Friday, February 18, 2011

Tracy Reese--Vogue 1224

I don't know if I am just slow to catch on or what, but jersey knit dresses are the way to go!  So comfy, so easy to wear--I'm in love with this Tracy Reese design for Vogue.


This one is not quite as cost effective as my Maggy London, but it's not bad at all.  Here we go:

Vogue pattern 1224:  $3.99 (on sale at Joanns)
Fabric :  $11.94
Elastic:  $1.25

Grand Total:  $17.18

I bought much more elastic than needed, and more fabric than needed, but used interfacing and thread that I had on hand.  Which means I can make a shirt for summer out of this fabric for free!

This dress was also super fast to put together.

Cutting fabric:  .5
Assembling: 1.5
Adding extra fabric which I then had to take off the bottom:  .5
Finishing:  .5 (including deciding on the shoes.  I really think I need some awesome wedge sandals to carry these colors through the summer)

Total:  3 hours--while watching The Social Network, which I don't really recommend.  But, like facebook, it's addicting.

Anyway, notes on this pattern:


  • Very wide neckline--next time I may bring it up in front a bit--in juggling kids and whatnot the neckline was all over the place and exposing.
  • I topstitched under the arm double the length marked on the pattern.  This didn't restrict movement or the sleeve shape at all--just made the armhole a bit more modest--like 2 inches more modest.
Sorry for the weird picture--I had to manipulate it so you could see.  The stitched line up the middle should have ended where the bulge on the black is--instead I extended it up further.  The stitching on the right is for the armhole.

  • I love love love the sleeves and double topstitched hem which I did right at the edge!
  • I lengthened the skirt by 5 inches, made the top, still thought it would be too short so cut double the casings (instead of just one for inside, one for outside too)  added the casings as a band and had to cut off 2 1/2 inches.  Awesome.  Anyway--this made it knee length on me.
  • I omitted the lining of the skirt and the toggles.
  • Even with the added casing, the waistline was too high.
  • My size is technically 12 with vogue (14 at waist)  I cut an 8 (12 at waist)
  • Next time:  Add 2 inches to top, 2 inches to bottom.  Raise neckline just a little.  

The back on my dress seems to be a little deeper than the pattern picture shows--but look how pretty the sleeves are!!

A couple more pictures:

Same topstitching extension and sleeve hem.  And random unattached thumb.


This shows the lower neckline better than the first picture--one wrong grab by my sons and it's a minor wardrobe malfunction!


Amber




5 comments:

  1. Vibrantly gorgeous dress! You look stunning!

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  2. From here, the proportions look perfect. I'd make sure you want to alter them - after wearing it for a little longer - cuz it looks great as is.

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  3. I agree with K.Line. Looks great from the photos, although I sometimes like to alter my knits after the fact, too....and yes - knits are the way to go. lol

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  4. Hey great dress. Looks so comfy and ironing-free. LOve the sleeves

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  5. Thanks for the sleeve fix idea. I'm getting ready to make this and was worried about there being too much exposed under the arm. Yours looks great, btw!

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