well, i finished vogue 1174 aka the ~cynthia steffe~ strapless dress, just in time to wear it for a wedding over the weekend! boy am i glad to be DONE with it!
pattern review and many many (don’t say i didn’t warn you!) pictures under the cut!
Pattern Description: close-fitting, strapless, lined dress has seam details, piping trim, princess seams, foundation with boning, side front pockets, pleats and darts, above mid-knee length.
Pattern Sizing: 4-18. i cut mine in a 10 but i probably should have gone at least a size smaller.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? for the most part! my fabric wasn’t as stiff as the suggested fabrics, so it had a little bit more of a “drape.” also, my piping contrasted a lot more than the dress on the envelope. and my dress is a little on the long side. i will probably end up shortening it – what do you think?
Were the instructions easy to follow? i think so! i was expecting this pattern to be a lot more difficult, but the instructions were fairly clear and concise. i ended up ripping out a LOT of seams, but i think that was more user error and less bad instructions. although i did end up sewing the facing on backwards the first time round :B
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? i love all the detailing – the piping, the seam work, the pockets, the lining, the facing… i also love the interior detailing – the foundation and the boning are really great!
Fabric Used: lovely stretch cotton sateen for the outside, white silky rayon for the lining. i bought pre-made piping that is made with satin.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: i had to redraft the bodice front piece (the triangular deal right under my boobs) because it was shaped weird and stood several inches away from my waistline. VERY unflattering – i looked like a box! the sizing was pretty deceiving – the bodice size claimed to be 34″ (for a 10), and my bust is 36″, and the dang thing was too big! i stuck some elastic around the top, but it un-elasticized itself or i don’t even know what, but it ain’t there anymore. i ended up pinching in the sides quite a bit (about 1″ on each side) and handsewing some janky little darts there so the stupid thing would stay up during the wedding. i will fix it later when i am able to buy elastic that doesn’t stop working after 15 minutes. anyway.
Would you sew it again? possibly… now that i’ve worked out the design kinks for my figure, i think the next go-round would be easier! that being said, this is a pretty unique dress and i’m not sure how many i need in my closet 😛 there are soo many other dresses i want to make. i do recommend it, though.
Conclusion: i’m happy with my dress! this is one of the few strapless ANYTHING i’ve ever worn, and while i was apprehensive about how i would look in it, i think it is pretty flattering!
picturesss:
sorry that these are so wrinkly… i pulled it out of my suitcase after flying from pittsburgh to nashville. no time for ironing! i promise it was properly pressed while i was sewing it and then when i wore it for it’s debut.
and i’m wearing a huge flower on my head bc… idk, i was cleaning my bathroom and i found it and i thought it was funny. funny!
the piping doesn’t match up in the back… i tried about half a dozen times, then gave up when i realized it was impossible. one piping + the waistline match up, so whatever!
LOVE THE BODICEEEE
details:
front
back
inside
the facing had piping! i thought that was a nice detail
waist stay
and just for funsies…
(see my blue shoes?? :D)
LOVE IT.
LLADYBIRD 
Pretty dress ! you sell it with the girl ?
Great looking dress!
I love this dress, you did an amazing job! I love seeing the gorgeous items you have made.
(found you through craftster)
well done! I wish I knew how to make my own clothes lol
Girlfriend, that dress is adorable! Love the piping and the front pleat. And your shoes were one of the first things I noticed in that last pic, and I’m not even that much of a shoe person!
You inspire me to want to sew more. 🙂
Interesting tidbit that I learned recently, which may or may not be true, since I am not an experienced enough sewer to know for sure….but I heard that the bust measurement on patterns is for your high bust(i.e the top of your breasts right under your armpits), not your actual bust. This makes sense to me because I am also a 36-37 inch bust, but when I cut a pattern to that corresponding size it is always way too big. I thought it may have to do with ease as you suggested to me before, but the high bust thing may be part of the culprit as well.
Regardless, the dress turned out beautifully.
i have been told that too, since most patterns are cut for a B-cup… generally, anything that is less than a 2″ difference from the high bust doesn’t require any kind of bust alteration and can work straight from the pattern. i am definitely NOT a B-cup, so i usually do a full bust adjustment on my patterns. interestingly enough, my high bust is 33″-34″, so the thing should have fit anyway.
i just don’t understand pattern sizing, apparently. ho hum.
I’m impressed and inspired even more to get through this same Vogue pattern. You did a wonderful job! I just finished cutting out the pattern pieces. I even added some minor design changes. If you’re interested, you can follow along at http://missprettyperfect.blogspot.com/2010/07/missprettyperfect-pattern-alterations.html
Already can’t wait to see the end result. It’s my first real dress from a commercial pattern!