Burda 8511 Archives - Page 2 of 4

Purple sheath dress; 6 different ways

06/08/2011 1:41 pm \ 21 Comments \ Carolyn

I made this silk hessian dress using Burda 8511 about a year and a half ago and yes, this dress has appeared here in a number of mixes already. I have found the simplicity of the design to be a wonderful canvas for accessorising and layering, and the colour has proven itself to be trans-seasonal. (look at me, pulling out all those professional-sounding stylist-type words there, hmm?) Trans-seasonal, meaning the soft violet colour is quietly pretty enough to fit in happily into a neutral cold weather ensemble, but still has enough personality to hold its own with the stronger colours of the warmer seasons; and I’ve worn it on all but the hottest of days. Being fully lined it is kind of unsuitable for the full-on heat of summer, but it’s been such a goodie for any day of lesser temperatures. So here we go…
Firstly, and feeling uninspired, I went to my go-to smart/casual winter styling for this dress at left. Hmm, well maybe it is a tad ho-hum, well of course any dress goes with all black accessories… at right my next, more summery attempt at styling this dress; well now lookeee, it goes well with ivory too! T’ank you Captain Obvious. I’m all set if I ever get an invite to a garden party here. Anyhoo, you can see what I mean here about the neutral-friendliness of this colour…

OK, so now getting more adventurous with colour and thinking about the warmer days ahead here… how I would wear this for a typical day spent walking along the beach?, well like this, at left. As well, the shape of the sheath is not overly fitted so the dress can work successfully as a tunic, and for a more dressy event on a summer’s evening it can be worn over a slightly longer A-line skirt for an extra layer of colour, and with an equally colourful necklace and heels to dress it up.

And finally for the cooler days we have been getting during winter, at left the colour is not an overwhelming look-at-me shade, so that it blends OK with other smudgy neutrals, at left; and at right, on a particularly cold winters day I can really rug myself up with a scarf and denim jacket, and with some bright cheerful tights to visually punch it up. This last look is the one I am wearing today in soccer mum and weekend going out-and-about mode. It was cold this morning, 5C!!! I’m so over winter, sorry…

And happily my wardrobe brainstorming session has given me some new inspirations for different ways to wear this dress to see out winter and to welcome in the warmer days of spring!
Which look here do you like the best?

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, Burda 8511, dress

What a difference a day makes…

31/01/2011 6:01 am \ 7 Comments \ Carolyn

The day before yesterday

Today

I do have some more thoughts on fashion in Japan to talk about here, plus I enjoyed meeting another sewing and blogging friend in Oregon; just let me sort through about a thousand photos first… not to mention excavating through and washing about two thousand items of clothing and restocking the fridge etc…
Sigh.
Back to reality.

Details…
above:
Cold weather gear; Mountain Designs
Beanie; my own design, charcoal wool
Snow boots; Big KMart from the US
Gloves; ?
Sunnies; RayBan
below:
Dress; Burda 8511 with fitting variations, white synthetic stuff with printed border
Sandals; Vincenzo from Soletta shoes
Bag; Gucci
Sunnies; RayBan

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 8511, daily outfit, own design

Burda 7767; a pattern review

04/12/2010 2:22 am \ 18 Comments \ Carolyn

Yesterday I surprised myself when I tried to create a link to the review I wrote for this pattern and found out it wasn’t even here!! I wrote this for Pattern Review; oh, months ago, and …er, forgot? to put it here on my blog too. I’ve updated the review here only slightly, to take into account the fact I’ve used it an extra five times since writing this review, and to note some of the variations.
I decided today to wear one of the earliest versions of this pattern I made for Craig; as an overshirt, folded over at the front asymmetrically and belted like a sort of coat. Please note my fabulous salon-styled do; this kind of glamourous hair doesn’t appear here often…

Details:
Shirt; Burda 7767, burgundy linen
Dress; Burda 8511 with fitting, neckline and zip placement variations, brown wool mix. oh, and fully lined too…
Belt; kept from a pair of old cargos
Socks; knitted by me
Shoes; Francesco Morichetti

So without further ado, here is the review:

Pattern Description:

Men’s dress shirt, one version with front pintucking option, the other plain fronted and with four collar variations

Pattern Sizing:

European 44 (US 34) to European 60 (US 50)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

I’ve only sewed version B without pintucking, but yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?

very easy

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I liked everything about this pattern, nothing to dislike. It’s a basic men’s shirt!

Fabric Used:

Linen

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

The first time I made this pattern up it was for a birthday present for my husband and I had to make it in secrecy with no fittings! Luckily it fitted fine, however the subsequent times I’ve used it I fine-tuned the fitting to accommodate my husband’s measurements perfectly. Namely by deepening the armholes and correspondingly widening the sleeve at the underarm point. Obviously this wasn’t the pattern’s fault, that I couldn’t perform progress fittings, however!

