Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Vogue 1194: DKNY Dress

V1194, DKNY Dress
I love this dress.  It's great on my pear shape.  It skims over the problem areas without looking like a tent and also emphasises my shoulders.  The only niggle I have is that the v-neck is very deep.  Usually a low neck line is no problem for me.  I have very little cleavage, so I can show a lot of decollete without the view getting too exciting.  In this case, the v is deep enough for me to carefully consider my bra choices before getting dressed.
Line Art
V1194
I sewed this out of some slinky knit fabric that I had ordered from Tissu with the intentions of making V1259.  After reading other sewing bloggers experiences with this pattern, I decided it was not for me.  Although, I am dead impressed with Melissa at Fehrtrade's version.

Line Art
This pattern is apparently a real challenge to sew, no thanks!

I'd like to sew V1194 again, with a beefier knit.  This time around, I didn't hem the skirt or sleeves!?!  Every time I tried, my machine just chewed the thin slippery fabric up.  In the end I decided a nice clean cut would look better than a scrambled mess.  I have enough of this fabric left over to make a yoga top, so I will give hemming another go.

This dress looks kind of "fancy," but I am intending to wear it as an everyday thing.  My black Butterick dress showed me how an easy care knit dress could be as easy as jeans and a t-shirt.  All I need in the morning is tights and flat, knee-high boots, and I look very smart.  If I get covered in mess, I can just wash and tumble dry it!  Why didn't I see this before?
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34 comments:

  1. I think you found a perfect home for your fabric, this is lovely! It's funny how I often buy fabric with a pattern in mind, then end up turning it into something else. Once the garment is done, I can never imagine it being anything else!!

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  2. It's lovely! And I love the idea of just putting on a dress in the morning and you're done! That could be done here in Canada about 8 months of the year, right now it's too damn cold!! My Granddad who lives in Southport told me it's been amazingly mild in the UK, day temps of 14C !!!

    BTW, do you have any pics of your black Butterick dress?

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  3. Looks great and I LOVE the color!

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  4. Hems on slinky knit fabrics can be a real pain. Tame them by using fusible web (steam a seam 2 comes in 1/2 inch wide rolls) to press up the hem. Then use a double needle with a slightly longer than usual stitch to finish the hems. It ends up looking almost like a coverstitch. The fusible web tames the stretchy-ness. I got this idea from Linday MacPhee of the MacPhee Workshop. She sells A LOT of slinky knit and designs patterns for slinky.

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  5. Karen this looks beautiful! I can imagine it looks stunning on you. Fancy everyday is good!

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  6. It's really beautiful - such a glorious shade of plum (on my monitor). I never considered the wash'n'wear possibilities of knit dresses. You have inspired me!

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  7. It`s beautiful, Karen. I really love the colour.

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  8. Lovely dress! The color is gorgeous. I'm pear-shaped, too and find this style (empire waist, A-line skirt) flattering. I hadn't noticed this pattern before. Enjoy wearing it!

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  9. Both the color and style of this dress is gorgeous! You are so right about knit dresses being easy to wear. How nice they look so pulled together too!

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  10. I love knit dresses. I have a huge stash of knit fabrics. This dress looks so comfortable. happy Sewing.

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  11. Well I'm scared to sew knits, but this is FAB! Just love that colour.

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  12. That is so gorgeous! You have to wear this all the time, this dress deserves it!

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  13. Your dress is lovely and the fabric looks well suited to the pattern . I have to confess that I have also purchased V1259 and after reading Melissa's post also decided it wasn't for me.

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  14. What a beautiful dress! I have to have this pattern now. The color is stunning.

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  15. That colour is gorgeous - great choice of style. I must try this one...

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  16. This is a lovely dress! AWant to see it on you, though! Low v-neck can be covered with a scarf or very thin pullover underneath for winter. what is the fabric made of?

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  17. Beautiful. Love the colour. Great dress.

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  18. Karin, this dress is beautiful! I know you will get plenty of wear out of this beauty...

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  19. It's a gorgeous dress, and the colour is divine. I hadn't noticed the pattern before, but it's one I'd love to get.

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  20. It's a gorgeous dress and the colour is divine. I hadn't seen the pattern before, but it's one I'd love to get.

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  21. Gorgeous dress, I want this pattern now! I had the same dress epiphany a couple of years ago, they make getting dressed and looking put together so easy.

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  22. Looks absolutely gorgeous! You're going to be the yummiest mummy at the school pick-up, ever!

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  23. beautiful! as soon as I saw it I thought, "I'll bet that shape looks FABulous on her!"

    As for the hems, besides fusible web you might try a whisper-weight fusible interfacing around the hemline. It could be a real pain to fuse but if it's the super-lightweight type it won't change the hang of the fabric but give you some stability. I totally test that on some scraps first, for sewability and to be sure it doesn't show through.

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  24. WOW, now I'm wondering why I don't have this pattern in my stash! What a great dress!

    (I gave a silent shudder when I saw V1259 in this post. I'm not sure I've recoverd from it yet. LOL)

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  25. Love the dress! The color is gorgeous!

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  26. I'm trying to move into easy wash and wear knit dresses too. I have a few ready to go. Yours looks fabulous. Such a striking colour too.

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  27. Gorgeous dress, both the color and the style. I'll bet you get a lot of compliments when you wear it.

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  28. that dress is gorgeous! love the style, love the color, and I think it's the perfect every day dress. there is something a little wonderful about wearing a dress for everyday instead of jeans. nicely done, Karin.

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  29. The colour of your fabric is so deep and vibrant - I'm loving it! I learnt the first time working with knits that when it comes to slinky dresses, the beefier the knit the better. At least, I feel more 'secure' in a beefier knit. Gorgeous dress though - hope you get lots of wear out of it! :)

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  30. Your dress looks gorgeous and very fancy - great job! And your fabric looks just right for it. If you make it again don't use a very heavy winter knit (voice of personal experience) as it stretches the bodice shape and neckline :-(. I ended needing a weird additional centre back seam. I'm sure you wouldn't make that error!

    And I know what you mean about V1259 - looks appealing but waaaay to hard to get right.

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  31. I love the dress. Actually been waiting for a vogue sale! Love the color!

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  32. Great dress - looks floaty and stylish!

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  33. Beautiful dress! I never would have guessed the fabric gave you trouble. And you have discovered the secret of knit dresses--they look fancy, but are easier to wear and wash than just about anything else, including jeans.

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  34. I love this.I bet it looks even more wonderful on. I am a huge dress fan for exactly the reasons you set out.

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