Pass The Wine – Vogue V1044
Phew, what a project. This is Vintage Vogue 1044, an original 1956–1957 pattern.
I started off thinking of this as a shirtdress, but that seems flippant.
It’s a mid-length dress with a pleated button-front bodice, and has a front and back yoke that extends into kimono sleeves. The skirt is gathered, but also designed with a snap closing in front and inverted pleats.
Everything came together when Kath shared a photo of this pattern on her instagram account. You could have bowled me over when she offered to send me her copy. I had been searching for a very long time for a copy in my size and it was like a dream come true when the post turned up from Australia.
I chose this dress for my Vintage Pattern Pledge as a challenge to myself, to prove I could handle a complex pattern that used vintage techniques. And I think I’ve been pretty successful with it!
The pattern suggests Crepe, Shantung, Batiste or Taffeta but I picked this wine coloured Linen as I knew it would be well suited for the pleated bodice while still having enough drape for the skirt. Plus the colour is lush! Covering buttons for the bodice just seemed like the right choice too. Plus there was Gutermann thread in a perfect colour match.
Taking time and effort with this pattern was very important to me. I made three muslins of the bodice to correct fit and practice the complicated placket instructions.
During a bout of internet research I found some brilliant tips for this dress: I changed the order of some of the steps (e.g. sewing my darts after my pleats and stay stitching my corners before assembling the yoke). I also reinforced the sharp corners where the yoke joined the bodice with squares of silk instead of the suggested seam binding.
The yoke facing is entirely hand-stitched and so was the epic hem (I added some lace trim to the hem for a sweet touch). The visible seams are pinked which gave me the chance to use my Grandma’s pinking shears she used when we sewed as a younger woman.
I was very respectful of the pattern up to a certain point but I just couldn’t get along with the snap front skirt. It gaped and didn’t hang right, and to be honest seemed rather unnecessary. I instead recut a standard skirt and unpicked the right side-seam to hand-sew an invisible zipper.
It’s a shame, but I had to up the exposure on the camera to show the details, the colour is a beautiful rich red. I feel so elegant in this dress. And I’m even happier that the dress matches a pair of shoes I already own, yippee!
I think the only thing I wish I’d done was add pockets. Maybe next time?
Right, pass me the wine. It’s time for a celebratory drink!
67 Comments
Mags
Gorgeous!
almondrock
Aww thanks very much!
sparkleneedles
WOWEEEEEE! That is truly a thing of great beauty! Bravo!
almondrock
Thanks so much! I much wrap it up in tissue and keep it safe now out of terror of ruining it
sparkleneedles
Ha yes, I would be very tempted to put it in a glass cabinet and invite people over for viewings!
Carol Thomas (@swirlyicing)
Looks stunning! Well done!
almondrock
Thanks mum!!
Tabatha Tweedie
What an excellent make! Well done, it looks perfect. Love the colour, too.
almondrock
Thank you! It’s an even better colour in real life
ooobop!
Totally inspirational. That dress screams perfection, and talent and patience and beauty. And is exactly the kind of post I want to read about. Cheers, clever lady x
almondrock
Wow thanks so much! Glad to have delivered! X
katie
Soooo beautiful. The bodice! The colour! Love love.
almondrock
Aww thank you! I’m pretty smitten with it (and slightly relieved it all worked out)
Jenn C
Love the details! Very pretty
almondrock
Thank you so much!
misscrayolacreepy
Your hard work paid off, this dress is gorgeous! The tucks are perfection and I like that you covered the buttons. It adds a nice touch.
almondrock
Thank you! I’m very relieved it turned out ok. Phewwww
Charlie
What a gorgeous colour! It suits you really well. This pattern seems to have been quite a lot of work – well done for making three muslins! It was absolutely worth it! Have you worn it already?
almondrock
I seem to making three muslins for everything lately! I love the outcome though. I wore it out for a nice dinner with my photographer to celebrate!
BusyLizzie
Well done on your patience to get this finished, it looks marvellous! I love all the details, truly magnificent! I agree with you on the snap finish for the skirt. I have made vintage patterns with this detail and I just can’t do it, too much fear of flashing!!
almondrock
Ohhh so glad you agree about the snaps!! Thanks for your lovely comments. I’m in love with this dress a little bit
Tracy H
Well done your dress is beautiful your hard work has certainly paid off
almondrock
Aww thank you so much!
