Tuesday 23 February 2016

Introducing Vera...my new sewing assistant and my knock off of Vogue 1179

Vera, my body double

I have recently splurged and bought a new dress form or dressmaker's dummy. There has been lots of research undertaken over several months for a replacement of my fully adjustable Project Runway dress form that broke a while ago. Although it had been a much appreciated gift from my husband, I could never get it to mimic my shape. By the time the waist had been expanded to match my waist measurement, the hips were all distorted and weirdly shaped. It was too light weight and unstable and broke during a simple outfit change.

After reading several favourable reviews, I settled on the The Shop Company Dress Form with collapsible shoulders located in the USA. I chose a size 12 which was smaller than my measurements, as it is not adjustable, it has to be padded out to resemble my shape. You can add, but you cannot take away. I also ordered The Fabulous Fit System which was also available from The Shop Company at a heavily discounted rate when purchased with a dress form.


The Shop Company Dress Form
The Shop Company does not ship to Australia, however they give instructions on how to organise shipping to Australia here.

This has been a very extravagant and expensive purchase...(it can be dangerous to be left home alone for hours on end over the Christmas break, with internet access and a credit card at your disposal), but one I have not regretted, thankfully.

There were a few anxious weeks while I waited for delivery. There was a hold up with The Fabulous Fit System, which held up the whole order. Once shipped by My US it arrived on my doorstep within 4 days...can't complain about that. The shock was when I checked my credit card account and realised that I forgot to factor in the current terrible exchange rate. Although the actual cost of the dress form was very reasonable, the addition of the freight to My US and then the freight on to Australia, the cost was blown right out with the adjustment for the exchange rate. I'm a little embarrassed to say that this new dress form cost me just over $1000 Australian dollars delivered to my door. 

Once it arrived I couldn't wait to get started on padding it out to resemble myself. However, this was quite a confronting process and you have to be brutally honest with yourself. I did get a good laugh from Anne of Pretty Grievances reading her post on The Fabulous Fit System. I did end up using a bra to hold the bust in the right position, in conjunction with the Fabulous Fit System padding as well as some wadding around the waistline. I am still working on the hip/thigh area as it's not quite right yet. I didn't use all the pieces from the padding system, but the ones I did use worked out great.


Vera...front view
Vera...side view
Vera...back view
Vera...other side view
The quality of this dress form is amazing. The base is cast iron and very heavy and stable. It has wheels and can be moved around easily. The shoulders collapse inwards which allows closer fitting garments to be easily put on and taken off. The canvas cover is very sturdy and is very pinnable. The pins must be slid in at an angle of course, but this works very well. I can see this dress form will be around for a long time and I can adjust the shape as needed, by adjusting the padding.

I have been wanting to make Vogue 1179 for a while now, but have been unable to find the pattern which is now OOP. 


Line Art
Vogue 1179 line drawing.

I was particularly impressed with Sue's recent version. After studying the line drawings, and Googling every version of Vogue 1179 ever made, I decided to wing it and draft my own pattern. I didn't really know what I was doing and I probably did it all wrong ...but this is what I did.


Rough pattern cut and spread to create pleats
I based my pattern very loosely on the Named Kielo Wrap Dress, as I still had the pattern out from my recent version. The neckline was lowered, the bust darts removed and the extended side seams taken off. I then slashed and spread the front piece to create the pleats. The back was left with very straight side seams and it was cut on the fold, eliminating the centre back seam. The fish eye darts were also left off. The cowl was a simple rectangle cut to match the circumference of the neckline.


Vera at work
Vera was a huge help with pinning the pleats and adjusting the pattern to fit my shape. I added clear elastic to the shoulder seams and the neckline for stability. This beautiful knit purchased from Style Arc, a while ago is quite heavy and I was worried the neckline would stretch under the weight of the fabric. The armholes were finished off with self fabric bands.


My knock off of Vogue 1179
It has taken a while to get photos of the finished dress...life is just too busy sometimes. I have worn this dress several times already and I love the loose style.


My knock off of Vogue 1179
Closer view of the cowl and front pleats
After seeing these photos I think my version is a little looser than Vogue 1179. I would have loved to have seen the shape of the vogue pattern pieces. I think my version needs a bit more tweaking before I make another one. 



I have not regretted buying my new dress form. It has been a very useful addition to my sewing room, and I am really impressed with it's quality. I decided to name her Vera after my maternal grandmother, who was a talented sewer and made all her own clothes back in the day. I only remember her wearing dresses, always with stockings and when I hugged her she felt as hard as a rock (due to the corset she wore underneath). I'm sure she only ever had one dress pattern as all her dresses were very similar shapes with only small variations in neckline shapes, sleeve lengths and fabric types. Vera will now always remind me of happy memories of my Grandma.

Happy sewing

36 comments:

  1. What a lovely back story to Vera. My dress form is Madeleine...no real reason, but perhaps I'm trying to channel to Parisian fashion houses, LOL.

    Dress forms really do up the sewing game and you've proved that by drafting your own 'vogue' pattern. You did an awesome job of it! It's all about the neckline and yours is beautiful!

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    1. I've noticed that most people name their dressforms and it's interesting to hear the back stories. Thanks so much for your lovely comment Sue. I was very happy with the neckline too.

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  2. Ouch! The cost has put me off buying one of those dress forms, but I'm sure you will get your monies worth in the long run. Good work on the dress.

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    1. Although the cost was a bit of a shock, I'm sure it will soon be forgotten as Vera has been very useful in the sewing room already. Thanks Vicki.

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  3. That dress is dynamite! Better than the Vogue, if you ask me. The thousand bucks for Vera is well worth it if you can turn out more custom fit garments like this one!

