Happy Wednesday everyone! Thank you so much for stopping by and reading. If you ask any sewist their favorite make, chances are they’ll say their last one. This is definitely the case this week. Although, I will say that prior to Vogue 1726, my favorite make was Vogue 1783. I really like Vogue patterns because there are always these little details that make the garment feel so special. I’ve had Vogue 1726 in my pattern stash for a few months and funny enough, this is the pattern I was going to make when I lost my sew-jo. That week, I had planned to make it in a plaid satin fabric. I kept the pattern, but changed my mind on the fabric. I ended up using a 100% linen in a soft lemon color from Fabric Mart.
Pattern Description of Vogue 1726
Vogue 1726 is described as a very loose-fitting, pullover top with bias cut cowl neckline, set-in sleeves ending in cuffs with pleat opening. The top comes with Views A and B. View A has flanges between the side front and front and View B omits them. I decided to go for View A. Once I finished the main top, I ended up attaching a gathered tier to the top because I thought it’d be cuter as a dress.
Vogue 1726 Garment Construction
Vogue describes this pattern as easy. I definitely agree with that rating. The directions of this pattern are also very clear and they walk you through each step. The main component of the front is the show stopping yoke. There are two pleats in the front yoke and the yoke is then folded to give the collar the standing look. Then, we move on to the back. The back has a back yoke and and attachment to the yoke. A lot of shirts have back pleats, so it was cool to sew my first one in this pattern. It really does add a certain level of chicness to the shirt.
When I finished the back, I attached the yokes together. I triple checked the directions to make sure that I was doing it correctly because it just felt trippy. Then, I sewed the side front and side backs together at the shoulders.
Flange and Sleeves
My two favorite parts of this pattern are the flanges and the sleeves. The flanges are attached to the side front and side backs pieces. The flanges seem so complex, but in reality they’re not. It just shows that the simplest things can really add a touch of class to a garment. I sewed the flanges, then the front and backs together at the sides. The sleeves have four pleats each, but once you’ve done the pleats for the yokes and the back pieces, it’s par for the course. At this point in the make, I added sewed the cuffs to the sleeves and made my buttonholes. Then, I gathered the sleeves onto the shirt and tried it on. LOVE these oversized sleeves. Definitely will use the pattern piece for other makes. However, it was at this point where I decided the shirt would feel better to me as a dress.
Gathered Tier for Vogue 1726
To make the gathered tier, I measured the width of the front and back hems and multiplied it by 2. For example, if the finished garment measurement width is 50 inches, the tier should be 100 inches long. I ended up making a pattern piece 31 inches by 10 inches and cutting three pieces. I chose 10 inches because I wanted it slightly mini. There was also 1/2 inch seam allowances allotted to attach the three pieces together as well as the tier to the top and the hem. Once the piece was cut, I did a narrow hem on the tier. I also made two rows of gathering stitches on the tier and attached it to the shirt. It turned out really well. I didn’t need to add a zipper to get it on, but it’s something I would keep in mind.
Final Thoughts
Vogue 1726 is a fantastic pattern. It’s the kind of pattern that feels so fresh, fun, and fabulous. It’s the kind of pattern that can go from day to night relatively quickly depending on the fabric. I’m really looking forward to wearing this all summer long.
Happy Sewing!
