I made Vogue 1152, a Rebecca Taylor dress pattern, as a top instead.
I shortened the hem to 8 inches below the waistline, which is conveniently marked on the pattern.
The back has elastic channels that echo the front bands and add some fit forgiveness.
It turned out pretty good. I made this from a 42 inch square piece of silk crepe fabric, which meant I had to get creative with cutting and piecing.
I really like the sculptural shape of this pattern and the little details. Some of those details are annoyingly time-consuming to sew, though. There's lots of gathering, hand stitching of facings, and piping. Sewing this in a non-slippery fabric (a bit of cotton is heaven) would surely have been a wiser move.
My dislikes about this pattern can mostly be attributed to operator error: the front bands with piping got a bit wavy (I had to piece scraps together to make them); something is off about the bustline (the princess seams do not fit my bust contours properly, or maybe it is the combination of gathers right next to the overbust seam). Big sleeves are perhaps an ill-advised pairing with a full bust.
Despite my errors, I still like and will wear this top. Probably will try it again too. The designer looks so damn good in it!
Rebeca Taylor's dress above looks to me like a cotton/silk blend, not sure of the weave. The lower right version looks like matte jersey, one of the recommended fabrics for this pattern.
Watch out for the low neckline if you make this. The top of my bra peeks out without a cami underneath. I made my usual size 8 and found it fits true to size.
(eta: the designer did make a blouse version with some minor changes [no piping or neckline facing, shorter sleeves]- very pretty. For sale at nordstrom.com.)
Very cute! It was hard to see the details of this dress from the pattern because of the busy print.
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely fantastic. That color looks great on you. I like the design alteration you made. It worked out well.
ReplyDeleteThis looks better as a top I think, I wouldn't have bought this pattern before but as a top I might consider it... not that I have time haha
ReplyDeleteGreat as a top. I was attracted to the pattern but did not buy it yet as I need another dress pattern like a hole in the head. But as a top, very nice. I could see it in matte jersey.
ReplyDeleteYou know, from here I can't see the flaws that you're pointing out. It is flattering on you. The details on this dress really stand out in a solid color -- you can't tell from the pattern envelope what a winner of a design this is. Good job piecing this together.
ReplyDeleteLove it! I really like all those small details. And as you proved, it works great as a top besides a dress.
ReplyDeleteIt looks great as a top and the colour suits you super well. Another pattern to lust over!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful top. It looks so much better in a solid fabric. Beautiful top, well done and a grat color for you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a very attractive top on you! You did a wonderful job in transforming the pattern into a top. Superb color and style on you. I see a flawlessly made top. In fact, I like yours better than the designer's originals...
ReplyDeleteVery cute! I like it so much more in the solid than the flowers on the pattern, and I think you picked the perfect place to stop for the length. Just a side question, you don't by any chance happen to know where you bought those jeans you are wearing? :o)
ReplyDeleteYou look great in green. Bring on St. Paddy's day!
ReplyDeleteThis looks beautiful. There is so much detail!
ReplyDeleteYours looks much better than the navy version. Sleeves are at an awkward length on the navy. I'll say it again, you do beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteI love both and think you picked a lovely drapey soft fabric for the designs. BTW the top - full sleeves and gathered waist work great on you but only with fitted pants/etc. :o)
ReplyDeleteYes! They are Gap 1969 jeans (label says 'limited edition'). I got them about two years ago.
ReplyDeleteI think you are agonising over details - the sleeves look great as your shoulders don't seem broad and the line over ths bust looks ok too! All in all a fab top on you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous top, you look fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteRandom question: Do you do anything special to get your hair to look the way it does in these pictures? It looks so pretty and I've been dying to figure out how it's done!
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI did style my hair into waves with a curling iron in these photos. My hair has a natural loose wave, but it isn't very uniform.
I wrapped small sections of my hair around a 1 inch curling iron over the top of the clamp (basically just pretend the clamp is not there; there are clampless irons available now, but I use what I have). I wrap the hair around the iron starting at the scalp and wrapping the rest up to the end of the iron. I don't wrap the very ends around the iron, so they stay straight.
Here is a similar video tutorial, except I go over the clamp and use a smaller iron.
Hi again!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all of the information, it's so helpful! It's so nice of you to type all that out for me and find me a video too! I'm going to attempt it tomorrow and see how it comes out, thank you again :).
P.S. I love your blog, you're so talented!
This is utterly fabulous. Wow!
ReplyDeletegorgeous color and tailoring
ReplyDeleteThe colour is lovely and I soooo love the pattern you used !! It really works well as a top.
ReplyDeleteI love all that you sewing, it's very nice!
ReplyDeleteYou love the green color, isn't it? ;-)
Wow, this is gorgeous, and so flattering! You did an excellent job putting this top together--not bad for only 42 inches of fabric. Now I'm tempted to purchase the pattern after all :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented and I love how you sew such interesting items with great details - I love this top - well done :-)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog after typing "vogue pattern 1152" in Google, because I just bought this pattern and wanted to see what other people did with it. And I was very happy to find this blog: your top looks gorgeous !! and so do your other sewing projects. I will certainly visit again !
I intended to make this pattern as a liberty dress (liberty is all the rage this year in Paris, where I live) and I was wondering if this would work well: my fabric is a "tana lawn" liberty fabric, a very light cotton fabric. Do you think it would be OK with the gathers and shape of the dress?
Bonjour Blandine Clanet!
ReplyDeleteI think your Liberty fabric would be perfect for this dress pattern. It is probably the ideal fabric!
I LOVE your version of the top.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty. Great idea to make it into a blouse instead of a dress. I'll have to keep that in mind for my dress patterns. TFS!
ReplyDeletewow, this looks amazing on you! i just saw this pattern the other day and also thought it'd look great as a top - possibly even a sleeveless top for under a cardi or jacket now, solo later. love your color and fabric choice.
ReplyDeleteYour version is so pretty! I never would have looked twice at that pattern based on the envelope picture. The plain fabric show the details so well. Oh, and I can scarcely see your mistakes even after you pointed them out!
ReplyDelete