Pattern: Vogue 8593
Fabric: Cotton Interlock print – Patti Young for Michael Miller fabrics 1.5 yards
Belt: Calvin Klein
Shoes: Sofft
Notes: I love that I literally can’t take photos without a cat. Today Sarah Jane has decided to grace us with her presence (she is attracted to this dress, because it collects cat hair like a dustmop.) This pattern is apparently a knockoff of the dress Michelle Obama wore on her first visit to the white house. Butterick has a version too, but I chose this one because Vogue patterns fit me better. The butterick version has an empire waist seam, while the Vogue has no waist seam at all (and darts in the back that run the whole length of the dress.)
I’ve been wanting to make this for awhile, but I was stuck on fabrics. I knew from reading reviews that a pretty stable knit was required, but I thought a doubleknit would be too thick. So I decided to try out interlock (which is very much like turtleneck fabric.) I’m pleased that quilting print designers are starting to come out with other fabrics – I love the prints, but I hate quilting cottons for most garments (skirts are ok.) I do wish the focus wasn’t all on kids clothes – I don’t have any children, but I want great prints too (without looking like I’m wearing an 8 year old’s dress!) I thought this print was modern and suited my style. I bought 1.5 yards, which is just what the pattern called for. Yeah… don’t do that. I tried to cheap out and I paid the price. This stuff shrinks 20-30% in the prewash (on hot, thought I won’t wash it on hot in real life… I wanted it to get the shrinking out of its system.) I ended up having to omit the zipper in order to fit everything in. Fortunately, it totally doesn’t need a zipper (do any knit dresses need zippers? I’m starting to wonder…)
My only other alteration was to remove the sleeve cap ease. I really like this dress, though I think I had a dress in the exact same color and style (minus the neck pleating) about 1992… oh yeah, I was a cool 7th grade (no, no I wasn’t, and I probably wore it with stirrup pants.)
I recommend the pattern. The sizing seems consistent – I made a 6 on top, grading to a 10 at the waist and hips. The skirt is definitely pegged (ie tapered) and you have to sort of embrace that. The pleats are thick at the neckline, and I tacked them down inside the folds to keep the facing from flipping out. Other than that this was an easy dress, and honestly it is like wearing a t-shirt! This is my outfit for day 15 of Self-Stitched September – we’re halfway there, though I missed several days what with all the being sick and pajama wearing. I’m not all better, but my fever is gone, and I had a meeting, so I dragged myself off to a University where I probably frightened a few administrators with my raspy man-voice. I am totally kidding no one with the tights – it’s 85 degrees today, and I had to walk up 4 flights of stairs (outside!) to get to my meeting. I took them off as soon as I got home, as apparently it still isn’t fall.
The other dress I finished this week is going to require some surgery (it’s too big) so I may not get to posting on that for awhile.
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Love it! I have the Butterick pattern, and it’s the reverse for me – Butterick fits me better than Vogue. Vogue doesn’t fit me well at.all.
love that print. thanks for the shrinkage tip–i was thinking about getting some of this in stripes.
It is darling and a pattern that is now intriguing me. I am completely with you about the quilting cottons. I love that they are branching out into different cotton fabric realms but I too wish they would venture to make some fabrics more suitable for adults. I love this knit on you though. It does not look child like and I think you’ve done a great job pairing it with more adult accessories. So cute!
That is lovely! Makes me want to take a stab at sewing knits.
Very nice! Is the print black or navy blue? In the close up it looks black with gray and hot pink but then next to your blue wall it looks navy. Anyway, it’s a cute print. I’ll have to take a look and see what they have for kids as I definitely have plenty of those. 🙂
It’s gray and hot pink – everything looks blue against that wall, especially in the afternoon!
It looks great. I have eyed those Patti Miller knit prints for a while now but have been unable to imagine them on an adult garment (save a striped t-shirt of some sort). Clearly you have better vision than me.
I like the dress — good post. I can’t seem to take a sewn-garment picture without cat FUR myself! If your dress opening is at least 22″ you don’t need a zipper. – K. http://soundstithes.wordpress.com
It’s really fun and pretty! I love the fabric.
That’s cute. Especially with the matching stockings.
This dress is great. Love this print. I live in a very small place in Nova Scotia, Canada. No apparell fabric store nearby. I love seeing all of the fabrics that you show. I have considered ordering online but wonder if customs will double the cost or more. For now, I love to see all that you sew.
LOVE it! I love your taste in fabrics… I might need to check out that fabric too…
I love, love this dress, you did such an amazing job. Your choice of fabric is delightful. I have been contemplating this pattern from vogue but, I don’t know if I’m ready for knits just yet. I might just take a stab at it and keep my fingers crossed that mine turn out as beautiful as yours.
I love your dress so much , I like these pleated neckline styles alot . You look lovely .
You look lovely in the dress. What a good fit too!
so perfectly pretty! 🙂
You did a beautiful job on this dress. I especially love the 3/4 length sleeves. Also, as a kitty lover, that dog-sized cat is amazingly beautiful. I can’t wait to see what your next creation will be!
Love it!! So flattering. I’m starting to sew with knits, and you’re totally inspiring me!
And I had a pair of stirrup pants too. Except I wore them in the 1990s as hand-me-downs when they so weren’t cool! It didn’t help that I thought they went OVER your shoes…
That dress is sooo pretty. It looks great with the belt! You create such nice pieces. I plan to finally make a few dresses and maybe even a couple of pants for fall/winter. Thanks for your SSS inspiration!
I love the color, pattern and style of this dress. And it looks wonderful on you.