BurdaStyle – Miss Celie's Pants

70s Style Knit Shirtdress: Burdastyle 4/2011 #108

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Miss Celie

I recently told Jordan with great pride that I hadn’t purchased any fabric in 2017. His reply, “That’s only five months.” Bubble burst. I haven’t bought for a few reasons. The main one being I have more fabric than I can sew in my current lifetime. And, I was losing track of the fabrics I loved and the projects I’ve always wanted to make. In addition, we are going to sell and buy a new home in the next two years and before we do so I’d like to get my stash down to…. visible.

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Anywho, one such project that’s floated in the back of my mind for years is a graphic jersey shirtdress. Two years ago I saw wonderful 70s style knit shirt dresses at the Halston exhibit at FIT and promised myself I’d make a knit shirtdress ‘soon’. This pattern from the April 2011 Burdastyle (and still available for download) is JUST the look I was going for.

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My poly jersey fabric came from Jomar in Philadelphia some time ago. I originally thought a 70s style wrap dress. But, I knew it would be GREAT as a shirt dress. I contemplated snaps rather than buttons to keep the print uninterrupted. But, found these buttons in my stash. To make the buttonholes, I used a light tricot jersey in the facing and front band. Then, I also used tear away stabilizer. I’ve seen knit buttons wonky in RTW and wanted to make mine as neat as possible.

I legit think I haven’t sewn a stand collar in years. I’d rate this one a 7/10 and am glad I won’t ever button this at the neck. I used instructions from the Better Homes and Garden Sewing Book and my Bunka Garment Design Textbook: Blouses and Dresses. Because Burda sure wasn’t giving me detailed instruction on sewing a stand collar! Next time I’ll be using my David Paige Coffin Shirtmaking book.

I’ve avoided using this print for a while because I don’t trust my print matching skills. For this dress, I focused on a straight horizontal line at the front and back and decided to let the rest do what it do.

The pattern itself is drafted for a woven. So, I sized down one to a 42 at the top and 44 through the thighs. If I make this up in a woven, I’ll just add to the seam allowances. I think the fit is spot on and will make for a great fitted shirt too. I have a second version I’m working on in a silk jersey that has less stretch and is gonna be a snug one!

I made a 1 inch FBA. I usually make a larger FBA in BWOF. But, I’ve been sewing a 40 up top for a while. This time, I finally used my upper bust measurement rather than my underbust and I’m really happy with the fit (if not the increase in size!).

Overall I lurv it. And, it reinforces my goal to sew somewhat from a plan this summer and focus on what I have. As for that plan… it involves more red,white and blue and shirtdresses 😀

Button Front Skirt: Burdastyle 9-2009 #125

Posted on June 29, 2016June 30, 2016 by Miss Celie

About 20+ years ago I had a thrifted a-line skirt made from denim with buttons up the front. I’m not sure whatever happened to that skirt. But, I have noticed these skirts are all the rage lately and it seemed like a perfect summer skirt. Enter BurdaStyle 9-2009 #125

A really lovely basic skirt. It’s made up a few ways in the magazine including leather with the front closures or with a side zip in three different lengths.

For my first version (because of course I made two) I used some leftover orange and cream stretch twill from the creamscicle dress I made six years ago.

I sewed a 40 at the waist grading out to a 46 at the lower thigh. I also made swayback adjustment but totally forgot to add the inch I took out from the waist back to the skirt hem. So, it rides up a little in the back Also, my fabric is stretch so it flares a bit more than the pattern draft calls for.

When sewing a skirt without a waistband, it’s inherently going to stretch as it’s all bias. So, you’ll want to use twill tape in the waist seam allowances or be sure to double stitch the waistline. Since I was making mine from denim and not leather, I also interfaced the front fold extension.

The insides are all serged. It would be very pretty if I’d bound the insides (or useful if I’d taken a photo of the insides…) But, I didn’t. I paired this skirt with my summer sweater made from orange cotton. It’s slouchy and comfy with this more casual skirt.

Blue Denim:

I wanted a skirt reminiscent of a traditional denim skirt and mimicked my high school skirt. And, I wanted it to be casual enough to wear with some of the graphic tees I have but never wear (because I don’t have anything to wear them with). My only additional alteration with this version was to add an extra inch in length to the skirt overall, but of course not to the center back to make up for my swayback adjustment. Sigh.

Jordan thinks these skirts are shorter than I normally wear. He claims I like to cover my knees. But, I wanted something short for summer that subbed in for actual shorts 🙂

For this version, I used really cute donut jeans buttons. I used dark grey topstitching thread and it pulls the nickel of the buttons in nicely. All but two of these buttons popped off while wearing or putting on the first few times.

