Remember the Jaywalk sewing competition from Tessuti last year? I purchased some the fabric mainly because it was so well priced for a good quality jersey and then sat on it for the entire competition. I am not very competitive by nature, so wasn’t really interested in entering, although seeing all the entries was very handy to help me decide what I wanted to make with my share of fabric. The Pinterest board is great!
For casual daywear in summer, I live in maxi dresses. So I made up the Vogue 1027 bodice with a self-drafted quarter circle maxi skirt.
Like alot of other people with this fabric, I had fun matching stripes for some cool chevron effects.
I ended up with matched chevrons at both the side and front and back seams, which I was really happy about.
For the next time I make this pattern I can see I need a swayback adjustment. This pattern does run large. I sized down one size from my measurements when I made it. It is looser now as I have lost a bit of weight but the one size down worked ok when I first made it. I wear this with a belt to break up the stripes.
The front waistline is a bit uneven, but as I always wear a belt, I can live with it. I finished the neckline and sleeves with a band rather than the suggested fold over and stitch method. The bands help prevent gaping – I stretched them quite a bit as I was sewing them on. I probably pulled the neckband a bit too tight as you can see it is pulling up at the waistline a bit, but it makes it feel nice and secure when I am wearing it. I reinforced the shoulder seams of this dress with some rayon seam binding tape.
I’ve made this dress before in a solid black crepe jersey which is impossible to photograph, but like everyone who has made this pattern, I really love it and highly recommend it.
I also really love the drape of a 1/4 circle skirt. It works so well for a maxi skirt and is not as much of a fabric hog as other styles.
I have the other colourway of Jaywalk and have made that up into a maxi dress too, but with the stripes doing something totally different. It’s a great fabric and has held up really well to repeated machine washings.
