Because I only want to sew stuff if it's for me.
16 degrees Fahrenheit, winds gusting at 25 miles per hour, and the tiny white streaks you see are the snow. Needless to say, this was the shortest outdoor photo shoot ever. And seriously, go make yourself a Vogue 8379 if you haven’t already. If you have, make yourself another one. This pattern rox my sox.
The Selfish Seamstress loves to design and sew garments, but only if she gets to keep them. I'm Elaine, known in the online sewing world as elainemay, and welcome to my selfish sewing blog.
100% of sales proceeds are currently being donated to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Total donations to date:
$270.00 to the Atlanta Humane Society
$464.00 to the American Red Cross
$119.56 to Doctors Without Borders
The Selfish Seamstress 
46 comments
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January 23, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Kristine
Love it in black! I chopped it up and made a summer version in August, and you’re right, I need to pull it out and make another. Such a comfortable, easy dress to wear!
January 23, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Reethi
Oh, I love this! I’ve made one wrap dress – it was a disaster. But then, I’d *just* started sewing, so maybe it is time to revisit the concept?
January 23, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Kathleen Cooper
Beautiful! You’re right, I need to make one
January 23, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Kerry
You know, for a short person you photograph remarkably tall. I would never guess a dress like this would work on a petite person…now you have me thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could pull off this look. I have a vintage Simplicity wrap dress in my collection…as soon as I find the right fabric I’ll put it in my queue. Then I need to get a damn job so I can actually have an occasion to wear the dress.
This is absolutely stunning.
January 23, 2010 at 5:19 pm
selfishseamstress
Thanks! As for photographs, it depends where the camera is. If the camera is at about waist height, body proportions tend to look pretty good. You get foreshortened if the camera is aimed at your head or upper torso when doing a full length shot :) But yes, you have my vote for a short person wrap dress! Good luck with the job hunt!
January 23, 2010 at 5:27 pm
selfishseamstress
Oh oh oh, and the bodice of this pattern is quite short (as many people have commented on Pattern Review). I knew it was going to be a little short even on me, and purposely left it that way so that the belt would be ever so slightly above my natural waistline, which helps to make me look taller :)
January 23, 2010 at 12:35 pm
peter
Elaine, it’s lovely.
January 23, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Cindy
Oh, just smashing! Good work!
January 23, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Carolyn
You are braving the elements for fashion! :) Love it and the dress!
January 23, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Rachel
GOEGEOUS!!! You always look so elegant and I love those shoes.
January 23, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Nancy (nanflan)
Very nice!
January 23, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Jennifer
This is such a great dress. I don’t know if I could pull it off as well but I just may give it a try!
January 23, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Katie
Absolutely fabulous. I didn’t do the collar when I made mine, and I think I should. It looks great!
January 23, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Amanda S.
Love it. I’ll be copying you using the wool doubleknit I just purchased online, providing it is of good quality and not itchy. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to give you full credit for the idea. :) By the way, did you end up altering the fullness of the skirt any?
January 23, 2010 at 5:22 pm
selfishseamstress
Hi Amanda- I did take a lot of fullness out of the skirt. I probably took what amounted to 6 inches at the hem at the side seams from the front and the back, and then about half that at the front edges of the wrap skirt. You’d also look great with the full flare too though, since you pull off pretty, feminine styles so well. I was definitely aiming for austerity with this one.
January 23, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Trudy Callan
Totally gorgeous.
January 23, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Amy
The things we do for fashion. Your dress is very chic!
January 23, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Sue
Fabulous version of this classic pattern! Now I want a black one (except black does not look so good on me as it does on you!)
January 23, 2010 at 5:23 pm
selfishseamstress
If you’re not fond of how pure black looks on you, may I recommend a dark espresso brown? I think it would give a similar effect in a tone that might be easier for you to wear.
January 23, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Elizabeth
Love it! It’s beautifully proportioned. Great work.
January 23, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Karen
That dress looks so good on you. And I love those shoes.
