Vogue 8613

Have you ever decided on a project, and then literally thought about it even in your sleep?!  This is where I am with Vogue 8613.  Maybe it's because I haven't had the opportunity to sew for a few months.  Maybe it's the inspiration from the fabric (more on that in a moment).  Maybe I'm just crazy!

This is Vogue 8613.  I'm sure I've seen it before.  I know I have similar patterns in my collection.  So yesterday when I was at Joann's, they had the $3.99 Vogue pattern sale.  Now Vogue patterns usually work really well for me.  However they draft differently from McCalls or Butterick just works perfectly for me.  Maybe it's not different at all and I've convinced myself that they do.  Fine.  I just like how their patterns fit me with minimal alterations.

 

Back to this patterns.  I was in the clearance section looking for some black fabric to make my daughters pants for orchestra.  Black dress slacks in May are very difficult to find when your daughter is the size of a jelly bean at the age of 12.  So there I was carousing the very small clearance section (seriously, I've never seen such a small selection in the clearance of aisle of any other Joann's!)  When I saw this stretchy lace.  The lavender and cream color pallet really spoke to me.  I've been on this kick of wanting very feminine clothes, but I don't want to look like I stepped out of the Victorian era.  A little too retro for me, thank you.  But I really liked the fabric and it was on clearance for $4 a yard, down from $12.  Of course, I was planning something simple that I could finish in a day to sew today so I put it in my basket just in case I should happen to find a pattern that would work with it.  When I came across this pattern, which is meant for matte jersey, and specifically this design choice, I knew it was begging to come home with me (because I know anyone who is reading this is completely normal like me, and patterns, fabrics, and even notions, speak to you...).

Of course, there are some challenges to this style with my fabric choice.  First, the lace doesn't allow for the best coverage if you're modest.  Not only am I modest, but I would like to wear this to work or church.  Without making any, umh, statements.  First I thought about lining this.  But since this pattern is meant for knit materials, a woven lining would definitely cause some fit issues that I'd have to address.  And I don't want to.  Call my lazy, but I have no intentions of spending my one sewing day figuring out fit.  I then recalled that I had Vogue 7837.  I've made the capri length pants and camisole before.  I decided what normally would be the nightgown, I could shorten to make as a slip.  This would also prevent me from having to sandwich a zipper between the lining and the dress - something that rarely turns out looking attractive for me, but something I will master one of these days...just not this weekend or this outfit!

So last night while watching Sherlock Holmes with my husband, I cut both fabrics out.  I should be on my way to church this morning, but due to the birthday party yesterday, I didn't complete my laundry.  Since I'm now 2 weeks behind, and the entire family is now lacking enough clothes to make it through a full week, I've decided to play hooky, finish the laundry, and sew.  All day.  And while I "should" save this dress for my birthday in two weeks, I probably won't!  I'll want to wear it to work tomorrow...