Review | Burda WOF 05-2009-117 Dress

Pattern Description: "This stylised floral print could have been designed by Andy Warhol! A slim silhouette tapers slightly in at the hem to emphasize feminine curves, and charming side slits let you walk freely."

Pattern Sizing: 36-44. I made a size 38.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing? Yes! My skirt seems to pucker in the front instead of lie flat like the model picture.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Burda rated this an intermediate pattern. The only challenging part was inserting the side back and side front pieces and getting a perfect point at the armpit. I didn't do too well on the front, but aced the back. I should have reversed it and did the back first so I could perfect the technique for the front!

I scanned the directions, but ended up using my own sequence.

1. I sewed the pleats and darts in the skirt front and back. I joined the skirt center back up to the zipper insertion point.
2. Sewed the pleats in bodice front and joined the bodice front and back at the shoulders.
3. I joined the front and back facings together (serged the edge) and sewed them to the bodice front and back. Understitched. Tacked at shoulders.
4. Overlapped and basted the right and left front bodice pieces together the sides and bottom.
5. Joined the side fronts and side backs to the bodice front and back.
6. Joined the front skirt to the front bodice and the back skirt to the back bodice. Then I sewed the dress up the sides in one pass, leaving the sides slits at the bottom.
7. Hemmed the sleeves, and skirt.
8. Inserted zipper. Tacked facing to inside.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The model fabric drew me to the pattern. I liked the fitted waist and pencil skirt and thought the side front and side back design was an interesting feature.

Fabric Used: Floral cotton stretch sateen.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I added some hot fix rhinestones to cover up a few boo boos.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I plan to sew this again, since I consider this more of a wearable muslin. I already ordered the fabric, another floral stretch cotton sateen. I would recommend this dress to others. It's a good work/church/semi-formal type dress.

Card Blitz--I'm Feeling the Rose Stamp!

I caught the card making bug and have been compelled to stamp away.

See, this what happens when I make cards--total and utter chaos! LOL! That's why I don't do it often. I just get overwhelmed with all the stuff!


This card is for a friend whose birthday is coming up. I copied this right out of the Stampin' Up catalogue, because I loved it so much. She better like it, 'cause I put A LOT of work into this joker! LOL. Oh, and blender pens rock!


Aren't these flowers just lush? The rose is my favorite, as you will see.




Again, blender pen to the rescue. It took this card up a few notches from what I was previously going to settle for.


The rose looks nice embossed as well.


It's nice to have another craft to fall back on when my sewing mojo goes south. I have several projects planned. Dresses galore! Developing...

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

This isn't really a review since I've made Simplicity 3503 before. The only things I did differently this time around are cutting the bodice at a size 6 and the skirt at a size 8. Also, the dress is completely lined with pink tricot. The fabric is a shimmery pink knit. It is sooo pretty! The dress is not hemmed--yet! But I just wanted to post some pictures since I've been talking so much about it.

I've got to wear this somewhere. It kind of occurred to me tonight that sewing could be a form of adult dress up! It's so cool that we seamstresses have the ability to create any kind of look we want. We can fashion ourselves according to our moods. In this dress, I feel elegant and regal. Now I just need a ball to crash! :-)

Old School Friday | Dance For Me

I know, the reviews and sewing updates have been seriously lagging, but I've never been a daily blogger anyway. I need the motivation to hem this dress. I just don't have it. Last night, I finally wrote out a list of sewing projects I want to complete, so I can get myself organized. The card making bug has hit me as of late, so I've kind of been into that. Not sure when the sewing mojo will return, but here's a couple of oldies but goodies to tide you over. ;-)

OSF theme today: Dance for Me

Janet Jackson, "When I Think of You" 1988


Janet Jackson, "Pleasure Principle"-- It won for Best Choreography at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards.

Finishing a UFO and OSF Pick

Hey, ya'll, I'm here, just so you know I have not dropped off the face of the earth.

I haven't been working on too much sewing, but inspired by Erica B.'s latest creation, I decided to finish up my second Simplicity 3503 dress, same view as before. Click HERE to see my first. This dress has been a UFO since last winter. I was all jazzed about making it and then lost some steam. Because I accidentally cut the tricot lining the wrong way, there was virtually no horizontal stretch. So basically, I would have had to pour myself into this dress, and that's just not happening! I reordered the tricot months ago and recut the midriff and skirt pieces last night. I reattached the midriff to the bodice last night as well, and tonight I hope to attach the skirt and finish the dress. The fabric is a shimmery pink knit from Fabric.com. It was $1.95/yard, and it's just gorgeous. It going to be the cutest party dress. So a review is forthcoming!

