Burda 07-2008-116 Empire Top

You can tell that I should have done an SBA on this top. It is pretty baggy up on the top.

Perfect shoulder fit! And these sleeves are not restrictive. I was worried after reading Christina's post about the other BWOF top but this one is fine.


I chose to line the inside rather than mess with facings and binding the armholes. Make two bodices, hem the sleeves, attach them to the fashion fabric, sew neck edges right sides together, sew arm edges together (make sure sleeves are the correct way when you do this), turn right sides out and then sew side seams in one continuous loop. Grade, clip, press, press, press, and move on.


There are two sets of drawstrings. One goes in the right, across the front and back and outside the right side. The other drawstring goes in the left, around the body, and back out the left.


Super cute cottom eyelet lawn from my favorite fabric boutique. It used to be Three Sisters but it merged with another store and they are both called Seams Like Home now.

This is the review from PatternReview.com:

Pattern Description: Nothing looks so fresh in summer as a crisp white blouse! Our trendy, tunic-styled version sports a typical empire waist with drawstrings dangling at the sides.

Sizing: 34-44. I made a size 36.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it looks like both the line drawing and the model photo. Well, mostly. I don't have a huge white hat but yes very similar.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn't look at them much. I had to change the order of construction because I chose to line the bodice rather than use facings and bias arm finish. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?It is a really easy top to make, even with the lining. In fact lining it probably made it easier than messing with armhole binding and those back facing I can never get to fit perfectly. The top is cute but pretty trendy with the empire waist so it probably won't last more than this season. No dislikes; it went together perfectly.

Fabric Used: This cute Robery Kaufmann cotton eyelet from my local fabric boutique. They have good stuff but just not a lot of variety. I found Liberty fabric there and was amazed. It was quite spendy but you know, freight to Alaska makes everything expensive.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I did my usual 1/2" shoulder to bust tuck. I made my ties smaller because I have a bias-tape maker that takes strips that are 1" instead of 1.5". The casings that you create with the 3/4" seam allowances are not that big. I'm not sure that thicker drawstrings would have worked. I think you either need to increase the SA a bit or make your drawstrings thin like I did. There are two drawstrings; one that goes around and ends in the right side and one that ends in the left side. Here is a picture so you can see what I mean.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I probably won't sew it again but I really like it. I word to ya'll with "girls". This top is very low and very wide. Seeing as I have no "girls" to speak of, nothing is going to fall out but without a camisole my bra was pretty visible. If I made this again, I would raise the neckline by about an inch. I usually do that with BWOF but I guess I forgot. You can see in this picture of the front that the bodice is a bit baggy.

Conclusion: Cute and very easy.