Red top

I had great winter but I didn't have any time for sewing so I finished my first project of 2017 at May 1! It was a simple woven top from Burda 04/2016. I didn't buy this issue, I got it from a library! Thank you, Surrey libraries, you are saving my money! 

The pattern is pretty loose fitted so I cut size 36 without seam allowance. I didn't change anything in pattern, only way of sewing darts, I made them as pleats. Probably next time I will try to do them by instructions. Oh, I made the top longer, just trying to use the whole length of my piece of fabric, decreasing the waste. 

I used the rayon fabric which I bought 4 years ago in Toronto, during my first and only visit to Canada (second one was actually moving to Vancouver, BC). I supposed to use this fabric as lining for a skirt but I didn't. So the cut came back to Canada%)

This is easy and nice project and the result is pretty good and nice, the top is very comfortable and I can wear it in different outfits. I will make couple more in future ( I should cut neckline  1cm wide, so it would be easier to put it on wearing glasses)

Facts:

• Fabric: red rayon from Toronto (first visit to Canada), 0.65m
• Pattern: Burda 04/2016 118
• Fabric was bought first but as a lining for a skirt
  
• Notions: thread
• Time to complete: 5.2 hours
• First worn: just after finishing
• Wear again: sure!
• Make again: yes, with changes - little bit wider neckline.
• Total cost:  $4 for fabric, $0.5 for thread, 0 - for pattern (I borrowed the magazine in library) = C$4.5

Review of Burda 05/2013 and 06/2013

The weather is not very warm in SPb and I cannot make the photos of my new refashioned top%(

So let´s make some Burda reviews%) It is time to make August review but I want to save my favorite picks from May and June issues first, just for me. The review of July number will be skipped because I didn´t like this issue and left it in the shop. 

The May issue was pretty nice! I chose a lot of dresses from it. Look!

Also I like a jacket which was in previous number but in plus size section.

Yes! I like the pockets!

The June Burda was rich with nice dresses too!%))

Also I like 2 outfits - a jacket with shorts and a blouse with a skirt.

But my favorite from this issue is a skirt!!!

Would you like something of this maybe?  

The images from Burda pages were took for illustration and discussion and remain the copyright of the owner.

Turtleneck for dress and quick hat

Print jumper

I bought this knit fabric specially to make a jumper for my blue dress. It was not cheap but I liked a print so much! Also it was wool so I took it.

I was thinking to use this pattern but as usually I hadn't enough fabric%) So I chose a turtleneck from Burda 09/2010.

I cut size 36 without seam allowances because my fabric was pretty stretchy and I wanted fitted garment. I didn't follow Burda instructions - I cut a ease from sleeve's caps and sewed sleeves flat (as I understood it was common for knits to put sleeves flat). For neck I found great post in pictures. I used only overstitching stitch at my machine (I haven't serger), so I will test how this stitch will behave in wearing.

Back view

I didn't manage very well with print matching on sleeves and a body because I didn't pay attention that the print had 3 different lines not two%)) But I am Ok with this! I should be more careful with prints in future%)

I like the long sleeves of this turtleneck and pretty loose neck.
Also I made fast hat from remnants%) I draw pattern myself. 

Close-up

Facts:

• Fabric:  1.15m (width 1.5m) of wool knit, very thin.
• Pattern: Burda magazine 09/2010 121
• Fabric was bought first, to companion to my blue dress
• Notions: thread, twin needle
• Time to complete: I started it in end of March, have finished 14 April. Sewing time - 5.05 hours. 1.40 for preparation, 3.25 - sewing.
• First worn: 20 April for walking and photoshoot
• Wear again:  Yes!
• Total cost:  16 euro for fabric (it was pretty expansive but I like print so much! And this is wool!!) + 1.5 euro for thread (magazine was present)  = 17.5 euro
 

My picks from Burda 03/2013 and 04/2013

It will be a time for Burda 05/2013 review but I still in winter %(  Anyway I woud like to keep my favorites from March and April Burda issues.

So start: some dresses from 03/2013  - 131 and 111 with the interesting back! The first one is nice with sweater in cold times.

Linen jacket with nice collar and biker jacket.

Too romantic for me? Vintage blouse.

A cardigan. I am very big fan of cardigans, they are very comfortable in use, so I plan to make this one for our cold summer from black knit.

So this was March issue and now will be April one%) Let's see!

Dresses -  one maxi dress, one sack dress (I think they are very comfortable in summer) and one mini dress ( I like American necklines).

A blouse (I want to make it from polka dot fabric, maybe red?) and a top (very stashbusting because of the drape, you need 2 meter of fabric).

From red polka dot?

