Miss Celie

Pattern Review: Burda 6/2010 #123: Silk Jersey Sack Dress

Remember my obsession with this BCBG huge red, white and blue plaid print?

Well, I found a gorgeous plaid silk jersey in two colorways at A Fabric Place / Michael’s Fabric.  I knew as soon as I saw it I was powerless to resist.

Even on sale, I could only spring for two yards of each cut. This was my first time sewing with silk jersey. My serger didn’t like it. My sewing machine didn’t really like it. I wish I could sew a stretch stitch using a straight stitch foot and plate. That, would be ideal.

The pattern is Burda Magazine 6-2010-123. It’s such a wonderfully fast sew! I made it in two nights after work. So, let’s say four hours (at most). I am pretty proud of the plaid matching done on this dress. I am usually dead nervous about using plaids. I *adore* plaids. Seriously. Love everything about them. But, the matching = hives. I have several plaids for blouses that I’ve avoided making up because I start sweating at the thought of matching.

I chose this dress because it had few seams and would not be a fabric hog.

I did add one to center back to make my usual swayback adjustment.

The pattern calls for bias strips to finish the neckline. I could not be bothered. I just turned under and used my twin needles

Based on a previous version I made (Haven’t posted yet. Wearing to a party tomrrow night) I added two inches in length to make this office appropriate.

All the shaping from this dress comes from the belt. The dress is essentially a sack.

I ADORE this dress. It’s fun, sexy, and perfect for summer. But, I must warn you. I do not have the same firmness I once did and have to wear a slip with this dress. If not, it looks like squirrels are doing battle behind me when I walk.

The only problem with the plaid (and this is just apparent in photos) is that your eye has something to to ‘level’ on. So, with the blousooning, the dress can look a wee off kilter.

Overall, I’m happy. I did have several people at work say I should have worn this version for the Friday night party. But, I didn’t want to get my new silk jersey dress all yucky quite yet.

67 comments

  2. Love it! If this is the same pattern as the Anda dress that has been made up on BurdaStyle so many times, I think it is my favorite version so far.

  3. How great is that dress?! Wow, I love it. I have never sewn with silk jersey – I bet is is comfortable. Beautiful!!

  5. Wow – its gorgeous and I love it! You’re fulfilling your intention of becoming very chic.

  6. I love giant plaids and I’m really coming around to the idea of sack dresses as long as they have belts to go with.

  7. I love this- it looks great on you! I made a muslin of this dress a while back and hated it, but I used a woven. I wonder if using a knit might give me better results since I still love the tech drawings and still think about trying it again from time to time.

  8. Ms. Silliness!! Your plaid dress is perfect! lookin’ good, as usual!! (I DO appreciate your comments about mis-behaving silk machine sewing.) I am glad it isn’t just me.

  9. “…it looks like squirrels are doing battle behind me when I walk.” Too funny. The dress looks perfect for the hot summers.

  10. OMG–BWAHAHAHAHA–TWO SQUIRRELS AT BATTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE DRESS IS TOO CUTE

  12. Awesome fabric, and that pattern is killer on you! You are killing me with the squirrels reference, though. Tea coming out my nose.

  16. Darling dress & I am really impressed with how good that top cut looks on you. Anytime I try it I look like I’m built like King Kong. Great matching of plaids too. That is another winner!

  17. It took me a while to buy into the sack dress thing, but I made this pattern up last year and have worn it to death. Seeing your lovely version makes me think I should make another. I’ve never checked behind to see if I have battling squirrels, but I expect I do, oh well!

  19. Beautiful dress, beautifully made, gorgeous on you!

    Thank you for the laugh re: battling squirrels. It really brightened my day 🙂

  20. It might have been a pain to sew the stretch silk jersey, but the resulting dress is great. A little bit edgy, but still pretty and feminine. And also flattering with the belt on.

  23. Pretty…you might whip up a solid-color belt in one of the colors of the dress and see if that settles the eye more when you belt it. That squirrel image is going to be in my head all day….

