The most unusual dress I've ever made.

[lendube]

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Vogue V8353

Got the finishing touches done and got dd to model today. We are so happy with the results. I told Elizabeth I'd love to make her a dress. She's fun to sew for since she's got a great slender shape contrary to a lumpy, bumpy middle aged shape like mine that needs all kinds of alterations for even the simplest item. And her boobs are even right where there supposed to be! Imagine that!

Well, she sat at the pattern table at JoAnn's while I shopped around and in far less than 10 minutes had this pattern picked out. She said, What do you think? I looked and saw that it really isn't what it appears to be at first. I liked it a lot. We picked up the 1" black and white gingham, buttons and I didn't even notice till I got home that the dress has only 3 pattern pieces! There's a front, a back and a front facing. There are only 4 columns of instructions but there are 34 steps. It's deceptively intricate living up to the "Divine Details" collection of Vogue.

There are 1" tucks all around the middle giving the illusion of a solid black mid-section. That wasn't hard to do but I was very careful so that none of the white would show. The lace insert was a bit tricky and I might do it differently next time. The way they had me do it made the lace very vulnerable to tearing loose from the skirt. I reinforced it a bit so that it could stand up to a bit of wear (and no tear!)

Gina, are you reading this? I added a yo-yo! I made one out of the leftover lace and put a small button in the middle of it. A bit hard to see in the picture but it's on the left lapel.

I also added a liner/slip since the fabric wasn't the best quality. It was all they had and I would gladly have paid more than the $3.99 per yd. for a dress this special. It would be see through standing in the right light. I sewed in a black lining matching the black lines at the waist so that the thread line doesn't show.

We're very happy with the way it turned out and Elizabeth is perfect model for it. She can't wait to wear it. Fun that she's so thrilled.

[Sewing Lady]

Lennie, I love, love, love it. All of it, from the bodice shape to that sexy peekaboo at the knee line. Fabulous job.

[ddreev]

Wow, the dress is wonderful.

[Corinna29]

Wonderful dress. I love it!

[MartySews2]

Great dress on a perfect model. Fantastic job!!!
Marty

[Bama]

Wow! Wonderful job Lennie. It looks great on her.

[temom]

Wowee! If I could whistle I would. Beautiful!

[HeyJudee]

Super dress! Amazing that it is only three pieces. Love it!

[ninifav]

What a cool dress...she looks so stylish...Good job Mom

[pucktricks]

It looks amazing! I love it.

Ticia