that, as it has so much fit and design ease.  But next fitted dress, I will see how that works for me.  I find the neckline is too wide on a lot of styles. 


The fabric I used is a poly knit from Joann's, the same as in this dress, pictured below. Vogue 1159, also a Donna Karan dress. I should have know about the size for the dress above, because I made this cross-cross drape front dress seen below twice, in size 14 and then later in a size 10 and the size 10 fit me better. (yes, I confess, I try on stuff I am making for others if I am curious about the style etc)

All this is a long way of saying my love/hate relationship with knits continues!  This weekend it is back to some nice, well behaved wovens.  I am halfway through some pants (future posts will be about recent thrilling advances in pants-making around here) and I have a remnant of cotton lawn that is perfect for a summer blouse.   Need more separates! Step away from the dress patterns! Stop talking to myself with exclamation points!      

If you are in the San Francisco bay area on June 23 please check out my previous post. I am getting lots of e-mails so we are going to have a great group to meetup and visit the Gaultier exhibit at the DeYoung museum in Golden Gate Park.

Here is today's SunnyGal garden photo, a purple pansy to go with my purple dress. Nothing special about a purple pansy?  The other day I was walking by the flower bed, looked down and saw this gigantic lavender-ish pansy. All the other pansies are white.  It is twice as big and definitely a different color. Interesting. . . 

Happy weekend sewing, Beth