December Burda Challenge - 12-2015 #117

Finally. Can I get a hallelujah? I had no time before my vacation in Mexico and now I feel like I’ve let everyone down. Hopefully I didn’t and you didn’t even miss me. Eep! Some great leader I am! Anyway, she’s done. I chose a super basic top for my December Burda because I am always wearing long-sleeved t-shirts to work and this one had some fun details.

The pattern shows a small keyhole opening at the CF, but I left that off because I was going for warm and snuggly. The little opening would be cute, but I wanted this instead. *stomps foot like a 2 year-old* The front has gathers and the back of the turtle neck had a couple of tucks at CB. The original pattern also shows it having a zipper and upper back panel. Since I decided against the zipper in back, I just made the upper back panel and lower back panel one piece. You definitely can get by with no zipper although it is tight. If you be the large-meloned type, you may want that zipper.

 

I will probably wear it with a cardigan and boots like this.

 

Our mangy mutt has decided that picture-taking is stupid and she will be a part of each picture.

 

This is made from a Merino wool knit blend. I ended up taking about an inch out of the arms and sides of this. Beware it is very loose. I took some off each side and realized that one side was looser than the other. So, I did what any normal person does, and trimmed some off the other side. Oops, now the other side was too loose. On and on that went until I have one very tight arm and one that is perfect. This, people, is why I would never try to cut my own hair.

 

I think the gathers at CF are a cute detail.

 

I also like the tucks at CB. Since I didn’t include a zipper, I did my tucks after the neckline was on the shirt.

 

I just folded them RST, and sewed a little tuck in place.

 

 

“Seriously Mom? Pictures? What about me?”

 

I have a buttload of kid clothing to show you. I have been working a a little casule wardrobe for my six year-old. She is quickly outgrowing everything that used to fit her!

Burda Challenge November - 11-2015 #112

Here’s my November Burda and it’s on time too. Yes, I do rock. I decided to make the woven top with shoulder zipper detail. I made it out of wool flannel. Yes, I know wool against the skin, ewww. Except, I love that feeling. It’s the feeling of being warm. I’m constantly cold so wool is my friend.

 

I had to really, really, really lighten these so you can see any detail. First a word of warning, this top is hard to get on. Like pull, tug, pull, pull, pull, pull. I could have made the seam allowances smaller maybe but I think the main problem is the armholes. I think it would be much better if my fabric had even a hint of stretch. It doesn’t. I can’t wear a regular bra with it. I’m wearing a sports bra that kind of flattens my cheat. I think the armholes are also too low for such a fitted shirt. On this picture, it almost looks like the shoulder also also just a titch too wide.

 

It does fit well as long as I just stand around, look awesome, and don’t reach for things.  I’m exaggerating a bit. Not about the sports bra, mind you. I really did have to put on a sports bra. But I wore this for several hours this weekend and there were only a few things I struggled to do.

 

The back fit is nice. I even tried a swayback adjustment. I know, right? How many years did that take me? I took it in about a 1/2” along that CB seam and the fit is almost perfect. I did add my standard 1” about the bust (I always leave the armholes alone).

 

See how tight it gets? If I pull up from the shoulder and snug up the armhole, it’s much more comfortable.

 

And I have the perma-cowl below my neck. My neck thrusts forward a bit so this is probably a result of that. Most of the time, my tops don’t go up this high, and if they do, they are in a knit.

 

The darts end in the right spot, but you can see a little fold at the armpit/bust.

 

I was super excited about this pattern because of the interesting darts, simplicity, and pop of color at the neck. I’m disappointed that it’s too tight. I still like it, I’m just not sure how often I’ll be reaching for it. I’m worried I’ll pop an armpit seam at work.

 

I love the zipper/ribbon detail. Burda recommended 1” grosgrain ribbon. Mine is 7/8” I think thinner might work better with this area of the shirt. You can see on my pictures that the ribbon makes the neck area really stiff.

 

I hand sewed (yes! me!!) the hems and neck facing.

 

A little disappointing but it would rock in a stretch woven. With a bit of armhole fiddling. I’m working on an Ottobre dress I think you guys will like.

Has anyone else tried this pattern? I still think it has lots of possibilities. I loved the dress variation in the magazine.

Burda Challenge for October - 10-2015 #110

Yes, I’m late. Again. I actually had this done over a week ago but the darkness outside and my busy schedule has kept me from taking photos. I present to you . . . Burda 10-2015 #110. This is a cut-on cowl-neck top with released darts and cowl-neck extensions that create a back V.

 

Here you can see the released darts really well. There are two on the front and two on the back. There are also two normal bust darts at the sides. You can barely see them here with this print.

 

The cowl neck actually extends and forms this v-neck.

 

We interrupt this photo shoot to bring you reality. Indoor photo shoots like this always end up like this. Little people get all frisky and try to “help”.

 

These photos are done with my entry light on and a big lamp on in my living room. Then, they are heavily edited so they aren’t a dark mess. I’m shooting with an ISO of 6400 people, work with me. I wish I had beautiful light and pretty backdrops, but alas, I take what I can get.

