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Just a quick progress report and followed by a quick lament: Vogue 8379 is coming together quickly and neatly. Everything is done except for the hem and the sleeves, and the bodice is fitting like a dream- who ever thought that I might one day wear a wrap dress without a strategically placed safety pin! (Obviously, if this was something you ever wondered about me in the past, you might do well to pick up a few more hobbies or something. Or at least turn away from your computer for a few minutes a day.)
The lament: I’m starting to fall for this dress in its sleeveless state. It’s something about that sleeveless wrap bodice and that sharp collar. I’m tempted to cut in the armholes a tiny bit, find a way to finish them neatly and call it a dress. The only thing keeping me from it is that this dress is 100% wool, which would seriously limit its season in a sleeveless incarnation.
I’m feeling a sleeveless ponte de roma version in my future…
The Selfish Seamstress 
41 comments
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January 18, 2010 at 1:12 am
Lily
I actually find fine wool quite comfortable in summer. I have a summer dress in wool georgette and it’s really cool, as is fine wool jersey. I think you could have it sleeveless!
Love the dress, you’ve done a brilliant job!
January 18, 2010 at 9:49 am
selfishseamstress
Thanks! Unfortunately this is a wool double knit, so it’s better for cool weather. I too have a number of dresses in wool suiting and lightweight flannel that I’ll wear on (not-too-hot) summer days, and I agree- it’s a great fiber for sleeveless garments.
January 18, 2010 at 1:24 am
Maaike
A do-over in another fabric, without the sleeves then.. I’m looking forward to the results :)
January 18, 2010 at 1:52 am
Vicki
It does look good without the sleeves. But maybe another version in a lighter fabric.
January 18, 2010 at 1:52 am
Vicki
But just having said that, I plan to make a sleeveless wool dress…but it is a very light wool.
January 18, 2010 at 2:23 am
Delphine
NIIIIIIIIIICE !!
This pattern has been in my stash for quite a long time (but in my home in France not here in Zambia where I am for 3 more months). I really like your version (but I would put the sleeve on). Did you finally take out some of the fullness in the skirt ? Do you think the small bust adjustment is mandatory (small-busted too) because I thought that with stretch fabric it was useless… And final question, do you use a serger ?
By the way, regarding your previous post, I have been reading sewing blogs for years (very hard to find anything interesting about sewing in France) and yours is my favourite. That’s why it’s one of the only I put comments on ! It makes me wonder if I am finally going to start one, after years of hesitation (when I will go back to normal internet connection, not african one…).
Sorry for the bad english…
January 19, 2010 at 2:16 pm
selfishseamstress
Hi Delphine- your English is just great, no worries! I did take a lot of fullness out of the skirt- The hem is probably 30″ smaller in circumference than it would have been if I had used the pattern unaltered. I also did an SBA, and I think the front would gape on me if I hadn’t. But I am using a rather stable knit (wool double knit), so it’s not as stretchy and drapey as something like jersey. And alas, I don’t have a serger! I just used the stretch stitch on my machine and did double seams as the instructions specify, with the second row of stitching just done in a regular straight stitch. Let me know if you start a blog- I’ll look forward to reading it. Happy travels!
January 18, 2010 at 4:53 am
Allyn
This is one of my favorite patterns. I’d never considered doing a sleeveless version, but it looks just fine on you!
January 18, 2010 at 4:57 am
Katie
It looks great so far! I do love it on you sleeveless… I was thinking about this dress the other night (I know, I should get a life) and I remembered that the Weekend Designer had posted the pattern draft of a pleat-less wrap top, which could easily be lengthened into a dress, if you were still wanting the hard as nails version. It’s here – http://wkdesigner.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/show-topper/
January 18, 2010 at 9:50 am
selfishseamstress
Thanks! I might actually consider that. I was a little worried about the pleats, but they’re not bothering me too much now. But if I do a sleeveless version in the future, I might want to mix it up a little, so this would be helpful. Thanks for the link!
January 18, 2010 at 5:41 am
Handmade
Whatever you decide, it looks stunning!
January 18, 2010 at 6:47 am
Gorgeous Things
i see why you love it without the sleeves. It looks fantastic on you!
January 18, 2010 at 6:58 am
Kathleen Cooper
Beautiful dress, with our without sleeves
January 18, 2010 at 7:32 am
beangirl
hmmm…. I suppose it wouldn’t really be Icey if you wore a white chiffon blouse under it? Um. I suppose it also wouldn’t be very stylish.
Hmmph. Well then you have to make another one. Somehow I think you’ll suffer through it though, since this one looks totally fab-oo.
And when exactly do you sleep? Are you some kind of alien zombie plant life that instead of roaming the dark streets looking for hapless victims to infect, happens to stay up all night tracing and drafting and sewing? I mean, I can totally get behind that type of alien zombie plant life if roaming the streets eating people is the alternative, but…
January 18, 2010 at 9:51 am
selfishseamstress
Shhh. I thought we weren’t going to talk about the ombie-zay thing.
January 18, 2010 at 8:09 am
peacockchic
I have to say I like it sleeveless too but the wool is a setback. I say finish this one and and the next will be even more fabulous in the right fabric. Looking great so far though
January 18, 2010 at 8:41 am
senaSews
Your dress looks great so far. I would go for the log sleeved version. If it’s wool you wouldn’t wear it in summer or transition time because it’s too warm.
January 18, 2010 at 8:56 am
Donna
No, no, no. No sleeves. It looks great just the way it is. In fact, it is wonderful. The neckline is so flattering.
By the way, did you see the neckline on Helen Mira’s dress at the Golden Globes? I loved it. I want to have that neckline. But I don’t know how to do it. Ideas? Patterns?
