Pattern Review :: Vogue 8982

Vogue 8982
by Marcy Tilton



Before launching into what I'm pretty sure
is my first ever pattern review 
I need to let you know this wasn't a personal project, 
one of my students, Rosie, 
brought the pattern to class 
and because there were a couple of dramas on our journey
which didn't seem to be addressed in anyone else's review
I felt compelled to share our experience 
in the hope it might help some other unsuspecting creative soul achieve a joyous outcome...

Rosie is an enthusiastic sewer whose desire to create original & interesting garments isn't always equal to her technical & pattern reading skills 
 which after all, is why I'm here...

Pattern Description:
Loose-fitting, unlined jacket or vest has front exending into back collar, front darts, back extending to lower side front, shaped hemline and no side seams,  wrong side may show B.sleeves with slit, narrow hem and topstitching by hand. D.mock front band, stitched hems, back cut on crosswise grain.

Sizing & Style: Size 14 and version 'D'

Fabric: polyester satin damask

Were the instructions easy to follow:

for the most part the construction was straight forward especially if you took notice of the notches & markings, however

•   there was no mention of finishing the edges - we opted to overlock all the raw edges.

•   the instructions for stitching the back collar & facing in place were very wordy & diagrams lacked clarity so we effectively & efficently Ditch Stitched the collar in place.

•   the image below is of the front facing and is an example of  experience being important - you are instructed to Cut here for D, with the line stopping abruptly and no explanation of what to do next, we determined that tapering & reshaping the facing back into the existing cutting line was the best option. 

Pattern Alterations or Design Changes:

• we decided against cutting the centre back on the crosswise grain [bias] - there didn't seem much point as Rosies chosen fabric had alot of body & any effect would have been lost in translation.
• the sleeves were extremely long, requiring 5cm be removed from the length.

Would you Sew Again:

•   Yes - Rosie had her second one cut ready to go.

Conclusion:

The journey was a bit bumpy and we both concluded early on that Rosie would never have completed the Jacket without assistance, it was likewise unanimous that the outcome was fantastic and worth every effort.

Vogue patterns can be challenging to decipher at the best of times
and unfortunately not a recommended choice for a novice or nervous sewer 
especially if the plan is to do more sewing in the future
in my experience 
it takes experience 
to see a Vogue pattern through to completion
and I fear alot of sewing machines have ended up in storage
due unfortunate pattern choices

which is why we REinvent. x 

Sew-What-You-Like Workshop - Day Two & Pattern REviews

Everyone decided to create from patterns during this 2day Workshop

so I feel marginally qualified & a little obliged 
to do my very first pattern reviews 


Jeanette made a frock



from 100% cotton fabric 
using this pattern 

Simplicity 1610

not her first and possibly not her most challenging project at the Studio
Jeanette opted for the sleeveless scoop-neck version 
the process from go to woe was fairly straight forward 
as long as the instructions were adhered to

we did contemplate not self lining the bodice
as the pattern asked
using our old faithful Bias Binding to finish raw edges
until it was realised the squared off armholes wouldn't allow for this

it turned out to be a firm fitting 1950's styled frock
which Jeanette enjoyed the making and wearing of so much 
she's coming back for some floral fabric to make another.
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Rosie bought this gorgeous Japanese cotton voile from me a while back 
and arrived with the perfect for summer top pattern to tackle

opting also for the high-neck version

which we ended up lowering to suit Rosies shape better

the raw edges allowed for Bias Binding finishes in the same fabric 

and on completion Rosie chose to jazz it up a little 

with some 'ribboned' Bias sewn as a big droopy bow in the centre

Butterick B5644

Finished, the garment is loose fitting, roomy and airy
a straight forward project for an experienced sewer as Rosie 

and it would also make a perfect first time project for a novice.

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JoAnne had high hopes for her bag full of potential REinventions 

and it was decided the piece she most wanted to play with
was the fabric in an unwearable frock

we decided a Vogue pattern of mine

would fit the bill perfectly

if we lost the frill at the bottom

turned the neck gathers into pleats/tucks
and added extra width at the sides

Vogue V8229

there wasn't much of the orginal frock left by the time we'd finished

we even REused the Invisible Zip

Quite a fitted garment when finished
[we added extra panels into the sides] 

not a difficult pattern to follow & construct

especially if just laying up fabric

REinventing using a pattern is extremely rewarding 

and a tad time consuming.

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When I saw this fabric I immediately thought Tea Frock

and when Kate saw it in the Studio Shop 

she thought the same thing

having already made her first one 

a couple of weeks before in a more difficult fabric

this one almost sewed itself

the most time consuming part was leveling the hem-line

due entirely to the bias nature of the cut

and the weight in the skirt

there's no point in doing a review for this pattern

because the pattern is no longer available

and if I'm going to do a

Tea Frock Workshop

I'd best find one similar soon!

With a little time up her sleeve 

Kate made a start on her next 

Change of Heart Skirt 

as with others Kate's made in the past 

this one will not have the front wrap panel

however this time Kate's challenged herself by lining it

 and if Stella keeps bringing us her delicious chocolate Brownies

and we eat them

I might have to do a workshop 

on how to best let out your seams!