Two tops from Burda Style magazine

I do like how Burda Style magazine has, over the years, produced some interesting patterns for fairly easy to make tops. For my vacation in Miami I picked out two that I thought would make useful beach cover-up tops. This one is taken from the July 2009 issue, pattern no. 109B

I was inspired by the magazine photograph.

Burda describe it as “cool and seductive” and I liked that it looked kind of loose and carefree. I was definitely right about it being loose but it isn’t quite as carefree as I wanted it – one false move and it is very revealing! Burda magazine patterns are funny like that. I find that, mostly, the folks at Burda tend to favour a tight fit but every now and then they completely throw you and draft something like this. I normally make a Burda size 40 but for this I made a size 36 and still it was HUGE. The only thing that stops it falling off me completely is that the back neck is stabilized with Vilene bias tape and, therefore, can’t stretch. This top is fine for the beach because I am wearing a bikini underneath it but, to be honest, the front is so low that I can’t see me wearing it in respectable society without risking embarrassment!

I think I will get a lot more wear out of this one, which is pattern no. 110A from the February 2011 issue of Burda Style

It is meant to be a shirt but as it is quite boxy I think it also works nicely as a shirt-jacket. It has a convertible collar and nice little ties at the end of the sleeves. Here how it looks in the magazine: I used a Liberty print cotton lawn (expensive but very nice!). I should also mention the buttons

which I purchased in my favourite UK button store, called Duttons for Buttons. It is a lovely old-fashioned shop with very helpful staff but as it is in Harrogate, which is about 200 miles from London, I don’t get there very often. However, it is nearer than my absolute favourite button store, Tender Buttons, which is in New York, about 3,500 miles from where I live! I think getting the right buttons is very important but it is surprising how difficult it can be. Sometimes in London I find myself going to half a dozen places until I find exactly what I want. How picky are you when it comes to buttons and do you have trouble finding the right buttons where you live?

Simplicity dress - version two completed!

In my last post I promised a second version of Simplicity 2403 and here it is -

This dress started out with a piece of fabric at Metro Textiles (in New York), seized upon during my recent shopping trip there with Carolyn, Elizabeth and Opal (thanks to you all for your valuable input on my choice). There was only just over a yard left but I thought, that’s fine, it will make a very nice skirt and, at $5.00 for such a good quality piece of stretch cotton, it’s a bargain.

Later, (in New York Elegant Fabrics) I happened to chance upon a piece of cotton lawn that perfectly matched the aqua/mint shade in the print. So I thought, great, that will make a nice little blouse to go with the skirt. Next I found myself in M & J Trimmings and chanced upon some grosgrain ribbon that was exactly the same colour. And that’s when it came to me. Forget this separate skirt and blouse idea - why not use the Simplicity pattern I had just used for my last dress to combine both fabrics into a shirtwaist dress?

I have to say that when I got back to London my heart did sink a little at the prospect of making another version of this dress because (as I moaned in my last post) there is a lot of work with this pattern. However, my enthusiasm for the project overcame my reluctance. This time I decided that I wouldn’t have the tie belt but instead I sewed grosgrain ribbon onto the middle of the waistband before attaching it to the dress. I also decided to add the front ruffles that are one of the ‘designer additions’ included in the pattern.

Ah, yes, the ruffles. They nearly defeated me. The pattern has you cut four ruffle pieces and you’re supposed to narrow hem each of them, then place them one on top of each other in pairs – two for the left side and two for the right side. Now normally I’m not too bad at narrow hemming but the fabric was very fine and the pieces were small and the curves at the bottom were very curvy! Readers, it was horrible. I tried several times but in the end I just had four sad chewed up little rags – definitely not fit to be sewn down my front! Now, of course, I could have just binned the ruffles and gone without but I WANTED RUFFLES!!

Then it came to me. I cut four more ruffles but this time I sewed them together in pairs with the right sides together then turned them right sides out, pressed them and, voila, beautiful ruffles. So what I have is one double layered ruffle either side, rather than two single layer ruffles either side. Here’s a close up of the bodice –


So, there it is. Conceived in New York, fashioned (with a lot of faffing) in London - another dress came into the world and I like it quite a lot.

Fabric buying in New York - part two!

In my last post I promised that full disclosure of all my fabric buying in the New York garment district would be forthcoming. I have already confessed to my purchases in Metro Textiles …….. but I also visited Mood, Elliott Berman, New York Elegant Fabrics and, oh yes, Paron. And fabric was purchased in each of them!

In Elliott Berman’s I clearly had summer on my mind (and no wonder – the daytime temperature was mostly well into the nineties the whole time I was in New York!). These were my choices

On the left is a sheer cotton print (made for the NY designer Milly) and the one on the right is a cotton pique. I really enjoyed my visit to Elliott Berman’s, they stock some beautiful fabrics and their sales person, Eugenia (it was nice to meet a Eugenia!), was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Thank you Lindsay T for the excellent recommendation.

Over at Mood I continued the summer theme with these two fabrics.

