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Making a dress, will this pattern work for my figure type?

Alessi

I have decided to sew a dress. I am a bit of a beginner at all this. It may sound incredible to most people but I have only recently realised that thinking something is pretty doesn't necessarily mean that it will look nice on me. Needless to say I have made some amazingly bad choices with clothes in the past
According to the body type measurements I am apparently a "neat hour glass" and if I have a secondary type, perhaps it is a "lollipop".
I am learning to sew again after not having sewn anything since my schooldays so I want to get the style right.

I found this pattern in the "very easy" section and thought it might be a good one to start one - with help from Mum of course :).

I would like the opinion of you wonderfully stylish members of YLF - would this style work for my figure type do you think?

The link is here and the picture of the pattern is attached.
http://www.mccalls.com.au/Shop.....sses/V8532

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Urgent

16 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

Anonymous

This is a lovely dress that doesn't look easy at all. I'm only wondering if the wide neckline of the dress and narrow skirt will accentuate the lollipopness. I got this from squinting at the dress picture and it looks wide at the top tapering to the bottom. I'm not even sure that that's a bad thing. You probably just need to make sure that the dress shows off your waist. I admire your sewing skills!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I admire your courage to sew things; anything that says VERY EASY on it is VERY IMPOSSIBLE for my thumb hands.

I think this type of dress will work well with "hourglass" but I"m not sure about "lollipop"

Alessi

Hmm that is a good point about the neckline, it is a bit wider than the regular 'V'. Would a belt balance that out do you think? I could make one out of the same fabric maybe. Or put some belt loops on when I sew it.
Btw I am very out of practice with sewing but my Mum is an expert and is going to help me brush up my skills

Elly

Veteran

Vogue patterns tend to have poor directions---- I bought several maybe 3 years ago that were rated "easy". Finally I broke down and took them to a woman that is an expert seamstress. She couldn't follow the pattern either. Between the two of us we eventually figured out that the directions were jacked and the pattern itself had to be recut. We called the company to explain/complain and never did get ahold of anyone who spoke good english.

Anything with princess-type seaming is going to need fitting/adjustment to your body, which is best done by someone else and can be difficult to get right depending on the fabric/lining. Fabric is another important consideration--- many of these patterns are made with either old-fashioned/expensive fabrics or very hard to sew fabric in mind. If the pattern would work for a non-stretch fabric (has a back or side zipper) perhaps you should try a muslin first.

catgirl

Veteran

I am an intermediate seamstress and find Vogue patterns difficult, even very easy ones. There's some sort of assumption that if you're attempting a Vogue pattern, you're not REALLY a beginner - very frustrating! I think you could alter this pattern to suit your figure and your mom probably knows how...

Vildy

Veteran

There's a lot going on with this "easy" dress. Definitely would profit from a muslin of at least the bodice and collar. You want to see where the shoulder lands and that the bodice empire seam is seated below the bust. Also, this is low cut - you can see that not only from the shaded cleavage on the drawing but because the neckline dips way below the armhole. And belting an empire seam dress at the natural waist is maybe a little too much horizontal going on. This kind of dress is supposed to skim smoothly over the waist. Think about the fabric you want to use and grab a handful of it and squeeze it tight and see how much it retains wrinkles. You could get a lot at that waistline.

HeleenH

Veteran

This is not an easy pattern. Look at the line drawing. It looks like you would need invertible triangle shoulders to be able to wear the top of the dress.

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I haven't sewn for a while, but have made quite a few Very Easy Vogue patterns, and never had a particular problem with them. I think that dress will require extensive fitting on you, and then altering the pattern, to get it to fit right. If you Mum is good at sewing, she will be able to help you, but I don't think I'd choose that particular pattern for my return to sewing.

The shape of the dress is lovely - I'm an hourglass, and it's the shape of dress that suits me - and I need the 'openness' at the neckline, too.

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Hi Alessi!! run, do not walk, to

http://www.patternreview.com

!!!! they have thousands of reviews there of all types of sewing patterns by regular sewers. many reviewers include very detailed discussions of the pros and cons of the patterns they made up, and pictures of the in-process and finished garments. i've found this site invaluable for deciding what patterns are going to work out and which to stay away from.

this dress does look beautiful and would be a knockout on an hourglass (even with a little oomph in the shoulders - like me!) however, it will require certain fitting techniques in order to fit properly in the bust without gapping and in my experience Vogues doesn't make those corrections. i'm going to disagree with Elly here - anything you make will need fitting and adjusting, and for me i've found princess seams make that fitting go pretty smoothly.

anyways, go to pattern review and see what you find out - this pattern may get raves, or you may find another that looks like a better 'fit' for you. you can also just search on the pattern make and number in a search engine to find out what people on line say about using this pattern. good luck and have fun!! steph

Laurinda

Veteran

Oh, can we talk sewing here?!?

There is a website patternreview.com that has lots of helpful reviews of patterns and how they have worked out for people. More recent reviews are free, older reviews require a registration. Their 'best patterns' and 'pattern hall of fame' are very informative.

I find knits more forgiving with fit than woven fabrics, but it depends on what you are looking for. Palmer/Pletsch's "Fit for Real People" is worth getting from the library. Their DVD "Full Busted? Sew Clothes That Fit!" changed this full-figured gal's sewing life with much better fitting bodices.

Sign up for the email list on the Vogue/McCall pattern page, to get notice of their sales of $4.99 or even $3.99 for every pattern once or twice a month.

And happy sewing!

Alessi

Thankyou so much for the great advice! I checked with Mum about the vogue patterns and those are her usual ones so she is happy to teach me using the vogue pattern.
I went and got the pattern and fabric today - a lovely navy blue that fits in with my 'cool winter', colour swatch. It will be a great work dress for Spring and I might even make the sleeveless version for Summer.

One thing that was funny, pattern sizes make me feel enormous! An Australian size 8 to 10 (equals US 4 to 6), was a 12 to 14 on the pattern sizes!

Thanks for helping me confirm that the dress would be a good shape for an hourglass shape and all the great sewing tips too.

Alessi
xo

rute

Veteran

I wish I could sew!
Go for it! This pattern is lovely and it will be perfect for your figure! I would do the one with 3/4 sleeves (love and it's so flattering)!

Alessi

I must say, thanks again for the link to patternreview.com. What a super site! It has 3 very detailed reviews on my pattern with the sewers posting photographs of themselves wearing the finished result.
They all highly recommend the pattern and call it a 'great wardrobe builder'.

The site is marvelous. I have spent the evening also reading sewing machine reviews. Depending on how I go with this dress I may buy a new machine

Thanks again for the wonderful advice!

Laurinda

Veteran

Sewing with someone more experienced (and your Mom!) is the best. Once you get comfortable with the basics you can make great clothes that fit and flatter you perfectly in whatever color or fabric you like. Hurray!

@mrseccentric: Great minds think alike.

Alessi

Well I had a lovely day with Mum today,sewing, having hot chocolate and watching costume dramas such as Pride and Prejudice. The dress is coming along well and I will post a photograph when it is finished

Thankyou wonderful ladies for your fabulous advice

Aida

Veteran

How fun! Looking forward to seeing the finished dress, navy is a great color for it!