Easy Breezy Dress

Stash-busting 2015:  Vogue 9625

Is there anything better than an easy breezy pull-over knit dress for the summer. I did try out a McCall's pattern recently but to be completely honest it hasn't been getting much wear. This dress on the other hand, will certainly be different.

The pattern:

Out-of-print Vogue 9625 recently found its way into my pattern stash and I'm so glad that it did! I really like that this is a petite adjustable pattern and that it is rated very easy--added bonus. It really was a quick make. 

I do like the A-line shape to this dress.  I think that I could have gone down a size in the bust area and narrowed the width of the shoulder. The pattern does call for shoulder pads. I didn't answer that call.  

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I did make some changes besides the omission of the shoulder pads. This pattern is for an above mid-knee length dress. Since I'm conscious of the scar at my knee, I wanted the hem of the dress to cover it. I added another seven inches to the length. Instead of using seam binding to finish the neckline, I used the neckline band from Marcy Tilton's Vogue 8975 pattern. The length of the neckline band piece had to be cut shorter since the neckline on this dress wasn't as deep as Marcy Tilton's pattern. I cut it about two inches shorter and I could have gone a little smaller and stretched the neckline band around the neckline.  

The Fabric:

The pattern calls for a moderate stretch knit and I chose this white and green ponte knit that has been sitting in my stash for quite some time. I typically shy away from rayon fabrics but the print and colour had me thinking otherwise.  

The fabric was pre-washed and took a tumble in the dryer before I cut out the dress. It handled this pre-treatment well. I did find it a challenging fabric to sew and had to take care at the beginning of my seams. I should have used a stitch starter to prevent my machine from struggling with the fabric. Why I didn't think of that while I was sewing it, I don't know. Once I stitched past the beginning of my seams, everything worked well. I stitched the seams with a knit (lightning bolt) stitch.   

The Stats:

Fabric:                 2 metres polyester and rayon ponte knit $13.56 ($12.00 - 50% off + taxes)

Pattern:               OOP Vogue 9625 $0.29

Sewn on:             Janome sewing machine using a walking foot.

Hand stitches:    Hems were all stitched by hand.

Seam finishes:    Janome serger.

Happy Sewing!