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    1. Thanks for that great compliment Nancy, but I don't think I will be competing with Vogue any time soon.

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  4. You will remember Vera's quality long after you've forgotten the price! How clever to knock off the pattern. It is a fabulous dress.

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    1. I'm sure you are right about the price Sue, and thank you for the lovely comment about my dress.

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  5. WOW! Your dress from the drafted pattern is fantastic and sewed in the best fabric.

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    1. Thanks so much Carol. I love the fabric too. Style Arc always have great fabric.

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  6. Vera is beautiful and I am impressed with your skill to adjust to your size. I need one professional dress form but the price is too heavy for me.
    Pretty summery self-drafted dress, you must be proud of it :)

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    1. Thank you Hana. It took quite a while to pad out the dress form to get it right. Still a little tweaking to do. I am pretty happy with how the dress turned out.

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  7. I think you deserve the dress form - you make all your own clothes and probably don't spend as much as you would if you bought RTW. And you enjoy sewing and this will open up a new horizon - over time, this is a good investment purchase. Enjoy without guilt! And I love your new dress - it looks like the one you were trying to copy.

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    1. Thanks for your lovely comment Sarah Liz. There is no "guilt" as I paid for it out of my own personal savings. My husband and I each have our own hobbies and we are happy for each other to enjoy those hobbies. I'm glad you think my dress resembles the Vogue pattern.

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  8. What a sweet tribute! And dude, I am so impressed with how you knocked off the Vogue. There's really something to be said for just giving something a try and learning from the process. Inspiring!

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    1. Thanks so much Sara. Sometimes it pays not to over think things and just jump in and have a go. So glad I have provided some inspiration!

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  9. Wow, that is an extravagant purchase but I'm sure you will get lots of use from it and that it will prove to be indispensable. Good work on drafting the dress - without a pattern I'm completely lost and wouldn't even know where to start!

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    1. Very extravagant Kristy...but no regrets. I'm sure the price will soon be forgotten while the quality remains (as Fadanista said). I did surprise myself with how well the dress turned out, as I didn't really know what I was doing...just making it up as I went along.

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  10. Maybe you should have gone to the US to pick it up. It might have been cheaper!! Great job on the dress and I'm completely jealous of lovely Vera.

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    1. Yes Megan, it may have been cheaper. Thank you... and Vera is earning her keep in the sewing room.

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  11. Love the dress - and as for the dress form if hubby is into boats cars or motorbikes etc that is small change! Why do we apologise for spending on what we love? My husband has motorbikes (lots of Italian) and we spent $70000 building a shed to house them all - makes the $12000 I spent on my sewing machine (Bernina) look good.

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    1. Wow! $12000 on a sewing machine...I thought I was being extravagant when I spent $1500 on my Bernina. I think no amount is too much, as long as we can afford it and it brings joy. I appreciate your comment jacquianne.

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  12. Your stunning dress is the living proof of Vera being an awesome assistant. And happy memories of your Grandma....priceless!

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    1. Thanks so much Marianne for your delightful comment. You have captured my sentiments exactly.

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  13. You have done a great job drafting that dress. It looks like the Vogue one for sure. I think your investment in the dress form is a sound one... some people pay $800 for the most simple top or skirt and you'll knock out so many great things with it's help. In Greek, we say, use it with your great health. (and then they spit.. but that's another story!)

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    1. Thanks so much Summer Flies, I appreciate your opinion and your comment made me laugh.

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  14. Lucky you! I do think however that you look very much better than Vera.
    Lots of draping to come then........?

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    1. Thanks Ruth, but unfortunately Vera is a very close replica of me.

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  15. Wow your dress form makes the one I used to have from Spotlight look like a joke. But it's absolutely worth it as long as it makes you happy! :)

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    1. Thank you Emily. Vera has been a wonderful help with fitting and she is so much more sturdier than my flimsy adjustable dress form.

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  16. I love your knock-off! I made the pattern a couple of year ago and although it's nice from from front I never liked the back of it, so it's now been remade into a top. Let me know if you'd me to lend you the pattern so you can compare the two versions - I think I prefer yours, actually!

    Vera looks like she will be a terrific help. Yes, expensive, but not so much compared to some hobbies, and as Emily said - worth it if she makes you happy, which I'm sure she does!

    PS I've been trying to comment via my mobile phone but something is going wrong and the comments disappear when I try to publish them. - I'm really sorry, my phone is having lots of issues these days :(.

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    1. Thanks so much for your lovely comment Gabrielle. I'm sorry to hear that you were not completely happy with your version. Thanks too for the offer to borrow the pattern. I probably won't worry about it at this stage as I'm trying to think about winter sewing at the moment. Vera has been an awesome help and I have been using her more than I thought I would. Thanks for making the extra effort to comment...I always appreciate it when someone takes the time to comment.

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  17. I love your dress form, love that she is named after your Nan, and love your pretty flowing dress.
    The cost of Vera is an investment, I'm sure you will have lots of happy times together, and probably a few frustrating ones too!

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    1. Thanks Julia. I look forward to a long and happy working relationship with Vera. The cost has already been forgotten.

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  18. On your recommendation, Jean Margaret, I ordered a dress form from them myself, with the discounted Fabulous Fit kit. I set it up today and I am so pleased. I don't have it perfected yet, but the quality is so apparent! I'm so excited! Thank you for sharing your excellent review. Without your information, I wouldn't have known about this superior product.

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    1. I'm so glad my recommendation worked out well for you. I guess it would have been a little less expensive for you too, without international shipping costs. Vera has become an essential sewing aid in my sewing room and I am very happy that I have her. Sounds like you and your dress form are off to a great start.

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