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Burda 08-2009-117- Flounce Blouse

Pattern Description:

Straight cut blouse with a front flounce.

Fabric and Notions: Printed chiffon from Joann's with matching tread in hot pink

Comments:

Even though the pattern called for Georgette, I knew from the jump I wanted this to be made out of a printed chiffon, when I saw this pattern I knew I had the perfect fabric for it.

The flounce of the blouse remains me of flower petals and so this fabric just seemed like it was meant for this top.

Please beware, this top has no shaping, it's a tunic style straight cut blouse as the description suggest.

I think most people will see the belted top on the model and wonder how to size it to make it fit correctly.

Go with your normal size, it will fit perfect on the bust line and back, then it will skim over your hips.

Yes, I said hips, so also if you usually add a little extra to compensate for wider hips, add that to the pattern because you will need it. 

Closures:

You will need to make a "thread eye" to for your closure and I have a photo of mines here to, I think the instructions were good enough for this.

Choosing Fabrics:

Please choose your fabric wisely, this needs a very airy, light fabric so the flouce can have the fluttering effect.

Conclusion:

Its very very easy, I did most of the sewing while watching PM style on QVC on Monday night and I basted it and stitched down the arm hole and hem today. DONE!

I love it, I'm going to wear this while I'm traveling Friday morning with some white pants, the City should be hot as hell and this with a light cami under it should be perfect.

Photos:

 

Well I have one more pattern from the August issue I want to make and then its back to my do sew list.

more later!

Burda 01-2007-103 - Denim A Line Skirt

It took almost 3 yrs but I did it.

Intro: I remembered when I first started to sew back in Octomber 2006, I also subscribed to burda, BWOF then, as a treat to myself.

I loved so many things in the November and December 2006 issue but when I got the January 2007 issue, I remembered sitting down when I saw this skirt.

I told myself “When I’m confident enough with some more skills under my belt I will make this skirt”

I am really proud to say that after all this time, I finally achieved my first goal I made to myself when it came to learning how to sew. 

Pattern Description: Denim knee length skirt with contrasting  topstitched seams corners in the A line.

Fabric used: Variegated Wash Denim from Joann's bought 2 years ago.

Notions: Regular tread for the bobbin, Coats and Clark Dual Duty XP Heavy in Color 7450 (for topstitching), a 3/4" metal button, Jeans twin needle and Jeans univeral needle.

Comments:

The pattern is well drafted, everything fits just right. I think I was over thinking how to do that front placement because I couldn’t see what they were suggesting, it made sense once I took some time out to let my brain digestion the instructions. 

First time fly with zip: I didn’t follow burda’s instructions, I just pulled one of my jeans and looked at how they sewed in the fly and it made perfect sense to me, I did it in one try.

Conclusion:

I'm very pleased with this skirt, its everything I expected and I will get photos when my brother comes next sunday to post.

Photos:

My August burda came yesterday!

My two projects I will be making next month are:

08-2009-107

08-2009-117

I will be tracing those today.

Not much sewing will happen this week, I have to go up to New York to take care of some stuff but as soon as I get back to the sewing machine i will post what the next project will be.

stay tuned!

Tracing, planning and sewing a burda throwback

 First, I want to thank Omega for letting me borrow her issue of Burda January.

This is pretty much what I’ve been doing lately, tracing patterns and trying to get it done so I can get the magazine back to her.

I didn’t go crazy everything I traced I’m planning on making in the next couple of months and they all have simple construction lines so I’m very optimistic about getting them done.

 

01-2009-117

 

 

I would love this in the plaid but a golden yellow or copper silk twill will be nice as well. Its on my “fall sewing” list

 

 

 

01-2009-110

 

I only traced the top only, I’m going to use a brown rayon jersey for this and it is another great fall staple for my closet. So many times I find myself looking for basic color tops to wear by themselves in the summer and under jackets in the fall.

 

 

01-2009-125

 

This raglan top is another good basic, I want to lengthen it and AGAIN, use it as a good fall basic tee. It’s the type of tee that you can make a couple of them, red, grey, navy, yellow, tan and were them to death until you have to wear a sweater.

  

 

 

 

 

01-2009-113

 

 

This is the reason why I had to get my hands on this magazine, I love this skirt and I know I will have to fit for it but its worth it. I got a piece of tan corduroy for it and you will be seeing this in a week or so.

 

01-2009-132

 

I think a brown micro suede would be great for this and yes, again, I am thinking about fall sewing and how to get the most of the time I’m going to be on the sewing machine, with leggings and my boots I think it will be a nice alternative for a denim skirt made in suede.

So as you can see only separates, I’ve learnt my lesson. Last year I made about 16 knit dresses and my closet looks pretty with all the prints but its lacking everything else.

 

My Current Project is a Throw Back from January 2007.

 

 

01-2007-108

 

 

Yes I had to go into the Archives to pull this pattern sheet out. I must say, I appreciate how many patterns you can store in such little space when you use Burda magazines.

