Thursday, May 29, 2014

One for the Road

Here's another item that I finished up in time to pack for our road trip next week.


This is Burdastyle 09-2011-128, a.k.a. the pleat-neck blouse.


So called because the darts have been rotated into two small pleats that spring forth from the front ends of the mandarin collar.

Close up of the pleats joining the back collar
Burda showed it in the Businesswear section of the magazine, looking very crisp and tailored in poplin. On a model with long, wavy golden hair that totally covers the critical construction details.

I've made this blouse twice before but that danged collar has kicked my butt every time. I'm pretty sure that this is the first time I got the little devil on right-side-up. The Burda instructions were, as usual, terse. I'd still be sitting in my sewing nook, crying into my beer, if it weren't for this super-helpful blog post by The Slapdash Sewist.

The fabric is a cotton that I got at Britex earlier this month. When I told Melody, my special fabric lady, that I was sewing for a car trip to Chicago she pulled out this bolt and said I had to make a blouse for the road.

Back view
 She said it would be a conversation-starter and she wanted me to send her a picture of me wearing it and waving my hat in front of a diner.


One that looks just like this!

My review is on PatternReview here.

12 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks! The pants are BurdaStyle too, from the May 2012 issue. They have a zip in the back and the overlap in the front, so lots of places to tweak the fit as you're finishing them up. The legs are pretty darn wide though...

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  2. How fun! I adore the shirt and the super fun fabric. You will have to post the hat waving photo on your blog too! LOL. Have fun!

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    1. I'll have my photographer with me, we'll just need to find the diner!

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  3. Oh, so cute. Love this on yoiy! Colours are so beautiful!

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    1. Thank you! If there's enough blue mixed in, I can get away with wearing those oranges and yellows. Do you have colors that you love but feel like you can't wear?

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  4. Awesome. I like that blouse pattern too. Mine had a neckline that was a little too plunging. I planned to make another with a higher neckline but haven't got to it yet. Yours looks just fine. What's your secret?!
    -Sewingelle

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    1. I know what you mean! That first button is practically half way to my waist! Luckily I don't have much up top to worry about flashing. I did move the buttons and buttonholes in farther from the edge to help keep some overlap, and I think the stiffer fabric keeps things from gaping

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  5. Lovely, lovely, lovely! And fun! I hope you have a wonderful trip and think the Britex lady is right on - you'll generate lots of conversation. Your Burda pants are equally great. These photos are a reminder to me to make them sooner, rather than later.

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    1. Thank you! That Burda has a skirt version of the pants pattern that I want to try sometime too!

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  6. Melody is right - that blouse will definitely start a conversation or two with total strangers. Don't be surprised if the diner owner (where ever that diner may be ) asks to get a picture of you. I remember seeing that blouse made up by the Slapdash Sewer and thinking it was cute but was warned off by her review. Your version makes me rethink my reluctance to take on the challenge. I'm afraid I am all about the easy sews.

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    1. Easy is good! I'm all about quick sews myself. Really the sewing part is easy, it's figuring out the instructions that was the challenge. The Slapdash Sewist took such great photos though, that really helped.

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