Burda 7399

I bought this pattern last year but didn't get to it and it jumped out at me when I was looking through my patterns for spring inspiration. I finished it yesterday and was so happy with it I wanted to share it with you! But just so you know I dressed this way just for the post, the temperature is in the 40s so I dressed more appropriately to go out.

The fabric is a linen coated with a silvery finish which I bought at Joanns quite a few years ago.

This is a fun to make pattern, quite a few pieces, the back peplum is cut on the bias for a  nice drape.

 Burda has you finish the armholes with self fabric bias binding, I used the package binding and it gave it worked just fine.

 Love that it has pockets! How did I miss posing with hands in pocket?















I didn't know what to do about the ties, I didn't have any nice ribbons or tapes so then I remembered that I had white cotton yarn and I made an I-cord. I finished it with silver beads (found some nice weight beads to stretch the I-cord a bit)

 There is a bit of topstitching to do in this pattern, I like how it looks.

In this picture the color/finish of the fabric looks like in real life (hard to photograph with flash!)

 This was a fun project, lots of different details to work with!

Let's talk knitting

I need to get a handle on the number of projects which have been completed but need to be sewn together and blocked.

Should we start with the oldest? Why not

Interweave Knits magazine Square Bodice pullover. I started this in 2008 (wow!) and being my first lace project I struggled with it. The hard part was the shaping which complicates the lace pattern. Now having made some other projects that incorporated lace I was able to finish it.

 In May 2010 I started Meg by Louisa Harding which is an allover lace pattern. This one I put away for a while and I recently finished it. This gets priority so that I can wear this spring.

Next is the Phildar Cowl Neck dress which I started in January 2011. This is the second time I do not put it together in time for the season. I'm determined to sew it up this summer!

Last project I started was Phildar's mock turtleneck dress. I ran out of yarn and found in Ravelry another knitter who had extras of this yarn and was willing to sell it, so I was able to finish it.

What is on my needles now, a triangular shawl from the latest Vogue Knitting issue, number 13. I never knit shawls but this one really called to me. I think it will be beautiful as a summer scarf/shawl.

So there you have it! I hope next time I share knitting with you I will be wearing it! =)

What kind of fabrics do you recommend?

Burda Style 6-2011

I was all set to cut out this pants from a drapey woven (rayon and polyester blend, which they called microfiber when I bought it) and of course there is not enough fabric =(  I don't usually make pants with elastic waist so I don't have any spring/summer fabrics that would work with this pattern in my stash.

What do you recommend?

Voting is open!

At Pattern Review for the Vintage contest! There are a lot of nice pieces in the competition, but if you would like to vote for mine I would be very happy =). Just click on the button on my blog that says "I entered  the Vintage Contest" and it will take you straight to the voting page.

I'm deciding what to sew next, so stay tuned!

My entry for the Vintage Contest in Pattern Review

I did it! I finished on time to enter the contest! No voting yet, I think it starts next week, I will let you know when, in case you like my project and would like to vote for me =)

I'm copying here my review

Pattern Description:
From the envelope: "Sleeveless, front yoked dress has center back zipper and may be underlined". I'm adding that it is an A-line dress.

Pattern Sizing:
Single size, 14 which in 1968 is a bust 36. I had to narrow the upper bodice following the instructions on McCalls Step-by-step Sewing book from 1967 which the pattern refers you to, and I happen to own. On multi size patterns I always use a smaller size for the upper chest area so in this case I needed to try something different, the technique has you slash and adjust as needed and it worked for me.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
It sure did, except that I used three colors.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions were very good except when it came to install the lapped zipper, the instructions say to refer to the zipper package instructions; I used the method described by Sandra Betzina which always gives me good results. The pattern notches are numbered which is wonderful, I don't know why they stopped doing that, it is very helpful especially on patterns that have similar pieces.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love the 60s and therefore A line dresses. This seemed an easy enough pattern to try my hand at sewing vintage dresses. While I have a few vintage patterns I had never used one before, entering the contest gave me the push I needed =). I was inspired by the dress, Megan of Mad Men, wore in the new season and I showed you in a previous post.

