Despite the telling wrinkles at the end of the day, I love my March dress. Perhaps I should have taken it off and waited until it was fresh again, but it is 31 March and I have a deadline!
March is inspired by the sports luxe trend so prevalent this year. Sportswear doesn't just belong in the gym does it. I've taken it to the office using creme and black ponte from Tessuti in Sydney. The pattern is a remash of Burdastyle 12-2014-105 which I used for my David Jones top.
The changes to the pattern are simple.
Open the front seam to the upper front panel; insert a zipper; add a shoulder and back yoke; and add an additional panel to both the front and back sleeve seam. I drafted my own pencil skirt without darts using the waistband of the peplum as my starting point. If you are using a stretch fabric like ponte you don't need the underarm zip.
What's next? Not sure. I have a lot of fabric ideas for tops and coats, and one dress that is still taking shape.
My February calendar is finally given a public viewing! I'm calling February the "Bimbo". Burda 09/2014 122 is attractive, but essentially stupid.
The balanced ledger looks like this. Credits: great flounced inset at the front and a longer hemline at the back; interesting design lines that shape the bust and waistlines beautifully; a blank canvas for jewellery. Debits: flawed drafting of the armscye that left just enough room for a twig prior to adjustment- note the photo of the model!!; poor fabric choice - the synthetic crepe wrinkles badly when sitting and needs a great deal of ironing even after drip drying. Not a practical dress by any measure.
I won't be making this dress again, but if I did I'd consider underlining for more stability on the curved seams. I'd also shorten it - I was a little fazed by the different pattern pieces that required adjustment and left it as it was. Mid calf is elegant but the shorter magazine version is funkier.
On the other hand, March is almost done and I am over the moon with the result. Pictures as soon as the hems are completed.
Meanwhile, happy sewing!
Despite looking distinctively like the Australian retailer David Jones's signature logo, my version of Burda 12-2014-105 is a definite winner for summer business wear.
I made a size 40 with no alterations, beyond adding the faux leather shoulder inset to break up the fabric and taking in the sleeves...by a lot! I should have been vary about the sleeves after looking at how limply they hung on the Burda model. Even for my solid arms, they are massive. I shaved about about 1 inch from each side of the two piece sleeve.
If you are altering the sleeves, try to maintain the existing sleeve head as they slot into the arm hole without a lot of easing.
This pattern is the prototype for my March calendar dress. Where is my February dress I hear you ask? February was indeed finished on 28 February, but despite two wearings has not been photographed. My daughter has PROMISED to be around when it has its next outing on Wednesday!