I remember opening this magazine and thinking, “gosh I love this skirt, but I don’t have the skills to make it”

 

I had just started to sew back in October 2006 so a fly front was not something I was ready to try as yet.

 

But now I can, so I’ll be working on this for the rest of the week and hopefully I will be able to show and tell you all about it soon.

 

What are you working on?

 

 

burda july: Dolman sleeve tunic 07-2009-108

I was very intrigued by the design lines of this top, it’s a dolman sleeve blouse

 that has a kimono style with a pleated self faced lapel and tie band.

 

It looks like an easy sew but looks are deceiving, you are not going to cut this tonight and  have it done for tomorrow unless you plan to do nothing else.

 

From the beginning:

 

My Major dilemma with this pattern was the pleated insert. If you look at the technical drawing you will see that they are more lines for pleats than my finished garment.

 

Well, this is due to my decision to omit the “cotton tape” that the instructions called for.

 

I was really confused with the wording of the instructions, which said to pin the cotton tape to side and center pleats each 6 mm from plead fold.

 

Tany suggested that it had to be that they were suggesting the cotton tape/cotton twill be used as the embellishment.

 

Well that sounds good so in regular terms, they wanted us to use the cotton tap between the pleats already marked to give the look of addition pleats by inserting the tape between the pleat and topstitching it.

 

This I would have done, but when I got home with the cotton TWILL tape, it was shiner than the cotton batiste I was using and it looked out of place.

 

I was at a lost again because the model blouse in the magazine looks like everything blended perfectly.

 

Chinzed cotton batiste (used for the model garment) has a sheen to it so after a quick google search I realized that I had chose the wrong fabric for the look that the cotton twill would add to the pattern.

 

So I just omitted it.

 

But here is the next dilemma.

 

I also needed cotton twill tape to finish the side sleeves of the blouse, but once again, cotton twill would look out of place, so I thought about it and came up with trying BIAS BINDING.

 

EUREKA

 

I am so mad that I didn’t think about this before when I was doing the pleating because the bias binding blended perfectly.

 

I thought all black would be a little mundane so I added a machine decorative stitch in white to give it an RTW edge.

 

I absolutely love this top, even more because of the work and thought I put into it and its not something I will see coming and going.

 

For those of us that love a tunics its definitely worth trying. 

I will check in soon with my next project

Next!

To wrap up my July Burda sewing, I’m going to make 07-2009-108.

 

I’m making mines in Black cotton batiste.

 

Yes, its black, Yes its Hot right now but its lightweight so I think I will be fine

plus I want to wear it with my white

Capri

so badly.

 

I really don’t have much to say about it right now because I just started working on the pleated front last night.

 

Even though there is so much more I can sew out of this issue, this is it for me. I am dying to get the August issue already, I am infatuated with the trench inspired skirt in the preview and you know I’m a skirt fanatic; I’m so ready for it.

 

Speaking of skirts, this one is inspiration enough to revisit the June burda to make that skirt I posted yesterday. Can you see it?

 

 

So while I’m waiting for the new magazine to come I will have muslin project in the meanwhile.

 

I love the look of these pants and I’m hoping that they look good on me.

 

 

Jesus help me, I’m not into making pants, I don’t know why I am about to do this, but it’s a calling I tell you.

 

If it works out I will have a nice tnt pattern for summer pants that will not go out of style.

 

It’s been a while since I’ve worked on fitting so it will be interesting; I probably forgot everything I’ve learnt since last year.

 

Oh and before I go, I just have to add that there are so many beautiful garments on the blogs, its so inspirational, you guys know I’ve been out of the loop lately but its so good to see that everyone is sewing wonderful garments consistently.

 

Good stuff!

 

 

 

July Burda: 07-2009-110 & 111

Going back to what I was saying a few weeks ago, I want a

couple more separates for the closet so anytime I get an opportunity to make something simple and versatile I’m going to try to get it done.

I think the two skirts that was in the July Burda were great for me because its one pattern with two options, trace once, cut twice: Makes sense to me.

The first one was made out of fabric I had bought for that skirt  I loved in the june burda but I made the most basic mistake in not paying attention to  the width of the fabric and ended up not having enough for the skirt, so that got pushed  on the back burner.

I love this fabric because Yes it’s a tan & it’s a basic color for the summer to work with everything else but it has a nice texture on it so you get a little something more than just the plain boring tan shirt look plus it has spandex in the cotton so that is always a plus for me.

So here it is, this is 07-2009-111.

 

 

One thing I want to make note of is my little “mishap”.

When a skirt is so easy, I always tend to not take my time when I know how easy it will be to get it done especially when my mind is already on the next project.

While I was serging this skirt, I was going to fast and the serger slit into the waistband top and into the self-facing for the buttonhole.

I zigzagged it together and salvage the skirt but it’s a little reminder you know.

I’m cool, it could have been worse at least I still get to wear it.