The one at the top is linen and the one at the bottom is a silk charmeuse. Now I really should mention here that I already have in my stash some fabric that has exactly the same print as this silk charmeuse – but it is a cotton/silk twill that I purchased online, last May, from Emma One Sock, and it is designed by Oscar de la Renta. So, I am going to have some fun making a garment or outfit that combines the same print in the two textures – oh, Oscar, when the time comes, I hope I don’t let you down!

Also at Mood I purchased about 4 yards of a lovely plain black cotton knit that was a nice dress weight and draped well – a good stash standby. At Paron I bought three yards of a beautiful crepe back satin, also in black, just right for that LBD I’m always thinking I should make. This was priced at $30 per yard but they discounted it to $25 so I don’t feel quite so bad about my extravagance. Lastly, at New York Elegant Fabrics, I found some cotton lawn in a pretty aqua colour that co-ordinated perfectly with the stretch cotton that I had already bought in Metro Textiles.

So, there you have it. That fabric haul is certainly going to keep me busy for a while! I doubt whether all the summery prints will get made up before the fall arrives but, hey, think how nice they’re going to look in my stash in the dark winter months.

Fabric fun in New York City ....

Hi everyone, I’m back home in London and what a fabulous time I had in New York City!!

The highlight of my trip was a lunchtime meet up with Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) and Elizabeth (Sew A Beginner). Of course that meant fabric shopping so our chosen venue was Metro Textiles where we bumped into a familiar face – Opal, from Opals Passions. Isn’t the sewing blogosphere great ? – it was like meeting up with old friends! I had The Best Time - talking fabrics, getting sewing tips and swapping stories.

Here’s a picture of my three lovely friends (from left to right Elizabeth, Carolyn and Opal)

Thank you ladies for giving me such a wonderful welcome to your home town!

And here’s a picture of me, Carolyn and Opal with the very charming Kashi from Metro Textiles.

So, did I buy anything? Well of course I did – between the compelling chat – I managed to grab myself a few gorgeous pieces at some very good prices.

From left to right: a luxurious printed silk charmeuse, a cotton in a big print in fabulous colours, a stretch cotton sateen in black and white with aqua accents.

Now is probably the time to confess that these weren’t my only fabric purchases whilst in New York – later in the week I revisited the garment district and picked up a few more yards here and there. But I’m going to save those for another blog post. Right now I’m jet lagged and in unpacking chaos but, although I was sad to leave NY, it’s exciting to be back home with my sewing machine and with lots of new fabrics and ideas to inspire me.

So, more soon ……

Enough already with the Burda skirt ......

I have already made two versions of the a-line skirt, pattern 104, in the February issue of Burda Style magazine (featured in this post) but I couldn’t resist making one more.

I purchased some lovely cotton sateen from Gorgeous Fabrics and felt it would be perfect for this easy to wear and easy to make style. I really love a black and white skirt, especially for summer. You can always pair it with either black or white but I think it also looks great with a pop of just about any bright colour. As my DH hasn’t been around enough to grab a picture of me wearing the skirt (and do you really need to see me in the third version of this skirt?!), I’m showing you a photo of it alongside the top and accessories I am going to wear it with today.

Much as I love the pattern, I think that this has to be the last time I make it – well for this year at least!

So here’s what I’m working on at the moment.

It’s a kind of shirtwaist style and I’m making it in this art deco style cotton print (purchased from the UK based supplier Chrysalis Fabrics) with a plain black waistband and bow.

Cool to wear but not totally casual is my aim.

As soon as it’s completed it’s going straight into my suitcase. Yes, I said suitcase because, HURRAH, on Sunday my DH and I are off to that great centre of fabulousness - New York City - for two whole weeks! I can hardly wait to step foot on those sparkling, but hot, streets of Manhattan. I think I might find myself in the garment district once or twice …… or more. Yes, I know my stash is stuffed but who can resist the lure of the New York garment district?

While I’m away I shall try to get to a computer to read your blogs and see what you’re all doing so that I don’t miss you too much, although I shall probably be taking a vacation from blogging myself. However, I do hope to have some nice things to show you on my return …….

I'm back from New York City ......

…... with a suitcase fit to burst! We had such a wonderful time. Here’s me in line at Tkts and on the High Line along with a couple of seasonal views of Times Square and the Rockefeller Plaza.

We saw some great shows, ate in some excellent restaurants, met with friends, visited some exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum, experienced some wonderful warm sunshine weather as well as a bit of rain and a chilly wind. And, of course, I went shopping in the garment district -

The above picture shows just some of the shops I visited. I must have been in at least a dozen and when confronted with so much fabulousness of fabrics it’s very difficult to think straight! But what you want to know, of course, is what fabrics did I decide upon? Looking at them, now that I’m home, it’s clear that I was very much in winter mode –

Top row from left to right: black wool with beige circles and dots woven in, from Mood; a fine wool suiting with grey and pale blue stripes, also from Mood; a grey wool crepe, from New York Elegant Fabrics; a black wool crepe, also from New York Elegant Fabrics.
Bottom Row from left to right: silk charmeuse in a lovely black and brown print, also from New York Elegant Fabrics; beige wool tweed with gorgeous flecks of pink, green and gold (which don’t show up in the photo very well), from Paron Fabrics and, lastly, a silk charmeuse with some stretch in a black, brown, cream and peacock blue print, also from Paron.