Fabric Used:
Two fabrics are linen/blends, the brown and orange. The tan is a cotton with a linen like texture but lighter weight. All fabrics are from my stash.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
The only design change I made was to cut the back with a bodice seam to match the front so that I could incorporate the color blocking. To follow the rules of the contest I mantained the A line shape although my inspiration dress has a pencil skirt. I also follow all the construction instructions, added an underlining (cotton batiste), used all the facings and applied interfacings where the pattern recommended it. The facings were tacked to the side seams and to the underlining.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I don't know if I will sew it again but I enjoyed sewing my first vintage pattern. I recommended if you can find it and like the style.

Conclusion:
I like how the dress turned out, I think I might add a snap at the neckline to keep the bodice more upright, other than that I'm happy!

A nice surprise

We are finally going to get our front steps redone, the brick and mortar on the steps is crumbling the cement pad is cracking and the rails have rusted and have come away from the base.

Last fall we found a contractor to do the work, he is basically tearing it all down and rebuilding it and making the landing bigger, big enough that I can have a bench there =-).

The railing was what we still had to find and today we did! We found a local (Baltimore) company that does aluminum railing custom made. He will reproduce a rail we loved (a railing system ) but we could not afford, for half the price! Can you believe it?, we were shocked! We are so happy that our money will go to local craftsmen who we are thrilled to have found! If you are local and are looking for rails, fences, etc here is their website Holabird Metals.

Here is how my steps look now

On the left there were azaleas that we have already moved since the work will start next week. Today we plan on moving the ones on the right.

I will keep you posted on the makeover! I will also get a new front door, I have been wanting a new one since I moved 17 years ago, but you know how it is, what do they say? Good things come to those who wait?

Vintage sewing

Pattern Review is having a vintage sewing contest and it made me pull out my vintage patterns and try one.  I chose McCalls 9230 which is a 1968 pattern (I love the 60s). My inspiration for this dress?

Picture from TomandLorenzo.com

I will use the tan for the main body, orange for the crossed piece on top and brown for the other crossed piece. The back of my dress is one piece so I modified the pattern to include a pieced back where I will use brown again in the bodice.

I am using some of the techniques I'm learning about in the Susan Kahlje class. I will make the Vogue dress from the class next, I was just too excited to make the vintage dress!

I made a muslin since I'm not sure about the sizing and I'm ready to sew it today and try it on! I am so excited about this project!

Making a dress using couture techniques

About a week ago I signed up to take Susan Kahlje online class at Craftsy.com. Last night I watched the introduction to the class and printed some of the instructions, I am so excited to start on this! The pattern that is included in this class is Vogue 8648.

Right now I'm thinking I'll make a sleeveless full skirt version, but of course it will depend on which fabric from my stash I choose.

I love taking classes, any kind of classes! When I first moved to Maryland with my first job after college, the company I was working had the new hires in a two week training and I loved it. Once the class was done I started taking non-credit classes at Johns Hopkins University on art, music, history,etc. As I started to get really interested in sewing, quilting and knitting I took many classes. Of course once you master the basics it becomes harder to find classes that go beyond, that is why I'm thrilled with this class!

The first step will be making a muslin. I'll keep you posted!

The costumes in action

Just one more post about theater sewing, I promise! Just wanted to share these beautiful shots taken by a professional.

These I took while they were getting ready one day.

Don't know why the ostrich feathers are a little droopy  here

What a blast I had!

Still in the clouds this morning

Fantastic opening night, what a show! After all these months of work what a thrill to see it all come together! When Gertrude's tail grows there were gasps from the audience and then again when she comes in with all her tails on. Mayzie had them mesmerized she was dazzling as can be!

