Remember the Burda Book?

Yes that's right The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook copyright 2011!  The one you all bought and dutifully sewed lovely things from straight away.  Well I guess I'm not an early adopter.  While mine took a little longer to come to fruition I am really happy with this top.

I cut a size 38 and made a 2 cm full bust adjustment.  The only other change I made to the original design was to self face the upper front as I was working with a very sheer silk chiffon.  This gave the top of the garment more opacity and structure where it is needed.  BurdaStyle include an invisible zip in the side seam of the garment, which I omitted.  With the combination of elastic and drawstring at the waist the zip is not needed.  

One of the lovely things about it is that the fabric was a freebie from a Sydney Sewing meetup swap session. I've given the silk chiffon the respect it deserves with French seams and a satin bound sleeve head and self faced finishes - creating a very neat finish inside and out.  I don't know who it came from originally but I am extremely grateful for their good taste. 

While I have too many patterns and ideas to give too much thought to making another one, the bodice is a great starting point for drafting everything from camis to kaftans.  That was the essence of the Sewing Handbook idea after all.

I haven't been in Sydney all summer for a while now and have lost a bit of weight.  I am very conscious of having NOTHING TO WEAR as the heat approaches.  My three top priorities: a new swimsuit (Bombshell pattern and Tigerlily print lycra at the ready); shorts and light trousers (self drafting and Wyomee Boyfriend jeans pattern to try) and dresses for my niece's wedding in December. 

My daughter is still thinking about whether I'm making her dress for another wedding in Bali - pending arrival of an ebay purchase I think! 

Animal magic and blog hopping

I've been tagged by He Cooks...She Sews to participate in a blog hop about blog writing. I'm flattered to be considered for this as I don't think of my blog as writing, but I'll have a go.

What am I working on now?

As ever I have a number of projects going.  I've just finished the skirt featured in the image above, and another variant from the same pattern Burda Style 03/2014 style 104. I have a blouse and an experimental pair of wide leg pants in uber cheap black fabric cut out.  I also have Burda dress traced and begging me to make it.

Meanwhile my daughter has asked me to make something similar to Nicole Richie's lovely Issa Kimono dress to wear to a wedding in Bali.  I'm delighted to take this on and we've agreed to use some red printed silk already in stash.

Friends say I dream sewing and that is probably true.  I finish one project and immediately start on something else.

How does my work differ from others in the genre?

Seriously?  I don't think it does.  One point of differentiation might be that I make a lot of corporate wear. This is a practical decision as I work every day, I need to look good and I hate boring grey suits that are so prominent in Sydney.

Why do I write what I do?

Blog updates tend to be written in a hurry, so I no longer spend a lot of time on details. I rarely post progress posts as I usually find them annoying to read...especially the today I sewed a seam variety.  However, I do like watching complex couture or tailoring projects come to life in a progressive way.

My fundamental purpose is to create a community of interest for sewing.  I remember in my first blog post explaining that blogging would "keep me accountable".  Blogging does that - I like to share what I've made, much more than how I've made it. I never presume that I have anything to teach others, and NEVER would share personal problems etc on the blog. 

Through blogging I've met other sewers in Sydney and around the world.  That is precious to me as my friends don't sew - they cook, make jewelry or just work too hard!

How does my writing process work?

 I'm pretty sloppy when I think about it.  I don't tend to review the pattern anymore, talk about adjustments I've made.  For example, the blouse worn in the pictures is recently made.  I can't find the pattern, so can't even offer that to my readers.  All I can say is that I've lost a bit of weight since I made it and next time I'd make an adjustment to reduce the neckline and remove the full bust adjustment.

The skirt has piping inserted into the upper panel seam and at the hem panel.  The original pattern has a gorgeous flounce, but I didn't have enough from this remnant piece.  I like the solution I used.
 The way the blog hop works is that what goes round, comes round.  Many of the sewers I most admire have already been tagged, so I’m passing the baton on to some lesser known women who deserve more recognition than they receive.  Ann from Cherrypix, Fabric Ephiphanes, and Audrey of Sew Tawdry