Sometimes I wonder why it is that I often remake something that I’ve made before, when I have such an extensive stash of un-used patterns clamouring for my attention.  I suppose it’s basically just because I know what has already worked for me!  Which is why I gave Vogue 8813 another whirl.

This dress has been described by it’s designer as a “french house dress”. I wear my previous version often. I like the v-neckline, the centre ruching, and the weird, huge, baggy pockets. Not that I ever carry anything in them! As with my last make, I sewed a casing along the top of the pockets and added elastic to draw it up into gathers, before sewing the pocket edges into the seams. I think it worked a little better on the last dress, as this time the fabric is a little beefier.  I made size Medium, as I did last time, with small alterations to shorten it through the body.

For all the action going on at the front, the back is really rather plain. A centre back seam in the bodice, and the seam where the bodice joins the skirt. There are no side seams for the skirt; they join onto the long front panel. Actually, there aren’t many pattern pieces at all for this dress – just five, from memory – it is quite cleverly drafted.

The back neckline folds over and is stitched down to enclose the back neck seams. This makes it sit beautifully at the back, then open out to a V-neckline with a little fold at the front. The centre ruching does take a little bit of attention in order to keep it nice and secure. There is actually a video tutorial on how to do it – not that I followed it!

The three quarter sleeves are a cut-on dolman. Very easy to wear. And the fabric? It’s a mystery knit from the Darn Cheap Fabrics $2 per metre table. It is quite substantial, yet quite stretchy. Stella thinks that it looks like clouds in the day-time sky, or stars in the night. Me? I just see 1980s acid-wash denim.

Just ending with a gratuitous mother/daughters photo! And you haven’t seen the last of that fabric yet…

Edited to add: Have you seen the amazing entries in the Tessuti Gridlock Contest?  There are so many incredible garments that have been made.  I have no idea how they could possibly choose a winner.  So many talented sewists!