Overall, a nice little summer skirt pattern. And, for once I am on trend! Plus, you know I love anything even vaguely nautical 🙂

DSC_0047 photo DSC_0047_zpswzhanxo4.jpg — This is an embarrassingly bad salute. I am clearly out of practice.

sewing

Feeling Myself: Leopard Print Wrap Dress

Posted on April 19, 2016April 19, 2016 by Miss Celie

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When I found this leopard print poly knit on a shopping trip with friends in August 2015, I knew it HAD to become a DVF style wrap dress using my previously made Burdastyle from October 2011.

That time we bought all the fabric #latergram @rollingincloth @cubanitacose @karen.heenan

A post shared by Renee (@missceliespants) on Aug 1, 2015 at 4:21pm PDT

Day 5: Leopard print wrap dress is my WIP. Hopefully in time for Thanksgiving and the Christmas party circuit. I'm using my beloved Burdastyle 10-2011-122 #bpsewvember

A post shared by Renee (@missceliespants) on Nov 5, 2015 at 5:23am PST

It’s funny I was drawn to this, because I tend to avoid animal prints (I read a study in college about how black models were more likely to be photographed in animal prints and said ‘F that noise’). That said, I also LOVE this leopard print dress I made in 2012.

20160414-IMGP0359 photo 20160414-IMGP0359_zps6igs5zpo.jpg — Give me *all* the 70s

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I had this Burdastyle pattern cut out by the end of September 2015. But, life happens, I became obsessed with machine knitting and I lost my sewing mojo when a very expensive fabric order from Mood was stolen off my front porch (Yeah. Seriously.) We’ve had a string of package thefts and this one made off with $200 in dove gray wool coating from Mood. And, I’m sure he just threw it away.

Video Evidence:

Luckily, because it was purchased on my Visa, they sent me a check for the fabric (which I didn’t bother replacing). And, now everything gets delivered to my office

After some time, I finally picked this dress back up to get it off my sewing table in March. And, I love it. I feel like a total fox.

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You can tell I am just FEELING myself.

Rather than sew facings this time (which I despised) I used a narrow knit binding treatment. The binding is cut 1 inch wide on the bias. It is then sewn on doubled, along the 1/4 inch seam allowance, and folded again creating a strong binding that is the width of the seam allowance. **technique well explained and photographed in Singer’s ‘Sewing Activewear’.

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The fabric was a little thin so I underlined throughout (except for the sleeves) with black tricot. I underlined rather than lined as I wanted it to be treated as one piece. And, it was a terrible, terrible mistake. I tried to hem the dress. But, the underlining and fashion fabric hung differently making it a lumpy saggy mess. So, I had to hack off several inches, trim the bottom evenly and go with no hem. Overall it’s shorter than I would like, but again: FEEL. ING. MY. SELF.

Last night's DVF inspired 70s style wrapdress (unblogged). #burdastyle #bathroomselfiegamestrong #latergram #memadeeveryday #BWOF #10/2011/122😊

A post shared by Renee (@missceliespants) on Apr 15, 2016 at 9:55am PDT

After my last project’s failure, I ended up wearing this out for my birthday dinner in Santa Fe with Jordan. Rawwrr.

sewing

Surf’s Up/ Bottom’s Covered: Jalie 3351 Swim Shorts and Burdastyle Rash Guard

Posted on January 14, 2016May 4, 2016 by Miss Celie

While in Bali (one week to go!) I plan to take two or three surfing lessons (with a likely needed massage in between). A friend who did Fulbright in Bali warned me to take a rash guard for lessons. After googling ‘rash guard’ I figured out it was just a tee shirt from swim fabric. I was always so confused when I saw people in tee shirts swimming. Turns out they are great for sun protection and you want a rash guard for surfing so your skin doesn’t get roughed up on the surfboard.

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Armed with this knowledge, I turned to the Burdastyle 7/2014 #113 bike dress pattern I used on my biking honeymoon to the Netherlands. It has the look of a raglan / sporty style. And, is blessedly already altered for me. I say blessedly, because the last thing I wanted was to feel like I had an ace bandage on my bewbs and this was already FBAd. To make it a shirt, I overlapped the skirt portion and the bodice at the waist, and marked off an additional four inches into the skirt. I think for a ‘traditional’ rash guard that also provides full back sun protection, I needed an additional 8 inches. Mine is a little too short and shows the white waistband I used on my shorts which tends to make it look like a maternity bottom. But, for a few days of surf lessons and tubing on vacation, this will more than suffice.

