Vogue 8469

If you’re new here, I’m someone who likes to make myself a birthday dress every year! For my 40th birthday I wanted to wear something really nice… Sadly I couldn’t arrange a big party where I’d wear a fancy outfit with dramatic details so instead I decided on something beautiful but simple that could be worn for a nice dinner and many times afterwards.

With a lot of deliberation I chose an old pattern from early in my sewing journey to remake with improved skills. OOP Very Easy Vogue 8469 was a sweet dress with underbust gathers, midriff panel and gathered skirt. There are long ties secured in the side seams that can wrap to the front or back and optional cap sleeves.
I’d recommend McCall’s 7802 View A for a modern match!

I originally made a straight size 14 (twice), first in 2013 and then 2016. So I graded out the side seams to a size 16 at the bust and 18 at the waist. A toile told me that was too much extra at the bust so took that back to 14 and I trimmed 1cm off the shoulder seams for a better fit.

This beautiful silk crepe is called inky grove and the same print comes on lots of different base cloths. It’s a one-way design so I needed to a nap layout for all my pattern pieces. Entomology pins from Merchant and Mills are my recommended fine fabric pins.

I lined the bodice in a simple grey but lined the cap sleeve with the outer fabric because I’d decided to repeat my hack of skipping the hem elastic. I love how they look – free and fluttery. And a simple concealed zipper finished everything off. Again, I skipped the neckline topstitching recommended by the pattern.

Hilariously I sewed the bodice, then realised I’d forgotten the ties, unpicked and sewed it all again, then realised I didn’t like the ties! The fabric is so busy you couldn’t really see them! So off they came with more unpicking.

The finished dress feels fabulous to wear and I’m in love with this pattern again. It’s quite lovely to make yourself a birthday dress and also see how far your sewing has come in 14 years.