Excuse the typing. I tried to leave part of my index finger in the salad last night!
January 18, 2010 at 10:03 am
selfishseamstress
:D Thanks for the compliment. Unfortunately, I think sleeves are going to be necessary- this is a heavy wool knit. If I leave it sleeveless, I’ll probably end up wearing it with a cardigan or jacket, which sort of defeats the purpose of leaving it sleeveless :) I will probably, however, make a sleeveless version in ponte di roma, which has a similar hand and drape, but will not be as warm.
I didn’t catch Helen Mirren’s Golden Globes dress- I can’t seem to find pictures online either. Link?
January 19, 2010 at 9:10 am
Donna
http://style.uk.msn.com/fashion/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=151783176&page=11
In this link you can see the dress.
I understand now why you will have to put sleeves in the wrap. But I want to see it in a light sleeveless, too.
January 18, 2010 at 9:45 am
Trudy Callan
I think it looks lovely sleeveless.
http://www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot
January 18, 2010 at 10:03 am
Rebeca
Wow, what a star alignment, yesterday I was watching the second season of ‘How I met your mother’ and Robin was wearing a dress just like this one, but in bright red. I fell in love with it and wondered if I could ever sew something like that for my big-hipped self. And now I see your post.
You can picture me, kneeling down, with tears of hope in my eyes and begging… Pattern? Please? ;-)
January 18, 2010 at 10:07 am
selfishseamstress
Hi! This dress is pretty hip-accommodating, since it’s a knit and an a-line skirt. I actually took a lot of fullness out of the skirt because I didn’t want quite so much flare. The pattern is Vogue 8379 – still in print and very popular. Sorry, I can’t upload the pattern because it’s copyrighted. But Voguepatterns.com has patterns on sale for $5.99 today and tomorrow, and if you catch them on sale at Jo-ann or Hancock’s, they’re usually even cheaper than that.
January 19, 2010 at 12:04 am
Sar's
Thank you for the heads up on the Vogue special. And since the cost of shipping one is the same as shipping three…….. ahem!
January 19, 2010 at 11:35 am
Katie
I’m a hippy girl who has made this dress (in red!) and loves everything about it!! Highly recommend!
January 18, 2010 at 10:16 am
beangirl
here’s a random Helen Mirren image of her dress
January 18, 2010 at 10:21 am
Carolyn
I think you’ve come up with the best solution – finish this one and have a great dress for fall/winter and make another one in the ponte de roma and have a spring/summer one. This one is looking good, btw!
January 18, 2010 at 10:33 am
Erica B.
This is one of my favorite patterns. I never get tired of seeing different variations.
January 18, 2010 at 10:42 am
heyvix
Once you besleeve this doubleknit wool one, I bet you’ll have a hard time taking it off til it warms up!
[And if you want icy-slinky for the sleeveless version, you could always go the DVF route with silk jersey.]
January 18, 2010 at 11:02 am
sara
Please keep it sleeveless. It looks perfect this way.
January 18, 2010 at 12:37 pm
sa
So classic and timeless ! Love it
January 18, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Jana
Well, I think you should add the sleeves and follow your original idea. That´s just what I would do :). It´s going to be beautiful with those sleeves…
January 18, 2010 at 2:40 pm
spottedroo
I think for a sleeveless version I might go with a narrower/slimmer skirt. That would keep the tall line that comes with no sleeves and be really striking. I think sleeves on this version will help balance out the fullness of the skirt.
Looks awesome. This one has also been on my list for a while.
January 18, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Christie
It looks great-add the sleeves and make another for summer. You are either a fast sewer, or you were in the “zone”. That happens to me. I loose track of time when I’m sewing.
January 19, 2010 at 9:02 am
adrienne
I’ve made this several times! I love your version without the sleeves!
January 19, 2010 at 9:13 am
Cindy
I’m confused. You’ve been making sleeveless dresses in wool all along. Can’t remember the last time you made something with actual sleeves. Why do you make everything sleeveless? Is it a comfort thing or saves on the dry cleaning bills? How do you wear them, always with a sweater or jacket? What if you want to take off the sweater or jacket at work?
January 19, 2010 at 10:23 am
amber
Looking fabulous! I’m glad it’s fitting so well in the bodice – you’re giving this small-chested gal hope that when I sew my own version it’ll fit like a dream (san safety pin!) as well. ;)
As for the sleeves, I say add them and then make yourself another sleeveless version (maybe sans the collar?) in a nice summer-weight black knit. You can never have too many black dresses IMO.
January 21, 2010 at 7:28 am
Tania
Hi Elaine,
Hello from Singapore. It’s my first time commenting on your blog. I think the wrap dress looks really great on you. Good job!
I’m wondering if you could share on how to do sba alteration step-by-step. I’m a beginner sewer and I really wish to learn how to do sba, unfortunately, I couldn’t find any book on sba or petite alteration here in Singapore.
I tried making wrap dress once using Kwik Sew 3408 but the result wasn’t so great. There was a big gap in the chest area especially when I sit down. I have no idea what to do to avoid this problem. Will sba eliminate the problem?
January 21, 2010 at 6:02 pm
peter
Of course this looks lovely on you as-is, but I vote for sleeves. Having just made a wrap dress myself, I can say that sleeves gives the dress a more polished, professional look (imo).
Here’s my Diane Von Furstenberg knock-off:
http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=47261
January 22, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Tara
Nonsense! If it becomes sleeveless, you could wear a long sleeved cotton shirt underneath in a contrasting color during winter! That effectively allows you to wear it year round.
January 23, 2010 at 7:49 am
peter
What say we split the difference: ONE sleeve! (How does that sound, Tara?)