I'm off to the daytime performance for elementary school kids and then tonight I will be in the audience again!

Countdown to opening night

I'm in the middle of the whirlwind that is a stage production. Opening night is Thursday so I'm now repairing costumes and adding final touches to many; I'm lucky that two other moms who can handle needle and thread are there with me and have been a great help.

The costumes I made look fantastic on stage, yay for me! =) . The production is now looking like a show! Amazing the talent of the kids, I have heard some beautiful voices, some are only freshmen so we can look forward to enjoying their performances for a few years still.

Next week all will be back to normal and I will resume sewing for me =)

Timeless style

In 1959 my mom was on her honeymoon traveling for a month in Mexico. She had to be very careful with her money when she was single and so every item in her wardrobe was carefully chosen to be versatile and of course stylish. In Havana, Cuba where she was a young woman, most garments were made by seamstresses and she tells me how at the time synthetic fabrics were just starting to show up and they were very attractive due to their economical cost.

She had brought to her honeymoon some of her pretty dresses and her high heel shoes to then discover they were not very practical for the sight seeing my dad had in mind, especially once they left Mexico City. In the picture she is wearing pants she had brought with her and the very practical oxfords my dad bought her there to make sure she could do all the walking he had in mind. The bag was also another one of his gifts, one that she used for many years, I remember her having it!

My mom tells me that at the time and in Mexico City, among other towns, a woman wearing pants was a no-no. When it was ok for her to wear pants, the guide that my father had hired to take them around Mexico would let my mom know and she then would change. I love the look on her face in this picture where she is coming out of the lady's room having changed into her bright printed pants.

Of course printed pants are all over the runway for spring and the simple oxford is also very popular; talk about timeless style!

Do you think love of prints runs in families?

This and that

I am finishing with the theater sewing, right now I'm doing a few accessories. Of course once dress rehearsal starts I'll have to monitor to see how everything functions on stage and make any changes that might be necessary.

Here are the epaulettes, glue is still drying, that I'm making for a military jacket.

Here is the headpiece for Mayzie and her finished dress.

I also made furry cuffs (for the six Wickersham brothers) and now I need to make scarves and headbands for five Who children.

I picked up this knitting project, which has been dormant. I was having such a hard time with it I put it away and got more lace knitting practice instead. I now was able to finish both sleeves and I'm ready to cast on for the front.

Image from Interweave Knits magazine

I am looking forward to do some spring sewing but what to start with I still have no idea. I'm going to look over my spring/summer patterns to get inspired!

Have a great weekend!

The beauty of a rolled hem and Mayzie's dress

Yes, I have made for the first time a rolled hem with my serger and I'm in love. The ease of it all! And how pretty it looks!

How do you like the explosion of color in my sewing room?

I was at the point of finishing the hems of the petticoat for Mayzie's dress (for the Seussical production) and read a post in The Slapdash's Sewist blog about replacing her serger because she was having trouble making a rolled hem with her old one, and I saw the light. Why not a rolled hem on this cute circle skirt with ruffle? The instructions for the petticoat, a circle skirt with an attached ruffle came from an old Burda Easy Spring/summer issue, but you can find similar instructions in the internet.

I finished the waist with grosgrain ribbon and even though I hate using velcro in my sewing I used it for the waist for adjustment flexibility.

Here is the dress, McCalls 4826. I have pinned the petticoat to the dress to see the peek-a-boo effect.

The flowers I made using the directions from 2 books. The smaller ones are the Dior rose and I followed Palmer/Pletsch Couture The Art of Sewing by Roberta Carr; the other is from High Fashion Sewing Secrets by Claire B Shaeffer (this I had made before).  Both these books are indispensable, in my opinion. I now have to work on her bird-tail =)

I really like this halter dress pattern. The skirt side seams are placed in the front of the dress so the back piece is fuller than the front. It makes a very flattering dress. The back straps I added which make the back even prettier, the actress loved this feature!