  24. That Is fab! I recently bought loads of silk jersey in a petrol colour. Enough for a cardigan and a dress. The wrap cardi is a UFO because it won’t behave under my machine! It feels so fabulous on my skin though It has to be finished! You have inspired me to give it another go! x

  26. It’s funny how you can look at the patterns in a Burda mag and go ‘meh’, but then you see someone make up one of the patterns and it looks stunning just like your dress. I really would not have thought that such a result would come from that pattern. And your fabric choice is spot on, worth every cent it cost

  27. Oh, Cidell, I’m so glad no one was around to see me rolling over the squirrel comment. Thanks for making my morning! And that is a seriously great dress.

  28. Great job matching the plaids. You look so cute in that dress. I have a trick for matching plaids after I cut out front I take crayons and on seam line draw main colors of plaid on pattern. Then match back and continue the plaid on back pattern with crayons. Then you just line up crayon marks to matching colors on plaid. It works well.

  29. The pattern/fabric combo makes for one terrific dress…and great shoes BTW! And the squirrels….too funny!

  30. Wow, what a beautiful dress! The style looks fabulous in that fabric and it looks fabulous on you. Oh yes, pattern matching – you aren’t alone in feeling a little ill at the thought of it.

  31. My first reaction to your new dress was “Wow! How nice!” My second reaction was “Wow! Really nice!” A very attractive and slimming fit..definitely going to find my issue of the magazine and give it a go. Colors look great on you. This could be a favorite dress/pattern!

  33. Wonderful dress on you and perfect for summer days and nights. I alos love those shoes!!

  34. That dress looks so fabulous, cool & comfortable on you! You said you bought two prints though – where’s the other? Don’t make us wait to see it!

  36. That is a really pretty dress. It looks fabulous on you. I am still obsessing over that BCBG fabric myself.

  43. Love this dress, and I get that machines dislikes silk jersey. And your squirrel comment….. yeah, well….. I’ll be snorting about that for a while!

  45. I like reading your blog and am new (extremely new) to sewing. I have one question, what is a sway back adjustment?

  49. Very pretty dress Renee. And to think it only took four hours to make! I may have to get into sewing after all!

  52. Such a flattering dress! You look wonderful in it. Who would have thought something so simple would look so smart? And since I’m so lousy at making clothes for myself I feel kinda stupid asking if you tried using a ‘sharp (or metalic)’ needle as opposed to a ‘ballpoint or stretch needle. I’ve found that a sharp seems to create a bit less madness on this type of fabric, although it makes no sense to me!

  53. I love the dress and I would never have thought to make it if I hadn’t seen it on you. The blue toes make it perfect

  54. Well if it’s a sack, it’s the cutest looking sack I’ve certainly seen! The shoes are fantastic too.

  55. Looks beautiful and even seems like it feels like buttah! Ha ha about your squirrels comment.

  59. The plaid looks nice on you just wanted to let you know I like your hair cut .It looks good. I am natural also and was debating if I should get mine shaped. After seeing how good you look with your new hair cut I think I will.It is so hard finding a person who knows how to shape a women’s hair that is natural. When you go to the barber I had to constantly remind him not to cut my hair like a man

    • Thanks! I was very nervous about getting it cut and looking too masculine. But, I think I’m going to keep it this short for a while. It holds the curl much better, is faster to twist and flatters my face a bit more. I’m lucky. My stylist wears her hair natural. The cuts cost a lot more, but I’ve been very happy.

  61. Hmmm, I think maybe the plaid – that it is so bold and your eye wants to level on something – is what actually makes the dress work. If it was solid, the risk would be looking flat and shapeless, whereas the lines of the plaid actually show that you have contours and curves. I’m not sure if that makes sense; I’m still laughing at the squirrels.

  62. Hey girlie… I haven’t seen a lot of your sewing yet, but as near as I can tell, this is the best one I’ve seen. You look adorable. Makes me want to drop the projects I’m working on and make something to WEAR. 🙂

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