Burda Style 4-2013-121

This is my second completed project for the Burda Sew Along! This dress was completed in just two nap times, which is really record speediness for me. I am really excited about getting some summer clothes sewn since my warm weather selections are so few. This dress is a great new addition, and I hope to wear it lots in the coming months.

Burda's version

My version

 

I used a vintage bed sheet for this, lined with white muslin. Somehow this is the first dress I have ever lined, but it went well. I did not add the frills, and I left off the back buttons and just continued to the top with the zip. Even though this was a petite sized pattern I took 1.5" of length out of the midsection. I just have a terribly short waist :o(  I also took about 1.5" of width out at the back bodice. I think this was because I should have cut a 38 in the bodice and a 40 in the skirt, but that just seemed too complicated.

After making my adjustments, and testing the dress out all day it has met with approval. I really enjoy the cheerfulness of the print and the ventilation at the back. It is a true summer wardrobe success!

Burda Style 9-2011-128

This is my first completed item for the May Burda Sew Along. If you don't know about the Burda sew along please see the large and looming button to the right. For some reason I am not able to do text links on the blog right now. Anyhoo here she is:

 The magazine image

 

My Version in black

 I know it is terribly hard to see any detail with this black

I tried overexposing to get a bit more detail, and it helped some.

I used some second hand fabric from the stash for this. My best guess would be that it is a polyester crepe. I really like the drapiness of this fabric, but it was quite the dickens to work with. It frays terribly, and although it seemed light and flowy it was very bulky at the hem and seems. My sewing machine really freaked out when I attempted the buttonholes, and I ended up ripping out and redoing no less than four of them.

It really was a labor of love, but now that I am finished I think I will get a lot of use out of this one. The pleats make it a little interesting, but it is still comfortable and simple enough that I think I will want to wear it often.

I have a huge line-up of other Burda patterns I would like to conquer during the May sew-along. Only time will tell how many of those will be completed.

The busiest sewing month of the year!

I am participating in Me-Made-May '13 as well as the Burda Sew Along. This has really put my sewing into high gear! Hopefully I will have something to show for it very soon.
 MMM is teaching me quit a lot about my sewing style, or dressing style in general.It seems that I am really only comfortable in boring basic clothes - very sad to admit, but true. The more unique and interesting things I have sewn are just not as comfortable, and in some cases almost seem costumy. So as much as I like to sew fun stuff, it doesn't get worn and I need to face facts :o(
Thank you Me-Made-May for that reminder :o)

Here is my Me-Made-May recap for week one:

 The white shirt was completed at the end of April but never blogged. It is Burda Style 4-2010-115. I also made the top on my youngest, but way back when the oldest fit in it - so it was never blogged either.

The pink tunic is vintage Vogue 6566, I am wearing McCall's 6288, and little Eve is wearing Burda kids 9645 - also made for Daphne back when she was Eve's age.

 This skirt was refashioned from my bell bottoms made in February which became too snug in the crotch from washing. I like them better as a skirt anyway :o)

 This dress is Simplicity  3678. I do not think I have worn it since the last Me-Made challenge. As much as I want to like this dress, I just don't. It seems way too frumpy and I really should just use it as a nightgown but I don't wear nightgowns, so maybe I should just refashion or delete from the wardrobe.

 

Eve is in  Burda Kids 9503, Daphne is wearing Burda Style 9-2011-150, and I am wearing the skirt from  Vogue 8613 and a boring unblogged t-shirt that I cannot recall a pattern number for at this time. I have converted two versions of Vogue 8613 into skirts with yoga style fold over waistbands. These skirts are getting far more wear than the dresses ever did as I come to the harsh realization that dresses and my toddler's continued desire to breastfeed do not mix. I really, really, really want to wear dresses, but weaning is not going well, so I have to get real with myself :o(

 

 This is Burda Style 3/2012/119 and unblogged Simplicity skirt  2451. I really like this combo, and will wear it again ! Yeah!

And finally Burda Style 8-2009-107 which I seem to only feel comfortable pairing with my rubber boots.

So far MMM '!3 has been lots of fun! It is  amazingly inspiring to see what everyone else is wearing. I am immensly impressed by everyone, but most especially those magnificent creatures who make there own bras and underpants, and wear all handmade outfits everyday - some without a single repeat! It is truly aw inspiring, and I aspire to someday be half as fantastic :o)

BurdaStyle 09-2011-150 Little Dirndl

I made this dress for my oldest daughter Daphne last week. She picked the fabric and buttons. The fabric is a pink twill with a bicycle and bird print, and the buttons are sparkly pink plastic ones.

