I finally decided what to do with my lovely fabric, it's another V9230 cos I know it fits nicely.
The fabric is shades of denim blue, the light patches in the pic are nowhere near that pale, it wouldn't photograph well. It's such an odd fabric, it's very very stretchy lengthways, but I've cut it so the stretch goes across, but it feels very cotton-like, and has an almost jacquard/lacey face.
I altered the pattern last time I used it, removing the overlap of the top section, lengthening the top pieces and then turning the seam allowance back, placing over lower section and top stitching 3/8" in to give the effect of a tiny overlap. I also removed and pleats and gathers from the lower pieces and put a small pleat at the centre back.
I'm just hoping it all works as well as it did the last time.
I've already found one of the princess seams just didn't fit despite pinning twice, sewing once, unpick, then sewing so the seams fitted, but I need to trim some off one end. Me, bodge it? Hell, yes!
The first overlap went a bit haywire too, as the fabric is very stretchy, so I ended up putting some wondertape on before sewing to hold it and stop it stretching out.
Back to it today, will hopefully finish it. I'm already thinking why didn't I go with my first idea of use a very simple pattern as the fabric is quite fancy...