Burda - 05-2008-104 Dress

Pattern Description: Need an easy-care travel dress that can be worn day or night? Then pack this style in your suitcase! It has a sexy cinched waist, a plunging V-neckline and extravagant waist gathers that are accentuated by a buckle.

Pattern Sizing:34-42. I made the size 34. When Burda uses a knit, I'm a 34 and with a woven I make a 36 for my shoulders.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?Yes, except I used a tab instead of a buckle.

Were the instructions easy to follow?Actually, yes. I don't know if I'm just getting used to them or if this is better than average. I love the bodice facing/lining pieces. I am using this technique on my other lined bodices. If you made this and skipped that part thinking, "I hate facings on a knit" you should glance at them so you have this technique. I almost skipped it and just did a knit binding but I'm glad I did it their way. Here is the inside. You can see all the serger tails. Oops. I did not finish the bottom on the lining because it will not ravel and I didn't want it to show through on the outside.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?I love this style. I'm not sure about this knit for this dress. I really like the belt draping part and you can't really see it with this fabric.

Fabric Used:A Gorgeous Fabrics poly/lycra knit. I really like this fabric.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:I made my usual high-bust tuck of 1/2" between shoulders and bust. I chopped about 2 inches off the hem so it is just knee length. After I put it all together I took out another inch off the side seams tapering to nothing at high hip. I also made this little tuck right above my butt. I am thinking more and more that I should be doing a swayback adjustment for dresses. What do you think? See my profile here. Isn't this basically what I did on my dress? I'm asking because I'm not sure. I raised the neckline by an inch and a half after reading the other reviews. After wearing it, I am thinking it would look better a little lower. I can go back and re-sew that part if I decide to later. I could go down the entire 1.5" and it would be fine on my "non-girls". Here is the back. I made a pintucked/topstitched woven tab to pull the waist drape together. The jury is still out whether I like it or not. I wanted to emphasize the waistband and I figured that the same busy fabric would not work. My JoAnn's only had crappy buckles.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?Yes, I would love to do a print with a dark contrast band across the stomach. And yes, make this dress!

Conclusion: Another Burda hit. Love them! Oh, and my husband did get me a subscription for Mother's Day. Wooot!