Clarinda Kaleidoscope
That dress is gorgeous – absolutely my favourite from all the makes I have seen on your blog. It has an early Laura Ashley look about it and your work on the detailing is really skilful. Well done you – can we see a photo of you wearing it at an occasion?
almondrock
Wow thanks so much for your lovely comments! I will do my best to get photos at an event. Any excuse to wear this dress as much as possible
scruffybadger
What a corker! ( continuing the wine pun 😉 )
It’s beautiful Amy, and such a perfect finish, all your hard work was worth it, you’ve got an heirloom dress there!
almondrock
Haha love it! Thank you for your lovely comments. What a nice idea to think of this dress still being around in years to come!
Dreaming of Avonlea
Stunning! That bodice is amazing!
almondrock
Thank you so much!
rachsews
Beautiful dress. The shape is perfect for you, the details are gorgeous and it looks wonderfully made.
almondrock
Wow thank you! I love wearing it
A Stitching Odyssey (@StitchOdyssey)
Oh, Amy! How stunning! I’m honoured that you joined in with #vintagepledge and went to such a great effort with your make. What a beautiful dress with gorgeous details…love it so much! I think I have the repro version of this pattern and I can’t wait to make it now :o) Have added you to the dedicated Pinterest board http://www.pinterest.com/stitchodyssey/vintage-sewing-pattern-pledge/ :o)
almondrock
Yay! Thanks for hosting such a fun challenge. I’m in illustrious company on that board
anenthusiast
Amy! This is totally wonderful! Such a posh dress but also the lovely fabric makes it look like you could wear it any old day (and feel fabulous in so doing!). Great job!
almondrock
Thank you! I do love swishing around the house in it heehee
Jo
That is a dress with a challenge but you learn so much from making them – it is fabulous. Jo x
almondrock
Thank so much! I did learn a lot. Makes me feel I can conquer anything
stitchedupsam
Really, really lovely. You’ve obviously put lots and lots of time and effort into this dress, and it’s definitely worth it as the result is beautiful.
almondrock
Awww thanks so much! I am overjoyed that it turned out ok
charityshopchic
So cute! Love the buttons, they’re a nice detail.
almondrock
Thank you! Covering buttons is so much fun!
Tania
Beautiful work!
almondrock
Thank you so much!
Lynne
This is gorgeous! I love the shape of the bodice with the yokes and pleats.
almondrock
Thank you! I love it too. Lots of work but worth it I think
Ruth
It’s gorgeous Amy! It’s totally worth the effort that you put into it, and really suits you!
almondrock
Thanks so much! I love wearing red but very rarely sew with solid colours
Sabs
Very nice indeed Amy, it has a country girl out for a walk look about it…you need a hat to match I think! Well worth all the effort you put in x
almondrock
Awww thanks! Oooh I’d love a hat to wear with it! That’s my next mission
Fiona@staring at the sea
Wow! That is all.
almondrock
Hahaha thanks so much!
Emma Jayne
So many intricate sewing details in this dress you made a good choice to use plain fabric. Would someone top Amy’s glass up please, I think she deserves it.
almondrock
*Clink* thanks so much. I don’t know why I don’t sew solid colours more!?
McCallPatternCompany (@McCallPatternCo)
You know how much we love this on you. Well done! Too bad the pattern is out of print. 🙁
Vicki Kate
Wow, that is a beautiful dress! Love all the details!
Helena
This is gorgeous! It’s a great colour, I love the lace trim and the fact that you chose to challenge yourself. Well done!
wearawyatt
You certainly have proved your skills and dedication – absolutely beautiful – totally adore the detailing but then that’s why we love vintage style so much I suppose. 🙂
almondrock
Thank you so much! It’s a real shame you don’t see modern sewing patterns like this.
gingermakes
Wow! What a stunner of a dress! It’s absolutely lovely.
bernieandi
I can’t get over this dress! It is absolutely delightful,beautiful,and positively lush.
I am so inspired by what you have achieved with this dress! You have serious skills! I would have been terrified of those sharp corners at the yoke! I think linen was a splendid choice and the colour is gorgeous on you! 🙂 x
almondrock
Thank you so much for giving me the chance to make this dress!!
elise
This is beautiful…the effort you went to to get it perfect really shows!
Sara
Congratulations on such a beautiful dress! I love all the details and truly believe your effort has been rewarded by the stunning result! I am waiting for the pattern to arrive into my mailbox, so I will start on this soon enough, hoping I will so justice to its design!
Emily Kate
Ooh that’s a lovely dress. I love 1950’s style dresses, it really suits you too!
almondrock
Thank you so much! It all really came together on this one I think 🙂
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