Burda Style 05/2012 - 105 Blouse

Thank you for the feedback on my two skirts, I'm wearing the border print one right now with a black shirt belted on top so I already have 2 top options to wear with it.  Just want to answer a couple of queries before we crack on with my new blouse;

On the border print skirt - 

• It is unlined, but it would be easy to add a lining and attach it to the top of the skirt pieces before putting the waistband on.

On the maxi skirt - 

• It has side seams, no centre back seam, this is so I could shape it to fit me, but it would be an even quicker sew with just one seam up the back - you'd then need to make it straight all the way up and will have a bit more fullness at the waist.
• The width at the hem is approximately 46 inches.  I did consider putting splits in the side seams but found this was comfortable enough to walk in without them in this stretchy fabric.
• The shirt was not made, but bought very cheaply at an export shop here which sell factory samples and overruns.  The buttons say Next (a UK store) and the label says Calvin Klein.  It is probably neither!

So onto new stuff......

Like many of you I found lots to love in the May issue of Burda, I've made a list, traced a bunch of patterns so we will see how many I get around to making up.  I also had a splurge on Vogue patterns in the latest sale so I feel a need to make some of the Vogues from previous releases that are still sitting pristinely in their envelopes.

Anyway I decided to start with this simple but interesting top with a tie overlay - #105.  

I used a paisley patterned batiste from my stash which of course does not go with any of the skirts I made recently, but that is the way I sew (i.e. totally randomly).  It is quite a delicate fabric but the front overlay stops it being indecent!

This was really easy to sew, I did make a couple of changes;

• I cut the back on the fold - I can't see the point in putting in a centre back seam if it is going to be straight. 
• Be sure to finish or fold in the front facing edge before attaching the neck facing per the instructions or you will be stuck with an unfinished edge.  Burda made this up in jersey so maybe they saw no need to finish the edge (the instructions also say not to add a seam allowance to this edge which I ignored)
• I used 4 buttons instead of 3 snaps

Things to look out for;

• The sleeve bands are about as snug as I would want them, check before you sew.
• There is a lot of fullness in the front, if you are not comfortable with this then you can add darts as  blouses 103 and 104 use the same pattern pieces.  I'm resisting the urge to do this for now because I think it will be perfect when the humidity hits 99.9% here.