Next on the agenda is my Old School Friday pick. We had to pick a song that describes our current mood. I chose Troop's 1990 single "Spread My Wings." Classic joint, phenomenal choreography. They don't make R&B like this anymore. :-( I saw this group perform in my hometown when their second album, Attitude, came out. I had a major crush on the guy with the hair streak. He was so hot!

Enjoy!



Check out these other Old School Friday participants.

Old School Friday | This is Dedicated to...

Well, the situation is long past, but it good to whip out when I'm feeling bitter about love in general. Not that I'm feeling that way today, and I doubt to whom the past situation applies even visits this blog. But... I just love this song! And I loveee Cece Peniston! What ever happened to her? Spot the Big Daddy Kane cameo while Cece is getting it on the dance floor. (I think I've posted this video before, but it's so good, why not see it again?)

Ce Ce Peniston . Keep On Walkin'
Uploaded by capitainfunkk. - See the latest featured music videos.

What I'm Up To

I caught the Burda WOF bug and decided to trace out some patterns I liked from the May 2009 issue. Here's what I'm working on:

Dress 103B. Pure hotness!

Dress 117B. I love the fabric!

Blouse 110 and Trousers 111. Looks cool and casual.

Okay there's really no reason to post all these tracing pictures, but I just wanted to show off my cute pattern weights. :-) **Idea courtesy of Faye.**





When I first heard of BWOF patterns, I balked at the idea of tracing out my own patterns. It just seemed like too much work. But once you sit down and determine what you want to trace, and you develop a good system, you can get on a good roll. It really isn't that much more work than separating several traditional tissue sheets, finding the pieces you need, and cutting them out. In a way, tracing my patterns makes me feel a little more in control.

That's really it for me. I don't have any fabric for these patterns yet, but both dress patterns are traced, and now I'm working on the Blouse 110. Since I have so many patterns already, I don't feel the need to go out and buy a bunch more (unless I really want it) when I have tons to choose from in BWOF. And also, it's an attempt to get the most for my $$$.

Old School Friday | Greatest of All Time!

When I read today's Old School Friday theme, this song was immediately what came to mind. I was going to the eighth grade when LL Cool J rocked the summer of 1991 with "Mama Said Knock You Out." I chose LL because out of all the rappers to come and go, I feel like he has had the most longevity.




Oh, and who can forget this joint? An ode to the "regular girl," one of my LL faves: "Around the Way Girl."


Check out other Old School Friday participants HERE.

Review | Butterick 5250 High-waisted Pants

Pattern Description: Above waist, creased pants A, B, C have fly front zipper and back darts. A, B: front darts.

Pattern Sizing: I made View B in a size 12.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing? Yes, I think so.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, very much. Sewing fly fronts always freaks me out a bit, but these instructions are very straight forward and understandable. I thought it was odd that the left fly piece is a rectangle and not curved on the end, but it all went together smoothly.


What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The crotch length seemed a bit deep. This actually works in my favor since I sit at a computer most of the day. So that issue is neutral. I liked everything else about this pattern, including the slimming silhouette, the darts, and the stylish high waist.

Fabric Used: Mystery $1/yd polyester from Wal-Mart. I bought the blouse fabric at the same time, and it was also $1/yd.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: N/A

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Hmm...I'm not sure how many high-waisted pants a woman needs in her wardrobe, but I might make it up again in black or brown. I would recommend this pattern. It's an easy pants pattern, and it looks good with trendy tops.

Conclusion: Even though I made these pants with belt loops, I never made the belt. I was going to purchase a belt, but have not found one thin enough to thread through. So I'll be making the belt sometime this week.

McCall's 5522: Third Time's the Charm

In my last post I stated that McCall's 5522 blouse is one of those patterns I just can't get wrong. A week and a half ago I finished a third version inspired by Amanda S.'s and HLT's reviews. In contrast to my previous review, I made view A with the puffed sleeves in a size 8 with a C cup. I added a thinner version of the ruffle according to Amanda S.'s recommendations, and I also applied covered buttons.

I had planned on making the shirt and pants from New Look 6815 with the same fabrics, but somewhere along the line I decided that I wanted a more feminine, stylized look. So I chose the above McCall's top and Butterick 5250 high-waisted pants.

Well, here's the finished look. Please excuse any wrinkles. I took the pictures right after work today.


Poor choice of background, but you get the idea.