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Alterations: I eliminated the center front zipper (don’t think I’ll need the venting) and didn’t have a more ‘sporty’ zip on hand. For the neckline, I skipped the one as drafted by Burda and used the fashion fabric to make my neckband. I needed this top to be a bit snugger than the cycle dress version, so I was just really generous in the sew line vs seam allowance. Oh, and I shortened the sleeves a bit from my dress version.

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I’m wearing a cup sized bikini top from Freya underneath (god bless you Europe and your 34F sized swimwear). I think I could also easily wear a non-cotton sports bra and be fine too. Other than being a a little too cropped, I’m pretty pleased with this top. I think it’s also a totally legit coverup option too while at the pool or beach. And, being in a Muslim country (ETA: Bali is mostly Hindu. Indonesia is mostly Muslim) and not feeling 100 about my body, I’m more comfortable in this than my two piece.

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I am an unabashed lover of the Jalie 9796, Multi Sport Skort. I made several a few years ago when I biked to work and ran on a semi-annual basis. When I knew I wanted to take a surfing lesson in Bali, I figured the Jalie 3351 swim shorts would be cute and coordinate nicely with a rash guard.

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I made a size Z at the waist and graded to a BB at the hip. As I’m really measuring for hip measurement at my thighs (where I am widest) I wish I had gone down one more size at the waist, slightly slimmer at the hip and made a sway back adjustment based on my muslin. But, for some reason I ignored it and just plowed on through. For my actual version, I did shorten the crotch length by 1/2 inch — possibly too much?

The shorts have built in, full-coverage briefs, which I made out of white (with the knowledge that in MILLION years I wouldn’t need the fabric to make a white swimsuit). The waistband uses elastic inside unlike the skort. So, it seems a bit more secure in the water (drag, water weight)

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Usually in shorts I get chub rub with the inner thigh riding up. I don’t have that problem with these. While I like the pockets, I can’t see myself using them for swimming. I suspect things would come out. But, as running shorts, those pockets are legit. I would also make these minus the briefs as athletic coverups for poolside activities. I think this pattern is a real winner. Together with the rash guard, I felt appropriate for a Muslim country, good for water sport activities and doesn’t feel like I had on my mother’s skirted swimsuit from the mid 80s (it was HIDEOUS). Lord have mercy. I just realized I AM my mother’s 1980s age!! Sigh.

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I found myself looking at more swimsuit fabric online when I was done with this outfit. Then I remembered I’ve had this Roxy fabric for at LEAST five years. My stash runneth over because I still have red, black and some gold swim fabric! That said, a good reason to keep a stash. You can have everything you need when you want it!

PS: We had a “Latkes and Rum Punch” holiday party back in December and my tripod got swept up in the CLEAN EVERYTHING movement. So, selfie stick and cell phone camera are at work here.

Uncategorized

Star Spangled Muslin

Posted on July 16, 2008 by missceliespants

First, I want to say thank you to BurdaStyle for taking a moment to comment on my post earlier about the issues I saw with the pattern. They said,

Hey,

We at BurdaStyle are happy to see that you are trying our bathing suit pattern. I see that you had some comments on it.

Most of our patterns are designed in New York and produced in Germany, where they undergo several quality controls before being posted. The same goes for the instructions.

The smaller and simpler patterns are currently produced in New York. We are working on a better quality assurance system for those and hope to have it in place soon.

We are happy about all feedback and will integrate it in our revision.
Thanks so much and let us know how it came it after all!

Best
Benedikta

Now, my thoughts on the muslin. I know it’s hard to tell with my body etched out, but I’ll try to paint you a visual picture. For the inset, just gather it super narrow. The first time I did it, the bust practically spread to my shoulders. There are no notches here or on the bodice to indicate where to place or how much to gather (even though the directions say there are).

Second, I need a sew-in bra with generous support to wear this style. I was thinking I could wear a regular sew in bra that I’ve used for other projects, but it wasn’t working. I need more lift. And I need to increase the height of the bodice and the height/width of the inset (or alternatively add an inch or the bodice length). I think that will make some sort of FBA. I cut out the little strap mid bust because there wasn’t enough fabric in the insert to make it look cute. Instead, the girls just looked droopy.

I also need a tad more length in the bottom of the swim legs. And I was right, the back strap should be cut on the fold.

And, the suit will ride without elastic along the legs. They aren’t quite boy cut.

I was also right about the crotch piece, cut on the fold. If you look closely at my crotch (but not too close please, lol) you can see the crotch piece. That seems odd to me. But, then again, it’s not that big a deal.

Overall, it’s a cute pattern. I’m not going to make up a real version this summer because of the sew in bra needs. I have several other patterns I could try out. So, if you’re less busty or have the bra on hand, I say go for it! But, muslin it and baste in the inset so you can get it where you need it.