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Friday 13 January 2012

Vogue 8379 Wrap Dress

I finally got around to making a successful version of this very popular wrap dress pattern - Vogue 8379.    My previous attempt was a bad mix of pattern and fabric placement although I did salvage a skirt out of it which I still have and wear regularly.  


I used a black, white and red zig zag printed ITY printed jersey, again from Fabric.com.  



I only had 2 yards of fabric and the long sleeved version required 2 3/4 yards and while I find I can usually use less fabric than the pattern envelope says, this was a big difference and some miracle working was needed.  As it turned out, on me, I prefer this dress with the changes I made.  I also think it looks more like the current Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress shape.


Here is a summary of the changes I made;
  • Folded a large triangle out of the skirt pieces to make it less full at the hem but keeping the waist the same
  • Cut the skirt on the cross grain - I didn't need the stretch there and it actually looks better with the zig zags running vertically
  • I pieced the underlayer of the skirt front, the seam is hidden under the wrap
  • Eliminated the bodice facings like most people who have made this dress, I just turned and stitched
  • Shortened the skirt by around 4 inches and did a very small hem
  • Finished the skirt front edges with facing strips from the scraps
  • Left off the collar and cuffs
  • Not a fabric shortage issue but I took out some of the sleeve cap ease
This is an easy dress to make up, even I managed to finish it in an afternoon and I am really pleased with the end result.  The pattern is drafted with good wrap coverage both in the bodice and the skirt so is very wearable for a wrap dress.  Now for the photos!















30 comments:

  1. I love your ingenius pattern layout it really works well with this pattern. The dress is fabulous as is everything you make.

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  2. What a great use of the patterned fabric! Your changes were spot on, because the fit is perfect. This is a really flattering dress on you.

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  3. Get working making the smaller amount of fabric work, the dress looks great!

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  4. Oh my..... how timely! I should have my V 8379 dress completed this afternoon.
    Your dress is great!! I wish I had read your post before I started my dress.This was my first time to sew this pattern. I too was after the Diane Von Furstenburg look and just didn't realize how full the skirt was...... ended up taking out over 20" from the bottom tapering to the waist and cutting at least six inches off of the length.
    Your dress is an incentive for me to stay with it until it's done. Thanks for this and congratulations on a beautiful dress!

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  5. Cute! I like the various directions of the diagonals and the smaller skirt flair. This is on my list to make sometime...

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  6. Beautiful dress. Love the fabric for this pattern. It's such a fun print!

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  7. looks great and thanks for the tip about the skirt fullness.

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  8. Very pretty! I have one nice version of this pattern and am now itching to make another. Have to find the perfect fabric, though.

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  9. That fabric really sizzles! It looks beautiful.

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  10. Another winner! I think the stripes look great that way. I like the way the colours in the fabric change with distance too.

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  11. I'm loving the zigzag pattern in your skirt! This is a great dress on you!

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  12. Woo hoo. This one of my favs. It's a great piece and you look good.

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  13. What a great save. Your changes give it a much more current shape than the original. Fantastic.

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  14. I love the style and fabric! Thanks for the tips. I need to look because I think that I have this pattern! It does look like the dvf!

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  15. I love the slimmed down look of your skirt. Its a great way to use the fabric you had, and I do think it updates the look of the pattern. Very inspiring!

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  16. Nothing better than getting a garment out of what seems like insufficient fabric. Even better than that when it looks as good as this one does.Well done!

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  17. Nothing better than getting a garment out of what seems like insufficient fabric. Even better than that when it looks as good as this one does.Well done!

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  18. Wow, you've really nailed this dress. The pattern placement is perfect.

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  19. What a lovely version of this dress! It's one of my TNT's. Love your print!

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  20. Love the changes you made and the outcome of the dress! Lovely!

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  21. Gorgeous! So smart and it looks great with the changes you made.

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  22. Hello! I just discovered your blog and love it. That dress? Wow! You really did an amazing job with it. It makes me want to try the pattern out myself. You've also inspired me to rethink a pattern I wanted to use with a certain fabric in my stash.

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  23. Love this on you and the print placement on the skirt is better than it would have been on grain. This pattern is such a fabric hog--I'm impressed you eked it out of 2 yards!

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  24. It's so lovely on you! I'm actually in the processing of making this dress, too. I hope it turns out even as half as lovely as yours. Happy Lunar New Year, too!

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  25. Excellent looking dress. I like the changes, especially the redesign of the skirt.

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