I also picked up a few delectable trimmings from M & J Trimming and Pacific Trimming –

At the moment, I have no definite plan for any of my purchases – my mind is whirling with dress, jacket and blouse possibilities for all of these – but I’m feeling very excited and motivated by my new stash treasures. Of course, realistically, I’m never going to get all of this made up before the winter ends (never mind about all the other winter fabrics in my stash!) but I’m planning to throw off my jet lag and get my sewing machine out pretty quickly to make a start on it – that’s in between the card writing, present wrapping, pudding stirring, cookie baking and turkey stuffing that I’m going to be doing. Don’t you just love the holiday season?!!!

New York City here I come ...........

I’m packed and ready to go – Mr Fabulous and I are off to NYC for a ten day break. I can hardly wait to step foot on the glittering streets of Manhattan! I love the city at this time of the year, as the holiday season approaches.

Of course, one of the first things I shall be doing is getting myself a large slice of pumpkin pie! We’re going to take in some shows, see some exhibitions, do some shopping and eat a lot of excellent dinners – sounds good to me. Mr Fabulous will be taking a few business meetings here and there and I will be spending many happy hours in the garment district – Mood, New York Elegant Fabrics, Metro Textile, Paron, and M & J Trimmings are all on my list. I’m also keen to visit Lace Star – I may not be able to afford anything there but I want to take a look and get some inspiration. Last time I went shopping in the garment district I had put myself on a strict fabric diet because my stash was getting so large and intimidating. However, this time I think I’m going to allow myself a little more leeway. My stash is still well stocked but I have been working hard over the last few months to bring it down to a more manageable size and I have finally got around to sorting it properly and putting it all in one place so now I actually know what’s in it! I think that gives me a licence to have a little fabric splurge doesn’t it?

What I should, of course, do is first decide what I what to make, then arrive at the stores with a pattern in hand and a clear idea of exactly what fabric I want. However, I just can’t seem to get that organised – I find it so much more fun to walk around a shop and let the fabrics call out to me. I tend to buy what my heart wants then hope that my head is going to organize what’s to be done with it later. That’s probably not the best way to shop is it?

While I’m away I shall try to get to a computer to read your blogs and see what you’re all doing so that I don’t miss you too much. However, I won’t be posting until I get back home. In the meantime, A Very Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

NEW YORK CITY - FABRIC, FASHION, FOOD AND ART

I recently returned from a two week trip to New York city. Although I live in London I travel to New York as often as I can and every time I get there I feel the urge to kneel down and kiss the sidewalk - I love, love, love to be there so much! So, here's a few highlights of my trip ....

Of course no trip to New York is complete without a thorough look round the fabric suppliers of the garment district. Unfortunately I have put myself on a very strict fabric regime at the moment - my stash is getting rather overstuffed (more about that at a later date) so I showed unprecedented restraint and only made two fabric purchases, both from Mood Designer Fabrics (I always imagine myself on Project Runway in there!).

The first is a light-weight cotton with a lovely satin finish in a large peachy orange and bright pink print (I've photographed it with the carrier bag so you get an idea of the scale.)

I'm imagining this made up in a caftan type of top - something along the lines of Tory Burch or in the style of Michael Kors' wonderful summer casual wear.

My second purchase was a real find. It's a silk twill and, as you can see from the selvage, was originally produced for the designer Rebecca Taylor -

Aren't these colours just gorgeous? I am planning to make this up into a traditional style party frock. I am considering this pattern, New Look 6723 -

But don't hold me to that because there is a lot on my to-do list and I might have totally different thoughts by the time I get to this!

In New York I have lots of favourite places to go and things I like to do but I always like to add something new to my list. This time I found a wonderful place to have tea - Alice's Tea Cup - which is in three different locations (check them out at http://www.alicesteacup.com/). Their scones are sooooo delicious. Also, and this is a big WOW, was The High Line (the walkway running from the Meatpacking district up to Chelsea alongside the river). What a great stroll and wonderful views. I had heard about it but I actually stumbled on it accidentally after having visited Trina Turk's boutique in Gansevoort Street, which is where the High Line starts (for more about the High Line go to http://www.thehighline.org/).

We also visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and, as you might expect, went to see their exhibition The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, which was very inspirational for a humble home sewer like me and even Mr Fabulous, my lovely husband, enjoyed it! We also climbed to the roof to look at Roxy Paine's sculpture, Maelstrom. Here I am entangled in it -

Finally, back to a strictly sewing theme, here I am strolling the New York streets in a top that I made from New Look pattern no. 6892.

This is such a great pattern, I really recommend it - it's easy to fit and quick to make and I love those sleeve flounces. By the way, the fabric is from Gorgeous Fabrics. For more info on this one, please take a look at my review on Pattern Review.