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.

 

Skirt - Burda 07/2008 - 113

I have made this skirt before so it was a quick and easy make - no tracing and very little fitting although I did modify the pattern a little.  I left off the pockets and topstitching in my busy fabric, added a centre back seam and moved the zipper to the back which makes it easier to fit or alter, plus I sometimes find that zips don't want to follow my, erm lets say curvy, hips.

I used a border print cotton and had to do a bit of fiddling as the side seams on this skirt are not quite straight at the bottom.

I didn't have any thread on hand to match the fuschia colour at the hem so I decided to make a feature of it and use 3 rows of black and ivory thread to pick up the colours in the print.

 I love the colours in this skirt and a now on the hunt for some co-ordinating fabric for tops.  I find in the summer that I can get about 3 wears out of a skirt and only 1 out of a top so a ratio of 3 tops to 1 skirt works well.  (That's not to say I manage to achieve this ever, but it's a nice idea in theory).

Self Drafted Jersey Maxi Skirt

Now that Easter and my visitors are out of the way let's get back to sewing & blogging.

First up I am jumping on the maxi skirt bandwagon with a jersey self drafted version.  Self drafted actually sounds a little grand - I started with 2 rectangles and shaped the waist and hips until the skirt fit and stayed up and then pondered what to do with the waistband.

Then by some magical coincidence Melissa over at Fehr Trade posted her elastic waistband method which was perfect for my skirt.  The only change I made because I wanted to have a clean finish on the outside is that I omitted step 4 in her excellent tutorial and just stitched the facing down by stitching in the ditch at the side seams.  I expect this could be very annoying in a pair of running leggings but for a casual skirt it should be fine and if it isn't I can always go back and stitch it down later.

The fabric is a really nice quality jersey I picked up in the local fabric market that was originally made for White House/Black Market, at least according to the printing on the selvedge.

Seemingly anytime I make something very summery the sun disappears so once again we have to use our imagination (and the lightening button on iphoto) a little here!

Awards Time!

Ok I'm all dressed up and ready to accept my awards!  I really hope I haven't missed anyone out here, but I thought it made sense to put them together.

So a huge thank you to Gail, Lori, SewBarbie and Ana Jan for nominating me for the Versatile blogger award.  Probably somewhat of a misnomer as this blog does seem to consist of dresses that nearly all look the same, but still I am honoured!  Do check out their blogs if they are not already on your reading list.

Gail at myfabrication
Lori at girlsinthegarden
sewbarbie
Ana Jan at stepalica

7 random things

• I haven't driven for at least 12 years now - if I manage to remember I definitely would not be able to get in and out of parking spaces
• I have a degree in theoretical physics, can't remember a thing now but occasionally I will read a book on quantum physics just to blow my mind.
• I am somewhat addicted to step aerobics, bit of a late starter to the world of fitness but better late than never
• My little sister just turned 37 - how did that happen??!
• Hong Kong is surprisingly green (and unsurprisingly very hilly) and I really enjoy hiking here
• I never got around to changing my name after I got married, I wasn't trying to make any kind of statement, it just all seemed too much of a hassle
• After a scary sailing incident I developed a phobia of all boats which is awkward when you live on an island so I am trying to get over it.  No wind and alcohol help a lot!

Also, a big thank you to Lisa and Meigan for the Sunshine award.  Again do check out their blogs, lots of good stuff going on out there!

Lisa at creativecraftwork
Meigan at getmystitchon

Favourite colour 
  Purple, even though I don't wear it much or have it in my apartment
Favourite animal 
 Domestic pet wise, kittens are just the greatest things, in the wild, elephants
Favourite Number 
  9
Favourite non-alcoholic drink 
  I try to make it water, but occasionally have a coke zero which is arguably worse for you than alcohol
Facebook or twitter
 Facebook even though I never use it, but I do have a dormant account so it beats twitter
My passion
 Other than sewing, family & friends (in case they are reading!), the gym and eating out / cooking which kind of just about keep each other in balance
Getting or giving presents
  I know I should say giving and it is great when you find the perfect thing, but I am always running around at the last minute before Christmas and find the whole thing very stressful & frustrating!  Especially finding stuff for men - argh!
Favourite pattern
  Probably the dress that kickstarted my love of them - Burda Style 02/2009 - #124, the first sheath dress I ever even tried on.
Favourite day of the week
  Predictably Friday, I love looking forward to what the weekend will bring and people are generally in a good mood out and about on a Friday evening.
Favourite flower 
  Changes all the time, but I do love lilies
Favourite celebrity Role Model
  I'm sure I will think of someone as soon as this post is done but right now I am stumped!


It's taken me so long to think of my 7 random things that I'm going to cheat a bit on nominating anyone else and just recommend that you take a look at the links above otherwise my houseguests are going to starve tonight!  


We have my sister in law, her husband and son arriving tonight from the UK for a week so there won't be much sewing going on over the holiday, but hopefully that means I will be raring to go afterwards.


Happy easter everyone!