I promised I would do some sewing for myself this year and I started out by making Vogue 8805. This pattern has been around for awhile and has been quite popular with over 50 reviews on Pattern Review. Most people have made the colorblock version and that version is quite lovely, but for me the beauty of this pattern is its simple lines. I have a weakness for a great print and I picked up this wonderful print in New York city a few years ago at Eliot Berman. The fabric is a mystery wool/acrylic fleece combination that was supposedly made for Valentino.
I loved the gray green lace/flower print, and it seemed so cozy for a cold winter day. From the beginning I pictured it as a dress, but what dress, and how to address the bulk of the fabric? Enter Vogue 8805 as the solution to my problem! The simple lines of the dress address both the large print and the bulk of the fabric. I made a size 12 and graded out to a 14 at the hips. I still used all 3 sections, although if you had a very busy print, you could easily treat the middle and bottom pieces as one. I thought that the top stitching added a subtle detail to the dress.
I lengthened the sleeves to be full sleeves for more coziness. This dress is perfect for the beginner - no buttons or zippers, just a simple slit in the back that closes with a hook and eye. The neckline is finished with a bias binding instead of a facing which again helps with the bulk of the fabric. And by finishing this dress, I have used fabric in my stash, a pattern from my stash and finished my first #makenine2018! Consider Vogue 8805 for your next project if you need to whip up a quick and easy dress, have a bulky fabric, or like me, are a print gal at heart!