 

Me: Hey Honey, is the back all straight? Is it getting hung up on my butt?
Honey: *snap, snap* No babe, it looks just fine. *snap, snap*
Me: What about the neck? Everything looks good?
Honey: Yea, it looks great. *snap, snap, snap*

 

Well, the back does lie straight and all is good when it isn’t tucked into the shirt. *sigh*

 

All in all, I think it’s a little meh. I don’t love the fabric. It’s a thin cotton with not much stretch. It does drape well though. This pattern can be used with a woven or knit. They suggest a zipper on all versions. I opted to not put a zipper in it. I’ve lost a few pounds recently, but this pattern seems to run a bit large. I made a straight 34 and it is pretty loose on me. I would love to try the dress length version of this pattern in a wool flannel.

 

Next up: I have a Jalie that’s been done for weeks! I’ve finally gotten it photographs. I’m telling you, this daylight from only 9am to 5pm business makes it hard to take pictures! It’s dark when I go to work and twilight when I drive home. Oh, and I have a fun surprise to show you next week!

Burda Challenge–September

Yes, I know. I’m late. Again. Siiigh. I need to do a better job keeping my shit together. It’s not that I’m not sewing either, I’m just getting distracted. Tee hee.

I like this skirt but I’m not sure I’m in love with it, if you know what I mean. The top of it is so low, I can’t decide if it’s better with a tucked shirted or an untucked shirt. Maybe just not this shirt (I just made this too and will review soon!). Anyway, the skirt is cute enough.

 

 

The skirt has lots of movement. You can see here that it flairs out just from me slowly turning for pictures.

 

The fit is nice. Low, but nicely fitted. This is the size 34. There are four pieces to this. A CF, CB, side front, and side back. They have you make the bottom out of two identical circles.

 

Sorry, husband was taking pictures. He’s like super helpful. The lumpy parts under the skirt at my hip level is the shirt clumping up.

 

See? Low. And I think that is exactly how it’s supposed to fit.

 

Invisible zipper in the side seam.

 

What do you guys think? Tucked in? Out? This top is supposed to be crooked like this. Maybe just a different top?

 

They have you just leave the hem raw. I did it but I’m not sure how I like it. It frays and looks unfinished (duh!). I put in a line of stitching about 1/4” away just to prevent any crazy runs.

 

The top sections of the skirt are lined. The flared part below is not.

 

I am still working on my Jalie jacket for the Sew A-Long. I put in the zipper but it was wavy. I think I need to interface or do something else. Still pondering that. I just finished this top in the pictures too. Will review that soon too.

August Burda Challenge (SO LATE! I KNOW!!)

So I’m super late for my Burda Challenge. I know! I’m the leader, the rally-er, the damn html button-maker! Ugh, well, anyway, two weeks ago today, I was rear-ended by someone going 40-50 mph while I was stopped with my blinker on waiting to cross traffic. She never even touched the brakes. I was the third car in line and I got hit and then hit the car in front of me. My car was so mashed up I couldn’t get my door open to get out. It was a Dawn sandwich and not in a good way. Ugh. Well, anyway, I’m lucky to walk away. No one was injured in this accident (can you say TEXTING WHILE DRIVING!!!). I did my first session of PT today and traction feels soooooo good. The machine is scary but wow. Since the accident, I’ve had some tingling and numbness in my right arm and hand and a lot of tightness and stiffness in my upper back and neck. Like I said, I’m lucky to walk away. The woman that hit me (in her brand new 2015 Mercedes)?? Oh, she flew out of the car screaming that the three of us “slammed on our brakes” and she “didn’t have time to stop.” Bitch, please. There were three of us stopped, waiting to cross traffic. Anyway, that’s why the long radio silence and the much-belated Burda Challenge. My car is totaled but I walked away and thankfully there were no kids in the car. Shake it off, right?

 

This dress looks better in person. And wow, I did a crappy job ironing it! The hem doesn’t look nearly this bad in real life. The dress is a tall sizes pattern. The smallest size was the 72 so I graded down to the 68. Tall dresses fit me well in the torso. I’m a tall woman trapped in an average-woman’s-height-body.

 

I may still peg the hem a little bit.

 

 

 

The one thing I have noticed quite a bit with the tall patterns is that the armhole seems larger or lower. I may have to go in and see if I can retro-actively make the armhole higher.

 

 

Look at all these corners. In a knit!

 

The back. They recommend a zipper. I left it off. There is some shaping in the pieces though so I didn’t just cut it on the fold.

 

The inside is not beautiful with all the interfacing. You need it for all the corners!

 

This uses a facing. I tacked it down on all the seams. You can see below what I did.

 

Isn’t this fabric lush? It’s wicking merino wool. I may put some on Etsy for you guys. Or I might not. Mwaaa haaaa haaaaa. We’ll see if traction makes me feel nice. *evil grin*

 

I’m in the Fabric Mart contest right now and I DID submit my entry for the first challenge. That was a load off my mind. It’s due tomorrow evening . . . More on that later. Remember my pirate shirt? It’s dead now.

 

And holy cow, the PatternReview contest is crazy hard this year!! A fitted shirt and THEN a fabric manipulation challenge??!?! They are hard core!