Daphne has taken a great interest in sewing lately! She is only 3, so I was a little uncertain about what we could do, but with very little help from me she has sewn a doll pillow and a small bow. So far she has handled the needle well and we have had no injuries :o)

Me-Made-May 2013!

 'I, Sarah of woodlandrabbit, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '13. I endeavor to wear at least one handmade item each day for the duration of May 2013. In addition, I pledge to document one of my loved ones wearing something I have made them at least 3 times per week for the duration of May 2013.'

Well it's that time of year again! Last May was filled with horror and turmoil, as I attempted to wear one me-made item of clothing everyday. I don't expect this year to be much different, as I still don't have a self-stiched wardrobe of my dreams. Also, I did a senseless purging of clothes this past Fall. So some things I wore last year are no more. I expect there will be a lot of repeating of outfits, and whining. Hopefully there will also be a feeling of accomplishment, and a better understanding of what I should sew in the future.

 In addition to the standard challenge I have decided to document a loved one wearing a handmade item, at least 3 times per week. I thought this would be good as it increases my challenge from last year. I really was very good about wearing something handmade everyday. 

Well, now I am off to frantically sew a months worth of tank tops and yoga pants :o)

 

BurdaStyle 08-2009-107 Trench Skirt

I have wanted to sew this skirt for quite a while. Most of my Burda magazine collection has come from my local library. Every year in January they get rid of the previous years issues and the past two years I have been super excited to pester the periodical department until they give them to me :o)  So, I have all of 2010 and 2011 courtesy of my local library. Unfortunately I did not have this great issue from 2009. There are several things that caught my eye from this issue so I searched the internet until a copy came up for sale on Ebay. The really funny thing is that the issue I ended up purchasing  was sold by a woman from my own town who had gotten it from the library back in 2010 when they were getting rid of the 2009 issues. So, I was able to pick it up from her in person, and it fits right in with the rest of my retired library Burdas.

 Anyway - on to the skirt!

 

Here is the line drawing.

 My version - worn with raincoat, hat, and rubber boots. It is quite windy and rainy here lately, but with a pair of tights the skirt is perfect for this weather. I used some of my new olive khaki twill from my recent trip to the Fabric Depot.

 I did not do the pockets on this because I thought they were oddly placed, and that  I probably would not use them. Also, I like the clean lines of the skirt without pockets.

 I added an inch to the center back for two reasons. First in the hope it would fall more gracefully over my backside, and second because I am short waisted and high waist clothes make me feel like my lower lungs are being strangled. So my finished skirt sits at the top of the hip, rather than at the waist.

 I will admit I did a tissue fitting rather than making a muslin, which was probably a bad idea. I have been in muslin hell lately, and just wanted to sew something fun. I think it worked out, but I do have a few regrets. The waist is a little more roomy than I wanted it to be, and I cut it at the length I wanted it finished at on accident. Somehow I have done this before and should have learned my lesson. I suppose I should have the saying "Measure twice, cut once" hanging in my sewing room. To solve this problem I used some lace hem tape to finish the lower edge.

Overall I like it , and plan to wear it a bunch!

The Best Husband Ever!

I really think my husband is the greatest! Yesterday was his only day off of work for the week and what did he decide to do? Take me on a fantasy fabric shopping trip of course! We live in a small town, with only a Jo-ann's and a quilting store for fabric shopping options. I had mentioned I would like to visit one of the large fabric shops up in Portland some day, but just as a maybe someday idea. Well he took it very seriously and loaded us all in the car, drove the 1.5 hours to Fabric Depot, and entertained the kids for two hours while I shopped!

 Here I am in the parking lot. From the outside it doesn't look so special, but within resides the best selection of fabrics I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. It was so exciting and overwhelming for me. It took a while to look around at everything and calm down enough to make some actual selections.  While they had quite an assortment of beautiful, fancy, colorful, shiny, silky, amazing fabric - I was mostly seeking neutral basics, as that is what was missing from my fabric stash. This is what I came up with.

My camera lens was a little foggy from being left in the car overnight.

 From left - charcoal wool suiting, tweedish tan silk/wool suiting, two shades of khaki organic cotton twill, white cotton shirting, and for fun a pig print corduroy.

I am really excited to sew with this fabric, but for now I am tackling some muslin making. I have so many fitting issues that I am trying to sort out. I have sewn a few muslins since my last post, but nothing that has worked out really great. Partly I am still sorting out which styles are best for my shape, so one muslin fit okay but was a failure in this department. Secondly I am still learning how to alter the things that could be good on me if not for some fit issues. In the past I have mostly avoided muslin making because I have very little time to sew, and it felt like a waste of time to sew the same thing twice. However, I now realize what a waste it is to sew something that doesn't fit or suit my figure. Hopefully I can make some progress and add to my wardrobe soon!