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Yes, I’ve sewn this up eight times now; for my husband, our two sons and even for me, and plan to use it many times over again in the future. Would highly recommend to others as a simple basic shirt pattern.

Conclusion:

What’s not to like about this pattern? Men’s shirting needs are often simple and uncomplicated and this pattern serves the purpose exceptionally well. Being such a basic pattern means you can add your own variations such as pocket flaps, welt pockets and fancy topstitching variations as much as you wish. You could also shorten the sleeves to make a summer button-up shirt too. The times I’ve used this pattern I’ve varied the pocket slightly each time, and played around with contrasting topstitching details. It’s a simple matter to lengthen the body pieces to create a curved lower hemline if this is desired also. An advanced seamstress could also play around with varying the yoke.

For the versions for my teenage sons I added tabs inside the sleeves that button back on themselves on the outside of the sleeves to hold up the sleeves when rolled up; I also used press studs in lieu of buttons; sewed on two breast pockets with flaps and angled the pocket flaps and cuffs to give a funkier look to suit a teenager’s tastes. This is only one variation of many one could try out with this great pattern.

Later edit; looking at the other reviews of this pattern I was reminded that the yoke pattern piece had “cut 1” printed on it by mistake instead of “cut 2”. I think this is a simple typo, and not really a problem as the pattern instructions clearly require for there to be two yoke pieces cut, and the pattern cutting layout also illustrates two yoke pieces laid out.

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 7767, Burda 8511, dress, mens shirt, pattern review

Thoughts on the “vintage” trend

20/11/2010 4:35 am \ 11 Comments \ Carolyn

A friend passed on to me tickets to a Vintage Market on this weekend, promising “Vintage and Retro Men’s and Women’s Clothing and Accessories”, and sorry, but I can’t help but feel a bit yawn-y about the whole thing. And hate to sound cynical, but the current fad for “vintage” is just becoming a tad too commercial for my liking. I’ve even heard stories of ladies who have been op-shopping like mad for this event, scooping up masses of clothing and up-marking it to put in their own “vintage” stalls in the market… well count me out.
I’ve got nothing against op-shopping, per se. Well, I have done it myself once in a while… Op-shopping (if done when you can afford not to, I mean) is of course partly a political statement of one’s non-dependence on commercial and new products, and how better to make that first-impression “I rebel against the system” message than in your clothing? As well as satisfying one’s artistic desire to dress uniquely, not to mention saving a few dollars at the same time; so it’s not surprising this is a long-term favourite occupation of real bohemian souls…
But is one being truly thrifty or merely conformist when following the “vintage” trend? Or worse, opportunist, as in the case of the Market ~~sharks~~ vendors.
So I think I’ll just be occupying myself with sewing and gardening this weekend. Plus I’ve already got my own “vintage” (hahaha) treasures; this dress is very Jackie O, don’t you think? I picked it up when she had her White House garage sale… of course I’m joking, I made this myself about five years ago, and no pseudo-retro or “vintage” pattern was used either, just an ordinary one. Sorry to disappoint. I’m merely wearing it to stay cool.
Funny thing when I was putting this on this morning; I put it over my head just as usual then struggled a little to pull it down, and I couldn’t understand why it felt tighter than usual. Then went to pull up the zip. The zip was already up. Lol!

Details:
Dress; Burda 8511 slightly modified to fit, printed synthetic stuff (thus the “indestructible” dress)
Sandals; Franco Burrone, from MarieClaire shoes

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 8511, dress, Fabulous fabrics, my views

Deep Purple

21/10/2010 8:15 am \ 12 Comments \ Carolyn

Busy busy busy…
Have you ever had one of those days in which you race madly from one thing to the next and are receiving phone calls and text messages like on no other day (usually when one is halfway through some transaction or other important thing)
Aaargh!
But I still tried to look smart because of a few social things I had happening where I knew everybody else would be looking nice. I’m dying to get back to my sewing machine… it’s been a few days since I did any sewing and am now suffering withdrawals… plus the need to get through a small mountain of new fabric from Melbourne (blush!)
This dress has been such a goodie. To think I felt unsure when I first made it… The colour was a departure. I think the simple unfussy sheath style is a look that suits me. It’s great to just know one’s best looks when you are scrabbling about desperately through the wardrobe. Having a kind of style diary like this blog has helped me with this a lot.
Have you ever made or bought something about which you were a leetle doubtful at first and that later became a mainstay in your wardrobe?

