Today it’s my turn to share the outfit I’ve made for the Vogue Patterns Cocktail Hour Sew-along, complete with cocktail! As with last year’s Big Vintage Sew-along, McCalls have selected a range of patterns for the event, with proceeds from the sale of those patterns (between March until November) being donated to The Eve Appeal gynecological cancer charity.
The twenty patterns included in the sew-along are evening-wear themed, with lots of dresses, but also separates, outerwear, and accessories. After liberal umming and ahhing, I decided to sew Vogue 1428.
Vogue 1428 is designed as a dress in three parts – a skirt, vest under-bodice, and lace bodice – which are joined together at the waist. I decided that they would get more wear as separates, so constructed the skirt and bodice in that way, skipping the vest altogether in favour of a RTW one.
There’s actually very few changes required to this pattern to create separates instead of a dress. Based on the pattern’s recommended sizing, I cut a size 10 in the bodice and 12 in the skirt; the bodice is spot on, although I could have probably sized down slightly in the skirt.
For the skirt, I followed the pattern instructions until the end, when I cut and attached a waistband with a single button closure, instead of attaching it to the bodice (I just cut a straight band based on my waist measurement, but you could use a waistband pattern piece from a TNT pattern).
I really love the box pleats on the skirt, and think it looks great in this heavier weight fabric, purchased at Barry’s Fabric in Birmingham. I made absolutely no attempt to pattern match the skirt at the side seams, and am using limited fabric as my excuse.
The lace for the bodice was also purchased at Barry’s, who have a great selection of lace and evening wear fabrics. This lace has a textured surface and a touch of glitter, which I managed to dust all around the house in the process of cutting and sewing this.
The pattern instructs you to cut the base of the bodice along the scalloped edge of your lace, so constructing the bodice as a separate is just a matter of not attaching it to the skirt or to an under-bodice. I created a slightly more raised ‘collar’ on mine, by attaching the lace around the neck slightly differently than instructed (I just placed the raw edges together and sewed with a french seam).
I’m really pleased with the finished garments and think they will get lots of wear – the skirt in particular. I fancy another version of the skirt in a summery colour, for a more day-time look. I also found this quite a quick sewing project, useful to know if you ever need an evening outfit in a hurry!
I figured this outfit was worth a trip out for photos, so popped to the local park this morning, cocktail & most suitable glass I owned slipped inside my handbag, before it got too busy. Not a bad start to the day!
If you want to take part in the sew-along, you can view all of the patterns here, and the outfits made as part of the blogger tour so far here.
The full list of bloggers taking part until November is below:
1. Winnie Longhurst
Scruffy Badger
3rd March
http://scruffybadgertime.co.uk
2. Kate Underdown
The Fold Line
10th March
http://thefoldline.com
3. Portia Lawrie
Makery
17th March
http://www.makery.uk
4. Rachel Walker
The Fold Line
24th March
http://thefoldline.com
5. Wendy Gardiner
Butterick
31st March
http://mccallpatternuk.sewdirect.com/
6. Abigail Dyson
The Crafty Pin Up
14th April
http://www.thecraftypinup.co.uk
7. Lucy Regan
Sew Essential
28th April
http://www.sewessential.co.uk/blog/
8. Fiona Parker
Diary of a Chainstitcher
12th May
http://chainstitcher.blogspot.co.uk
9. Nina Chang
Thumblenina
26th May
http://thumblenina.wordpress.com
10. Jen Sanders
Gingerella
9th June
https://gingerella.wordpress.com
11. Charlotte Powell
English Girl at Home
23rd June
http://englishgirlathome.com
12. Elisalex de Castro Peake
By Hand London
7th July
http://byhandlondon.com/blogs/by-hand-london
13. Kerry Patterson
Kestrel Makes
21st July
http://www.kestrelmakes.com
14. Gabby Young
Gabberdashery
4th August
http://www.gabberdashery.com
15. Abigail Norton
Sew Abigail
18th August
http://sewabigail.co.uk
16. Karen Ball
Did You Make That?
1st September
http://didyoumakethat.com
17. Rachel Wain
Rach Against The Sewing Machine
15th September
http://rachagainstthesewingmachine.co.uk
18. Elle Harris
Sew Positivity
29th September
http://www.sewpositivity.com
19. Rachel Pinheiro
House of Pinheiro
6th October
http://houseofpinheiro.com
20. Amy Thomas
Almond Rock
13th October
http://almondrock.co.uk
21. Jane Marland
Handmade Jane
20th October
http://www.handmadejane.co.uk
22. Jennifer Walker
Ginger Thread Girl
27th October
http://gingerthreadgirl.co.uk
23. Marie Koupparis
A Stitching Odyssey
3rd November
http://www.astitchingodyssey.com
24. Elena Rosa Brown
Randomly Happy
10th November
http://www.randomlyhappyblog.com
25. Laura Clarke
Sew for Victory
17th November
http://sewforvictory.co.uk
26. Janene Spencer
Ooobop
24th November
http://ooobop.com