Vogue 1247 version 2.0
The Goal: This shirt was rather unintentional. It began as another top, a way too big top that wasn’t working for me in both fit and drape so rather than set the project aside to become a UFO like I knew it would I decided to salvage it immediately into something else and avoid its otherwise sad fate.
The Pattern: I scrounged through my pattern collection to find something that would work with the already cut out pieces and this one (Vogue 1247) fit the bill. I made this shirt over a year ago in a size 10. It was still pretty big then and only got bigger as I lost a little more weight. The thing barely stays on my shoulders now. 🙁 For this version I cut a size 6, the smallest in the package. I normally cut a 12 in Vogue so that shows how large this pattern design is.
The Fabric: It’s a cotton voile from Amy Butler’s new line of apparel fabrics that I bought locally at Remnants. This stuff is super soft and the print is so nice that I had a hard time figuring out which side was the right or wrong side. So hard in fact that I accidentally sewed the back of the shirt the wrong side out so my pleats go in different directions at the shoulders.
The Changes: Since I had to squeeze out this shirt out of and existing half-finished top I had to sew the side seams narrower than on the pattern, which turned out fine because this top is already really oversized.
I also cut almost three inches off the end of the sleeves. They’re originally really long. And now I’m just realizing I cut the back on the fold instead of in two pieces, which I guess doesn’t matter because the center back seam is straight…
I serged all the seams instead of doing French seams like the pattern says ’cause I’m too lazy to mess with that. And I didn’t bother following the directions for the neckline either so, whatevs…
The smaller size makes the v-neck a little less deep but the neckline is still pretty wide so I added my fave feature – bra strap holders!! Those things are the beeeeesssssstttttt!
The Result: For a shirt that two days ago I hadn’t even planned on making I’m pretty satisfied. The narrower sides give a slightly sleeker fit and I like the shorter sleeves better and I love this fabric.
And best of all I saved a sewing-fail from the death heap! Dixie FTW!
Great save! Love this fabric. WhenOHwhen will I ever make this top? Love the design so much. But now it’s well back in the queue, behind the Archer, the Laurel, Cordova, etc etc etc… 🙂
Great fit! This looks like the perfect spring top. It looks fantastic with jeans, and I bet it would look wonderful with a skirt as well.
The fit is great!! That top is definitely oversized, and I like how this version makes it a bit sleeker. Also, a brilliant save. And as a complete aside, your hair is looking super cute in these pictures – you’ve got me eyeing my scissors…
Gosh, I love this so much! I’ve been tempted by this pattern so many times, but now that I’ve seen your ‘slimmed’ down version…I must have it! I adore the print of yours too…divine!!!
Such a great top, your fabric just screams springtime! I really like the front details on this top, but it always seemed SO big. Your more fitted version is perfect!
Nice and fresh. and you have lost weight!
Great save! It looks fantastic on you and very springy!
Great fabric! You must be stoked it didn’t go to waste!
Great save and the print is very cute. Phew.
I love the fabric. Nice save on the top…it looks great.
Cute!! Thanks for all of the fitting tips.
such wonderful fabric! and clever, clever you for thinking of bra-straps holder…
What a gorgeous top I love it!! I have this one in my stash and always pass it but obviously its a pretty easy one to do up then! It looks so pretty on you! 🙂
Cute! I love this! What a great print! I’m so glad you were able to think outside the box and come up with this top! Looks like somebody’s got her sewjo back, haha!
thanks! i like that term – sewjo, i’m gonna have to start using it. 😉
thanks erin! it’s got a number of pieces to it but it’s nothing too complicated so it’s an easy shirt to assemble. 🙂
thanks, the bra-strap holder things are a life saver. otherwise i’d be constantly paranoid about my shirt slipping off my shoulders.
yeah, i’m glad i salvaged it. but it just goes to show – make a muslin first so you don’t waste your nice fabric! i need to remember my own advice. 😉
why, thank you very much! 😉
thanks! i know you’d make a pretty awesome version, too. 😉
thanks kelly, it is very spring-y. i think it’s a cherry blossom print.
thank you sallie! i took your advice and cut the smallest size in the package. and thanks about the hair, i just got it cut and it’s pretty refreshing to have shorter hair again.
thanks michelle, i was planning on making the skirt from this same pattern, too, easily coordinating.
ugh, i know, if it wasn’t for the failure this thing would never have been made. nothing like an emergency to put a project at the front of the line! 🙂
I just bought this! Loved your last one but this is my favourite. I thought it would look better in a plain colour to show off the detail but you can still really see in this one. Can’t wait !
Yay for sewing mojo return! This is seriously such an awesome pattern… I would have bought it about 5 times over already were it not that shapeless things don’t work on me. But it works SO well on you. I’m totally loving it!
So glad you salvaged the fabric–it’s so pretty!
thanks poppykettle, if you like the design of the pattern there are lots of ways to make it more shaped – there’s a back seam you can adjust and the sides, and of course, you can always make a really small size ’cause the design is so big. i think it would look cute on you!
thanks amy! i like this new one a lot, too. i think it depends on the print you use, ya know?
thanks!