Details:
Dress; Burda 8511, with modifications for fitting and lining, purple raw silk
Cardigan; Saba, op shop
Scarf; alta linea, gift
Shoes; Sandler, op shop
Bag; Gucci

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 8511, dress

the Prodigal dress

08/10/2010 2:49 am \ 4 Comments \ Carolyn

So after assessing my wardrobe for Self-Stitched September and deciding that some of my old things could happily be rejected because I hadn’t worn them in months; I spied (with my little eye) this dress in the potential toss-outs, and kinda fell in love again. The colours are exactly what I am dreaming about for this spring/summer season; and funnily enough the new fabrics I’ve just bought in Tessuti Melbourne are all variations on this kind of smudgy sludgy khaki/chocolate/grey/taupe kind of a colour…
So, like the prodigal dress, it has been welcomed back into the fold with open arms and joyful coos of delighted discovery and is back into circulation. It’s nice for warmish days when I’m aiming for edgily smart.
When I first made this dress I mentally dubbed it the Futuristic Nun, and I still feel a cross between space-age, thanks to the shiny but still quite rugged nature of the taupe stuff; and ecclesiastical, thanks to the severe cut of the tunic contrasting with the snowy white virtue of the attached petticoat.
The whole dress is quite shapeless, slips over my head easily, and is only given form by the (also attached) thin white velvet ribbon that wraps around my waist several times and ties in a loose monastic knot.

Details:
Dress; partly my own design, based on Burda 8511, taupe stuff(?), white cotton, velvet ribbon
Sandals; Franco Burrone, from Marie Claire shoes

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 8511, dress, own design

Domestic diva IV

20/09/2010 5:30 am \ 10 Comments \ Carolyn

Hmmm, so you can tell I’m getting a bit jaded with my usual photo spots lately? Just jazzing it up around my own home at the present… and trying to inject a bit more fun into this daily fashion post thing! I’m impressed with how fashion bloggers manage to do it and maintain interest…
For today’s Self-Stitched September effort; a purple sheath dress, made using Burda 8511, with my fitted-to-me custom fitting modifications. And altered zip placement. And incorporation of a full lining. And a different neckline and hemline. Just minor modifications… Lol, I read once about someone who had bought a whole new sheath dress pattern, just because they liked the slightly different cut of the neckline to the one on the dress patterns they already had…?! why you would get a whole new pattern just for this is … well, it’s unnecessary of course.
And the retro-swirly tights, first seen here. With a major modification (hehe, new pattern not necessary for this!)… I chopped the feet off, and hemmed at ankle length instead. I decided they’d be a little more useful and kinda more interesting to wear this way. I had a lot of requests on Burdastyle to publish a pattern for these; well, a leggings pattern graded to suit everybody is beyond my amateurish capabilities, but I thought I’d do a little tutorial soon on how to draft one’s own leggings pattern to fit yourself at some stage… after this month is up. This isn’t a difficult procedure and is a quick and easy project. I promise. Stay tuned.

Details:
Dress; Burda 8511, minor modifications, purple/blue raw silk
Leggings; self drafted, printed jersey knit
Shoes; Perrini, had forever

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 8511, dress, own design, SSS10, tights/leggings

Ladylike in brown

13/09/2010 5:25 am \ 11 Comments \ Carolyn

This morning attended a ladylike morning tea to celebrate a friend’s birthday, so have thoroughly enjoyed the last hour sitting in the dappled shade of the jacarandas sipping tea from a charmingly cracked and mis-matched pretty china set, ahh, just bliss… but now the fun is over and it’s back to the office…
Now, kind people leave me lots of lovely sweet compliments (and thankyou!) on the picturesque backdrops in my photos; so I’ll let you in on my little photography secret… well I take nearly all my photos in either one of about three or four locations, and it’s amazing how different the effect in a shot can be just by pointing the lens in a slightly different direction. For example the sunlight is quite bright today so I decided to set up my camera in the shade of a tree for this photo. I think the muted light shows off the fabric textures and colours of my outfit better than in direct sunlight, which here in Australia can be quite harsh and create either too dramatic shadows on one’s clothes or alternatively bright bright areas completely devoid of any discernible detail… but from where I am standing in the above photo the view I am looking at is this…

So I couldn’t resist kicking off my shoes, rotating the camera 180degrees and stepping out on the beach for one more shot, and decided to show here it to demonstrate the contrast even though you can’t see my dress very well from this angle…! Which background do you like better?

Details:
Dress; Burda 8511 from tobacco wool mix, modified to be more fitted and fully lined
Cardigan; knitted by me to my own design, using Jo Sharp Aran Tweed in Brindle
Shoes; Sandler, from David Jones
Bag; Gucci