Vintage Vogue V8788 Wrap Dress in Linen

Here’s my first dress for Spring!  A lovely wrap dress in a beautiful teal colored linen, Vintage Vogue V8788 from 1954.

We are FINALLY moved into our new home in Plantation and I can get back to sewing!  Not having time to sew for basically the last month has been so much harder than I thought it would be.  Especially with so much sewing planned for Spring that I’ve been itching to get started on.

We moved out of our condo in Naples (I have WAY too much stuff including 13 boxes just for my library) and into our new apartment two weeks ago.  We moved ourselves (never do that again!!!) with a Uhaul truck and the help of my Dad at our old condo on Friday and one of my husband’s friends on the other coast Saturday.  I’m still tired.  I think I lost all the remaining baby weight in one weekend!  We’re staying at my mom’s during the week until my son finishes out the school year.  There will be lots of weekend commuting but I’m so happy with our new home. I got it almost completely unpacked and set up this weekend.  Only two months left of school so we’ll be over their full time very soon!

So here is the dress I’ve been wanting to show off for a few weeks now.  I wore this on Easter and its super comfy. This was actually meant to be a casual house dress but like many of my makes it turned out dressier looking than intended.

I bought this Vintage Vogue 1954 pattern after reading the Lost Art of Dress hoping for some more casual looks to wear around the house.  The Linen I chose, in a teal with blue reverse, elevates this to something a bit more formal.  Now that I’ve tweaked the pattern I’ll make some lighter versions in cotton to get the look I was originally after.

All the Details:

Pattern:

• Vintage Vogue V8788 from 1954
• graded from a 12 at bust down to a 14 at the waist

Fabric:

• Cali Fabrics Teal and Green Two Tone Iridescent Linen
• 4 yards

I made a few tweaks to this pattern.  I grade the bodice from a 12 to a 14 at the waist and the skirt is a 14.   I had to cut out a wedge from each side of the bodice front as it  angled downward on the sides.  Next time I’ll also narrow the middle back and skip the hook and eye back closure and just cut the neck a tad wider.  As it is it just fits over my had when secured.  I’ll also increase the underarm area for less exposure.  I had to add snaps to keep the sides from gaping open and it’s still cut quite low under the arms.  I finished all of the interior with a Hong Kong Finish on the seams to keep the interior pretty too.  I really love the princess seams with the high neck on this design.  Plus the Bias cut of the skirt makes for a lovely drape and swing.

What I love most about this dress though is the color!  I always try to order teal fabrics when I spot them- it’s my absolute favorite color!  I love the way it brightens the blue of my eyes. Here are some of my favorite makes in this color, 1 & 2.

I’m so happy to be sewing again.  I’m planning on making some bras this week while I’m at my mom’s (small and easy to transport) and hopefully* finish up my other Vintage Vogue Dress in a Coral Linen that is half done this weekend at home.

Happy Sewing!