Now the second skirt 07-2009-110 was absolutely a quick fix.

I had this fabric from Sawyer brook that I had bought for a crop jacket last summer but never got around to making it. So it became stash fabric and I’m trying to work though some of that. I thought this was a good pattern to make out of it.

The pockets took a little time but easy, the instructions were easy to understand and if you take the time to mark you pattern right you will not have any problems at all.

I omitted the belt loops because I won’t use them. I decided

to go with keeping the self facing and not adding PIECE 5 which is the BUTTON BAND.

I AM SO HAPPY WITH THIS PATTERN

So if you are into skirts you have to make it because you

will be happy you did. This one will go into my pattern stash to be used as a BASIC A LINE SKIRT PATTERN.

Okay, some actual photos of me in something I made

I know, this very rarely happen, well, I can’t find the Tripod. There it is in a nutshell and I refuse to buy another one for now

so I hope you guys can see where the marks of my bra on my back was and where the dress hits.

sorry to post it so late, its been really busy around here.\

My next garment is another July burda pattern, more later

 

 

 

 

january 2009 burda

is anyone willing to let me borrow this issue?

let me know

Bra or no bra for 07-2009-124b

Good question.

Well. I didn't wear one.

The funny thing is that I didn't even think about it until I got asked if I did, lol.

I think the back was to low on mines to wear a bra.

The top of the back pattern piece is about 3-4 inches above the waist, but as you can see it slopes from the side down, so its not one length straight across. Plus constant moving around will cause shifting and movement, the bra will show eventually.

What I will say is that, the wrap is very secure, even though I wore my knee length spanx, I totally secure, it didn't open out in the back at all.

I wore mines on sunday so I'll wash it out tonight and get my brother to take a photo of me in it tomorrow after work so you guys can see the back.

In other news.

I'm going to trace out  07-2009-111 today to aid to my stash slashing project.

and I leave you today with some more beautiful pieces from Chado Ralph Rucci: Resort 2010

 

 

 

 

burda july: halter wrap dress 07-2009-124b

Burda July: halter wrap dress

Well hopefully if you are seeing this I’m enjoying my 4^th in Brooklyn NY with the fam.

My copy of burda July issue came early so I was able to trace cut out and sew up this dress in on sitting.

So, the construction is very simple you won’t need the instructions just a quick read over. It wraps in the back one over the other and it ties through on the right like most wrap dresses.

Twin needles are important so don’t forget it, they actually say to use on in the instructions, surprisingly.

I could have add another inch to this dress but its long enough but anyone over 5’ 4 should add a couple inches if they like a true maxi dress length.

And that’s it.

 

There is a bunch of easy patterns in this issue and it could have been burda ”easy fashion” issue if they wanted in my opinion.

I wish dress 116 was regular, its sized for petites which was a total shock, what a rip off that was actually why I was lusting over this magazine since the previews, I don’t want to muslin this right now so maybe during the winter when I have cabin fever I will adjust to fit.

Progress on 05-2009-132

Its almost finished. I need to hem the lining and run a zig zag on the hem of the outer (chiffon) dress. It’s a lot of dress but it was easy to make and once everything is done I will post photos with some off the little details.

but I will leave you with the fabric I used, a crepe chiffon.

 

Resort 2010: Akris

ahhhh, Lets talk new fashion.

I slit up designer collection into two categories “fantasy frou-frou” and “real-life wearable”. I’m sure I don’t have to explain this to you.

 

A lot of collections are great eye candy but you won’t be caught death in half on it or you can’t begin to imagine how they made it so, oh well.

 

Akris, a design label that started off making aprons, is staying through to there mantra “high quality but undistinguished" ready-to-wear clothing.

 

This is the type of dress that makes me what to go through every Big 4 pattern, break out the French curve and tracing paper and get to work…. So timeless. The fabric makes the dress for sure.

 

 

Monochromatic, simple and made out of knit fabric. I’ve been pouring over this look all morning. It makes since for a simple 3 piece that can be used for a capsule or swap. For me, I will go do the shrug/cardigan shorter because of my proportions. I like how they went darker for the bottom, did you notice that? Very noteworthy.

 

A design feature that has been coming more into play as the months go by, a ruched sleeve and what I like to call “lazy tie ties” they just hang effortlessly, not particular function what so ever.

 

In jacket form, interesting.

 

Another style feature in this collection is the leather or leather look-a-like Bermuda shorts. I’m not a leather pants girl but a fabric that looks like leather, denim with sheen or something like that in

Bermuda

pants is not lost on me at all. I like it.

 

So if you a fabric junkie that is always looking for the next thing, leather look

Bermuda

shorts.

 

 

What is it? Some type of vest? Anyway, its very interesting, I wonder if there is a pattern that exist for this. It has that boho edge to it. I would make it in grey or black and where it with jeans with a white tank top. Love it

 

I can’t wait for these looks to get on net-a-porter so I can do some more snooping