Also I like the whole outfit - a blouse and pants (maybe with another print).

That's all - lets sew now!%))

The images from Burda pages were took for illustration and discussion and remain the copyright of the owner. 

Blouse 12/2012 119

I have done with my blouse! I am ready to write a pattern review now and show the final pictures. I am pretty happy with the result. Of course, there are some mistakes which I made during sewing and the blouse is not perfect but I like it%)

Front view

Facts:

• Fabric:  1.1m (width 1.6m) of cotton, it is better to have 10cm more.
• Pattern: Burda magazine 12/2012 119
• Fabric was bought first, to companion to my orange skirt
• Notions: thread, buttons
• Time to complete: I started it in February, have finished in end of March. Sewing time - 13.5 hours.
• First worn:  30 March,2013 on the concert%))
• Wear again:  Yes!
• Total cost:  4 euro for fabric(this was a fabric with defect) + 1.5 euro for thread  + 1 euro for buttons + 2 euro for pattern = 8.5 euro

Back. I like the button%)

Pattern Description: Simple blouse.

Pattern Sizing: 36, 38, 40, 42, 44. I cut 36.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, the same.
 
Were the instructions easy to follow? I had some difficultes to understand on which side of cuffs should I sewed buttons. Also this was my first neckline finished with bias, so I read instructions several times.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like this simple blouse, it is very comfortable. I would like to deep the neckline, it is too high for me. 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Yes, I made the back 1.5 cm narrower, also I shortened sleeves and made cuffs wider (this was done because of lack of the fabric)

I have some difficulties to make loops!

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, I would like to make one-color blouse and may be a top for summer, this is pretty good alternative to knit long sleeves which I wear all the time. I would like to change neckline a little bit and may be to make armhole deeper.

Conclusion: This is nice pattern and you can make good basic tops.

Sleeves

Almost done - blouse Burda 12/2012 119

I have a very bad habit - I don't like to finish projects which are almost done! When you are in the end of a process you are already in the next project so the current one just slows you down from the next one. I am not the only one - very often I read about UFOs with only unfinished hem or unsewn buttons %)

Hope my blouse will be finished soon and will not become UFO! I spent a huge amount of time to choose a pattern, I want something like blouse (not shirt), something simple and for small amount of fabric because I have only 1.10 meter (width 1.60) which is not really enough for a long-sleeve blouse. Finally I choose Simple Blouse 12/2012 119 from Burda, I even picked this pattern in my review before%)

I don't have special cutting table so I cut on the floor previously. This time I tried a dinning table, it was not sufficient wide but better that the floor. My fabric was little bit short, so I had to make some changes in the pattern. I shortened sleeves and made cuffs wider to keep the lenght.

My cutting table

These were my first set-in sleeves%) They are not perfect, there are 2 or 3 small wrinkles but I am ok with them %) I even didn't mix up right and left sleeve or front or back of them! There was not too much ripping this time.

First set-in sleeve

I am not happy with a neckline, I used bias for a neck edge exactly as in the instructions, but the edge doesn't stay flat. I will try to repress it, hope it helps a little bit. Also I understood I was not the best topstitcher!%)) I am considering to buy the special footer for topstitching.

Not the best neckline

I decided to hem using the footer for blind hem, I will show the result in the next chapter%)

Hemming

I only need to sew the buttons and make a hanging loop! I should finish it in March!%)

My delayed review of burda 02/2013

I haven't bought Burda 01-2013 because I decided that a lot of patterns were rather repetitive so I could easily skip that issue. The most interesting pattern from January is this blouse(or a dress based on the same pattern). I decided to buy it in PDF if I would understand that can live without it%)

Favorite pattern from 01-2013

The February issue I found more interesting so it went into my collection. The favorite pattern is raglan shirt. I have already traced it though I have 3 projects in my queue. I mean nearest projects - almost on the sewing table, not somewhere in my head, there I have endless line%) I want to make long sleave, dress and short-sleeve too! Of course I am a fan of raglan, you know!%)

Raglan shirt

I think I like all knit patterns from this issue%) Look, how nice they are%)Now I want to find red polka dot top!



Also I like the most patterns in Classic section. I should make Marlene trousers for my wardrobe only I don't know if it is possible to wear them without high heels.


There are some nice dresses in the magazine, I like the gathered one, but this pattern is for petite woman, so may be I will try to make the same skirt for summer.



Also I like a jacket and shorts from City section.

Some basic shorts, will be good in linen.

Nice blouson.

 

The raglan jumper is the first in my sewing list from this issue. I plan to make it to wear with my new blue dress.

  The images from Burda pages were took for illustration and discussion and remain the copyright of the owner.