Green with Envy - Ralph Lauren's Vibrant Green Viscose Matte Jersey - Vogue 8921

Vacation wardrobe interrupted to showcase my latest Mood Sewing Network project. So here goes.., After seeing Episode 5 of Being Mary Jane, I was determined to find a vibrant green fabric to make a similar dress.  I searched the Mood online fabric store to see if there was something close to the color.  The first few searches turned up nothing I really liked.  Then in early March, Mood posted new arrivals to their store.  There was a huge selection of green textiles for the choosing.  I was one happy sewist.

So with my Mood allowance, I selected Ralph Lauren's Vibrant Green Viscose Matte Jersey. Seriously it's a great fabric.  The recovery is excellent; the color is rich; and it is easy to sew. And perfect for my inspiration dress.  While Mary Jane's dress was a sexy sleeveless little number, Vogue 8921 was good for me.  I wanted a similar silhouette with modest and long sleeves (still chilly in Chicago).  This pattern has been on my list for a while.  After seeing Erica Bunker's version, I was sold on making this dress.

Vogue describes this dress pattern as: Misses' Dress - dress has fitted bodice with waist and front shoulder pleats, back zipper: Necklines, drape B, sleeves B, C: Narrow hem. The sizing listed is 6 through 22. I used size 14 with modifications.

For the most part my dress looked like the pattern and had a similar silhouette as the inspiration dress. The instructions appeared to be very easy, but I did not read them. The construction techniques were similar to other patterns that I have sewn in the past. I did notice that stitching two or three rows was recommended instead of serging the edges. I never do that, and I always manage to forget to say that in my reviews. View C calls for 2 3/4 yards.  I ordered 4 yards and had less than a foot left.  Maybe it's because I lengthen the sleeves and skirt.  But to me the yardage seems a little off.  I recommend you get a little more to be on the safe side, especially if you are tall like me.

I've had the pattern a while.  But I am just getting around to it. I like:

•  pleating at the shoulder and waist
• "V" neck - great for my body type.
• simple

I did make a few alterations.  As usual:  a FBA (only half of what I normally make and similar to the FBA done for V8825.); prominent shoulder blade adjustment (shoulder darts); sway back adjustment; and added 4" to the length of the skirt and 1 1/2" to the length of the sleeves I wanted them to fall on my hands.

I don't know if I will sew the pattern again.  I made this dress for the Annual Pastor's Banquet.  This is a nice dress that an intermediate beginner should be able to sew with no problem. 

I'm really pleased with the outcome of this dress. 

Happy Sewing!
C