Dresses from Vogue 8961

When I saw Vogue 8961, my first thought was, "Perfect for work- something simple, comfortable, and super quick to make." I've been admiring winter white dresses, and found this winter white wool gabardine in my stash. I usually think of gabardine as something only for jackets or pants, but it actually has a nice drape and is great for dresses!

I added in-seam pockets to this one, and since it was cream, I added a lining so that there would be no show through. I did add some length- I can't remember how much, but probably 3 inches to fit my 5'9" frame. I also skipped the sleeve options of ruching or open slits that are included in the pattern.

Here you can see the seam that runs from the shoulder to the bottom of the sleeve. I believe that this is a modified kimono sleeve, but if anyone else knows for sure, please correct me. I did have some problems with the shoulder seam riding back after wearing it for a few minutes, and I corrected the problem by removing about 1-1/2" of length from the front neckline on each side.

It's a pretty nice dress, and I like that I can set the whole tone with a scarf of any color. The weight of the gabardine with the lining is substantial enough to be quite warm. I like having the elastic waist, so that I can get some waist definition when I stand, but comfort when I sit.

I made it a second time, and this dress is made out of a silk/cotton/lycra twill that is thick enough that I decided not to line it. I did a high round back adjustment on this one, in addition to shortening the front neckline, hoping to prevent the shoulder seam riding back. I'm not sure that the adjustment did anything. I think that the neckline is a little large on this pattern.

I actually love the end results of both dresses, and I'm sure that I'll get a ton of wear from them. If you are interested in this pattern, I would recommend cutting the neckline a couple of sizes smaller than your typical size. I think this is really quite a versatile pattern, as you could also make the shorter top version, and it should work with a variety of fabrics.