I can't Stand Like That.....

I now know why the Vogue models have to perform such unusual poses............

I have been attempting to sew a Stitchers Guild 6-PAC over the last few weeks and all will be revealed soon and one of the 6 pieces was this Donna Karan Vogue top. The pattern's been hanging around the stash box since the last Vogue sale so I thought it was time to make it up.

The whole back of the top is open but not mine! I sewed it up like a centre back seam and left about 6" free at the neck so that I could get it over my head. the gathered high neck is secured with 9 snaps - though I got away with 5.

Anyway, look at the size of the single front piece! Thank goodness there's only one.

This is the front with the pleats pinned in place and it reaches to the floor! 

The really scary bit is having to cut this piece right up the middle.

Once this bit is done the rest of the construction is relatively straightforward until you come to the hip hugging wraps. Mine were far too loose and didn't quite look like the line drawing above. So ripped out and tightened the whole thing ignoring the notches and marks. It's a better fit with more gathers, so overall much more pleasing to the eye. This could be the reason the model is wearing a belt too - to hide the bagginess.

Having tried it on I am now in a position to advise and caution you - if you don't stand with your hands on your hips the entire time of wearing this top the voluminous front flops forwards and hides all the meticulous pleating that is wrapped around the hips. It is also nearly impossible to lift (even move) your arms and you lose the entire bottom half of the sleeve. It just looked like I had taken 3m of jersey and slung it round my neck - absolutely shapeless. 

So, unless you perpetually stand like this.....

 ...or this....

this top ain't gonna work!

Solution to this problem was two-fold. I lifted most of the batwingedness and made three pleats on either side of the shoulders. Tacked them firmly on the inside along the shoulder seam. This has a rather pleasant effect of creating a draped front while also revealing the hip wraps and letting me move my arms too. Winner!

 Second stage is to wear it tucked in....

I am also convinced that not only do you need instructions to make this top, you also need instructions on how to put it on and wear it!


And here is the rest of the 6-PAC. Tones of duck-egg blue and taupe. Though I did cheat and pulled the wool camel trousers out of the wardrobe (made last winter) to make up the six pieces. Sorry!

And if I didn't have enough to figure out with this DK top, I've got the blouse from V1324 cut out and ready to start and it comes with another front piece the size of Montana.