I finished another FO from the BWOF July issue. I am really having a great time with this month's issue. While there are only two side seams, this still was time consuming due to the vast amount of shirring. Of course in the Burda issue, the model's top has only 10 rows, while mine had 25! Still, I was able to wear this after working on it for only 2 evenings. I wore it to work yesterday under a black cardigan, but found that I looked a bit preggers. When I got home, I used my serger to remove a ton of excess fabric off of the sides. That change made all of the difference. I should have done an FBA on this one, but serging the sides carefully, worked fine this time around.
I really find this to be a sexy, going out on the town top now. The fabric was left over from my New Look 6843 skirt. I bought the fabric from Joann Fabrics early this year. I think the look is so different as a top versus skirt. What do you think?
Next up, 120A from the same July issue and 122 from the April issue.
I actually forgot that I finished this skirt a while back. This was my first time using a stretch cotton. It's a bit different than I'm use to wearing, but with the 97 degree temperature, it's good timing for me to try it on!
In other sewing news, I have made a "muslin" for the BWOF cover project. I say muslin, because in quotes because it was not my original intention. Unfortunately, the jersey I picked out just has too much weight and isn't giving me the airy quality that I would like. I will probably cut it shorter and keep it as a shirt. I will look online for a simple white jersey fabric to try this one again. I really like the string ties and cut-out dolman sleeves. Instead of laboring over this project the entire weekend, I put it down and started the shirred top from the same issue - Top 117. I just have to sew up the side seams and coverstitch the bottom. I will be wearing this one to work for sure tomorrow. Two more Burda projects on my list are 120A and the cover project from the April 2009 issue. So many people made beautiful tops using that one, so I hope to continue that tradition.
I also need to order my first Kwik Sew project. I want to make KS3608, the monokini. I have already bought the fabric, but didn't have a store locally that had the pattern. I'll probably order this one through PR. We'll see what acutally happens and what is just a pipe dream. I notice that I always post my "to-do project list" but it always changes.
Happy Monday everyone!
I have finished my second BWOF pattern from this month's issue. I made the Business-Wear Tunic from the Take 1, Make 4 section. I made the size 46. I
Were the instructions easy to follow? For the most part. I used a silk fabric that I had purchased on my last LA trip to the Fashion District. 
This was my first attempt at using elastic thread in my bobbin instead of adding the elastic and elastic casings like the directions called for. I am really happy with the result - especially with this being my first attempt. I wore this to work today and my Boss was surprised that I made it because of the subtle details. She said that she was impressed with how my skills have improved...I wonder what that means for the OTHER items I've been wearing to work. lol.
Tonight I'm cutting out the dress that appears on the cover of Burda's issue this month. I traced the pattern the other day and even purchased the fabric. Hopefully this will fly off my needles so I'll have this to wear on the weekend.
I have finished my second Burda pattern! This is from the latest issue, July 2009. It is in the Plus Fashion section. I used the 133 pattern and made a hybrid of the version A & B. I used a mesh fabric that I purchased for a dollar at the FIDM store in LA early spring. The Plus sizes are for sizes 44-52. I cut the 44, but didn't add any material for the seam allowance. This gave me a great fit. I made my first version in a sheer floral fabric, but got part of the fabric caught under my serger, tearing a hole in the fabric. Not to be defeated, I cut new fabric, this time altering the pattern a bit more...instead of the v-neck back that is cut in 2 pieces, I used the front piece again for the back, just lowering the neckline a bit.
My sleeves came out too snug towards my hands, so I cut it a bit, used a black knit fabric I had left over to make cuffs. I followed this style with a black, thick border hem on the bottom, too.
This came out fantastic. It is very "work appropriate" for my company, stylish, and comfy combined. This one will be a repeat project for sure. With that being said, I am truly in love with this month's Burda issue. On the Burdaenglish forum on Yahoo, most people stressed that there wasn't much they wanted to make. I can't understand why. Everywhere else in the blog world, people of shouting this month's praises, just like me. Instead of just raving about this issue, I plan on really maximizing my subscription, by making as many items from this issue as possible. Tonight I plan on working on a tunic - either 120 or 128 and then tomorrow I will try the yoga pants. I am really thrilled! The Dolman sleeves really work with the style and fabric I choice.
After I finish my Burda marathon, I also plan on trying a Simplicity pattern that I misplaced and finally found. Remember Simplicity 4020 that I ended up down-sizing for my Sister because it was too short? Well, now that I found the pattern again, I have altered the pattern, adding in a full 8" to fit my taste and size. Here's a picture of my new TNT (hopefully) pattern.
In more news (especially since I've been a bad blogger lately) I have been taking a jewelry making class. I have made 2 pairs of earrings, a bracelet, and have stared a chunky necklace. I'm hoping to incorporate more jewels to some of my sewed and knitted pieces, so this will give me the skills to do it right. Here's the first pair of earrings I made, which are not the best (I'm aware of the silver and gold mismatch, lol), but great after only an hour of class instruction.
