Verena came to us for her first project with what has become a solid standby in the Vogue catalog: Vogue #2902.
A circle skirt dress with a darted strapless bodice suspended from contrasting halter straps, this has been made a number of times in the workroom as a first project and every time has been a hit.
The pattern is well-trued and has a great shape. There are only two things that we’d mention about it as a beginner or intermediate project:
- The contrasting band that holds the dress up is actually cut and finished separately to be set over and slipstitched onto the upper finished bodice section, so you will want to get familiar with slipstitching or practice your topstitching depending on the look you are going for.
- People always freak out initially about circle skirt hems and the length, so be prepared for hemming. Whether you do it by hand or you do it by machine, it is a LOT of hem here.
Other than those warnings, this is a pretty straightforward project. You will want to be careful when you are sewing the inside corners of the upper halter/harness overlay – the cleaner and sharper your corners are, the better the final result. It isn’t a place to cheat.
If you have a more natural waist measurement relative to your bustline, you may want to grade the pattern out before your sample – and definitely if you just dive in – because the waist is fitted. 
The skirt can be worn with or without a crinoline. Without a crinoline it is going to look a little more fluid and modern. With a crinoline it will look more Dior-inspired and vintage like the picture on the pattern envelope.
This dress could easily be adapted to be strapless with just a little more structure or a proper corset built in and a little more fit above the bustling through the chest measurement.