Sorry – blog binge – two dress posts in one day. I am too pleased with this one to wait!
It’s easy to be seduced by the pages of designer patterns offered by Vogue – I am all.the.time. However quietly lurking in the back of the catalogues are pages of timeless designs that look equally gorgeous sewn up.
So here’s one of the unsung non-designer heroes from the ‘Vogue Easy Options dresses‘ catalogue pages. Sorry for the photo spam but there are so many things to like about this dress. After we took the river shots I suddenly remembered this charity If We All Had Wings wall art and wanted to use it as well – because #wings #ifweallhadwings 🙂
Vogue 8997 – a classic ‘pretty’ dress
described by Vogue as:
Lined dress has princess seams, close-fitting bodice, front and back V-neckline, raised waist, stitched hems, back zipper, and unlined sleeve variations. A: Butterfly sleeves and narrow hem. B, C: Sleeveless. A, B, C: Flared skirt. D, E, F: Semi-fitted skirt, and back slit. D: Short sleeves and contrast panels. F: Three-quarter length sleeves.
Includes separate pattern pieces for A, B, C and D cup sizes.
Vogue 8997 – pattern cover. Image from Vogue patterns. https://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8997
Things I Love
The back! I love, love, love the v-back on this dress.
I love the back view of this dress. LOVE IT.
Pockets!
Pockets – and I also love the v-neck. I think it’s one of my favourite neckline styles.
I love how the skirt falls in eight panels from the bodice. It skims across your waist and flares out beautifully. Plus it is very comfortable to sit in, eat a large meal in… I know this because I have!
I feel super girly – yet not too fussy – in this dress. I love it.
Princess seam bodice… and it comes in A, B, C and D cup sizes.
Oh and the TWIRL factor.
Twirling – I don’t do this much, since I had children my balance is seriously out of whack!
Construction Notes
I used an invisble zipper so changed the construction slightly to accommodate it.
I turned up the dress hem with bias binding as I like the finish.
I attached the lining differently to the instructions. I find the usual Vogue instructions are much more fiddly and don’t result in such a clean finish. Rather than create a huge online tutorial on this – you can read all about it on the Slapdash Sewist’s blog. I don’t often see the point in reinventing the wheel.
I hand sewed the lining to the zipper as I sometimes find it easier to get a neat finish at the top of the zipper pull. I also hand sewed all the hems. Yes, it took a couple of nights but it’s relaxing and I don’t use my machine once the kids are in bed.
The bodice pieces are all interfaced.
I decided to line the dress with fine cotton lawn. This makes the skirt rather full but I love it.
Minor Things
I think I need to fiddle with the fit a little as it feels a little roomy across the upper bust.
I do wish that the lining had a faced lining around the neckline.
I might run the skirt seams in a little if I make this again as it’s just a little large through the waist… but then again… oh so comfortable.
Holy heck, it’s a lot of hand hemming to sew the lining and the dress hems on this one!
I’m feeling inspired to sew a few more dresses right now!
Thanks Vogue for a lovely pattern, don’t send it to the OOP sin bin too fast!
Pattern: Vogue 8997. Size 6, B-cup.
Fabric: Linen/rayon blend from Lincraft, Australia. Sadly sold out at my store and I can’t see it online *sobs*. I just adore the vivid colours and the drape of this fabulous fabric.
Also see: Barbara Jane Made | Zoopolis | Madame Sew & Sew with lace – so pretty! | Dellia | Sew Limitless | Elle L Silks
Wall Art: If We All Had Wings – a local charity that supports families with cancer patients.
An ‘out take’ with my self-proclaimed ‘posing coach’… she’s 11… stop growing child!
She’s kooky and I adore her. My lovely little Giselle.
Sew Busy Lizzy 
I have this pattern and so anxious to construct a muslin. Your dress is just lovely .
I was a bit put off tracing all the pieces at first but once it is cut out it’s quite a fast make.
This dress looks absolutely amazing! I may have to look for that pattern now. 🙂
Thank you – and do try this pattern, all the pattern pieces are worth it!
This one is gorgeous!! I love a V back neckline – so elegant!
Isn’t it? I can’t find much to dislike about this pattern it’s just so pretty & feminine without being fussy.
Gorgeour dress and perfect fabric choice! I wouldn’t mind having one exactly like it.
Thank you. I think this will be much loved!
Agree that neckline front and back is lovely! Winner!
Thanks! I think I’ll make another soon!
That is lovely. Also, I need to live by a beach.
Move on over! You can teach me to machine knit!
That is lovely. Also, I need to live by a beach.
So lovely, the skirt is amazing and I love the style, it’s winter here and I have serious dress envy.
I bet! I struggle when the temp drops below 20 degrees Celsius!
What a lovely summer dress! It remembers me B5603 with it’s back v-neck, high waist and flared skirt panels. I loved that dress, too, but sadly, I no longer fitted into it. I am looking forward seeing your next dress!
Lovely dress. I made this dress a couple of years ago, but the fitting was all wrong on me. Your version is really making me want to give it another try.
oooo, this is amazing! And I also love the slim-line version of the pattern, so you are right, this is really one to look out for!
Great shape & neckline, I do like a v front & back as I find it the most flattering on myself. lovely fabric too😃
You always get such a GREAT fit with your dresses 🙂 I love this dress – so carefree on the beach with a breeze blowing the skirt about. Your chosen setting fits perfectly with the colours in your fabric! Great post 🙂
Really lovely! Love the way it skims and flares at the waist. Bet it would make a great dress up dress, as well as summer dress.
I love this – bought that pattern a while ago, you have reminded me to make it next spring. really pretty!
Beautiful dress, it’s so feminine and pretty and I also like the V back! Love the final photo with your posing coach! x
Truly beautiful – both dress and wings!
Love, love, love! And I have this pattern! Definitely makes me feel motivated to find the right fabric!!
It took me a while to get motivated – now I wish I’d started sooner!
I love this dress, and I have this pattern! I’ve been collecting patterns and fabrics for a while now…time to actually start making myself some clothes! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Good luck & enjoy!
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I love these Custom Fit patterns by Vogue too! I was shocked at how easy it was to fit a couple of them and if you have expensive fabric they are a sure deal which I like 🙂 Love your dress! Twirly, girly – colourful what’s not to love? 🙂
Hi, novice here! Trying to teach myself how to sew. Alterations on pre-made clothes are going well. Thought I’d try an “Easy pattern”. lol. More like baptism by fire. Can one make an already “easy” pattern dress, slightly more simple by working and perfecting the dress without the lining? Let’s say use my spanks slip instead? Or a heavy enough weight fabric that opacity won’t be an issue? OR stop whining and do the darn lining haha.
Lol from memory the lining is the same as the outer on this dress so it’s actually easier to make the lining than to try and finish the edges neatly another way. The lining on this dress gives the skirt nice shape so I’d say it’s worth adding it.
If it helps, it doesn’t take long to sew it all together!