Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Vogue 1020 - Side ruched animal print dress

Can you take another dress? How about another knit? I didn't really notice this pattern until I saw the white blouse Erica did and thought it was so cute. However, I'm not a huge fan of tunic-length tops on my body, so I opted for the dress instead. When they write "close-fitting", they mean it!!! I cut my normal 12, and it fits, but I've got to make sure I don't eat any big meals while wearing it because there's no way of hiding a full stomach.
It might be hard to see here, but there is ruching all along the left side. This pattern lends itself really well to busy prints since it's such a simple design. I found this fabric at Hancock's and fell head over heals for it. Turquoise, brown, and in animal print? They must have had me in mind when they made it.
This was very quick to make. My fabric was pretty thin, a must for all those gathers, and I was able to do french seams down the sides without any bulk. I did bias tape around the neckline to get a nice topstitch, and also at the sleeve/bodice seam for a clean finish. This pattern calls for an invisable zipper on the right side but I found that totally unnecessary. It has so much stretch that it fits easily over my head.

Here's the pattern picture. I like the dress and tunic, but am not planning to reuse this pattern for any of the other garments.

Up next is Simplicity 2858, in a gorgeous maroon butterfly brocade. I'm doing the shorter length jacket (also in maroon) on the pattern envelope but with the smaller collar and loops around the buttons.

12 comments:

  1. Cute, nice clean insides and all without a serger!

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  2. Your dress looks fabulous! Love the print!

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  3. The dress looks beautiful and colors suit you well!!

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  4. Love the dress. That print is to die for!

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  5. GORGEOUS!!! I love that dress on you!

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  6. Lovely dress! I love the knit fabric you chose.

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  7. Beautiful Amanda!! I love the print too. And I just pulled that PR pattern out over the weekend to make too! I'm doing the same view as you...but I think I'm using a brown velvet (or a brown/turqoise paisley) Can't wait to see yours!

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  8. Aw, sad about the jacket! I haven't gotten any further than looking at the pattern lovingly!

    but...you didn't leave a smooshy apology. :P

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  9. Another cute dress, Amanda. I'm a fan of animal prints, too. I may have to pick up a few yards.

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  10. I recently made a similar knit dress and was frustrated by the way the bottom hem turned out. The 5/8 inch looked very rounded in the end since it was a synthetic knit and didn't press that well. How do you do your hemlines on knits so neatly? Any tips? I am actually about to make the dress from this post next.

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