January 23, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Digs
Farenheit, what’s that? Kelvin, anyone? Celsius? Don’t you live in Tranna? Lovely dress. My first (& only) wrap dress is languishing as a UFO in my closet, what a waste of gorgeous fabric too.
January 23, 2010 at 7:10 pm
SA
elaine It is lovely !
Can you please remind me where you got the fabric from?
January 23, 2010 at 7:24 pm
selfishseamstress
I bought the wool doubleknit from Mood Fabrics in New York. I went to the store, but if you don’t live near there, I think you might be able to call and place an order. I paid about $18 a yard for it. I think Denver Fabrics may also have some wool doubleknit, but it’s hit or miss with the color selection. If you don’t want to invest too much, I also recommend the Sophia doubleknit from Fabric.com (it’s what a lot of other places call ponte di roma, but the fabric that fabric.com actually sells under the name “ponte di roma” is, in my experience, very cheap feeling and cheap looking polyester.) The Sophia doubleknit is similar in weight and drape to the wool doubleknit that I have. I will probably make up a sleeveless version of this dress in that fabric for summer.
January 23, 2010 at 7:39 pm
opal215
Gorgeous dress and its fits you perfect…..
January 23, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Dei
Score one for the classic, elegant black dress which you do so well. Kudos for braving the chill and showing us how great this turned out.
January 23, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Whitney
As soon as I saw this post, my first thought was “Want!”
You may now proceed, your job here is done!
January 23, 2010 at 9:41 pm
thisjill
The dress turned out great. I was actually inspired by you to buy this exact same pattern even though I already have a couple of wrap dresses. So did you end up making a muslin first like you mentioned? Because I’m wondering how you knew how much width to take out of the skirt.
January 24, 2010 at 3:49 am
céline
Excuse my way to write cause I’m french, I tought about the same pattern for a winter dress to go to the office. Yours is very class with apparent simplicity. You make me thinking about doing this dress, next month. Congratulation.
January 24, 2010 at 6:31 am
Sophia
Hi! I’m new to your blog and love it!
This dress looks great on you. I tried this pattern out but didn’t get the same results. Mostly b/c of the fabric choice. Your post is inspiring me to try it again :) Thanks!
January 24, 2010 at 9:42 am
Sandra
Lovely!
January 24, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Brrrrrrrda blouse 2.2008.119 « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] 16 degree Fahrenheit day with crazy wind and snow (the little white streaks!) And this time, unlike yesterday’s Vogue 8379 shoot, I wasn’t wrapped in wool knit, but instead in filmy sleeveless silk. This silk, you may […]
January 24, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Melissa
Looks fab, and I love your shoes!
January 24, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Denise
Model perfect.
January 25, 2010 at 8:29 am
Laura Georgina
Gorgeous and drapes so nicely! I have a Butterick wrap pattern that was meant to help me breed an army of wrap dresses, but the fit across the front (and especially the bust) is just not quite right. I’m going to give your pattern a try!
January 25, 2010 at 9:02 am
The Slapdash Sewist
Looks lovely! I made this dress a couple years ago and am contemplating again. However, I didn’t love the way the pleats in the bodice looked on my non-bust. Did you do any kind of small bust adjustment? It could be that your fabric has more body than mine did.
January 25, 2010 at 9:10 am
UrbanJill
Fits you perfectly. Love the style and I also love the banded and notched sleeve, little details make all the difference.
January 25, 2010 at 9:18 am
erin
looks fabulous!! i was unsure of it in its sleeveless state, but the finished product looks amazing. :) love the shoes, too!
January 25, 2010 at 10:12 am
Kelley
Simply lovely!
January 25, 2010 at 12:34 pm
amber
Gorgeous! This pattern is most definitely on my list!
January 28, 2010 at 9:17 am
senaSews
Beautiful! A classy and very flattering dress!
March 20, 2010 at 6:58 am
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April 6, 2012 at 11:07 am
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September 24, 2012 at 7:13 am
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December 10, 2014 at 3:26 am
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