Sunday, April 29, 2012

Finished: BPF SS-2008-404C

Burda Magazine patterns remind me of Ike & Tina Turner's version of "Proud Mary". I can almost hear Aenne Burda singing:

"Y'know, every now and then
I think you might like to sew something from us
Nice and easy.
But there's just one thing
You see, we never, ever do nothin' 
Nice and easy.
We always do it nice …… and rough!"

I needed a pattern for a nice and easy pull-over top. The closest thing I found was from the Spring/Summer 2008 issue of Burda Plus Fashion; a simple, short sleeved pull-over top with shirring on the front.  I wasn't looking for anything with shirring, but one of the reasons I like Burda is the design details they include on the simplest garments.

Burda's instructions for binding the neckline seemed a little rough so I used an easier french binding technique.  The binding doesn't lay flat against my body the way I would have liked.   I checked other reviews on PR and a few other sewers had the same issue.  It's not like I'll be wearing this top to a State Dinner at the White House, so it's okay.

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I wouldn't describe the shirring as rough, but it was fussy.  It was easy enough to couch the elastic using Bernina's Embroidery foot which has a little hole through which the elastic was threaded, but each of the four rows had to be gathered a little shorter than the previous row.  And six rows had to fit into less than two inches of space.  It took some time to arrange the gathered rows evenly.

Karen gave me the rayon challis because she knows how much I like things to match. This fabric has lots of colors in it and is easy to match, just as she predicted. It just so happens, this fabric looks good with the two bottom weight pieces I bought at G-Street recently.

Even with the rough spots, I was able to finish this top in one day.  I'd like to make it again using a knit fabric.






6 comments:

  1. Nice top, thanks for sharing reference to the technique on French binding.

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  2. I have had issues with bias binding in woven and even in a ponte knit without a lot of stretch that wanted to sit up instead of on my body. After taking it off once I ended up taking some tiny darts on the wrong side at the shoulder seam. It helps and isn't noticeable. Have you tried any of Lynda Maynard's techniques for binding a woven neckline? Regardless, a lovely simple top with a nice detail. Hard to find patterns like that.

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  3. I like this a lot and I'm impressed with your shirring. As much as I like it, I've never been brave enough to try it myself. I'm going to try the french binding technique, too.

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  4. I think it is a great simple top with a little extra detail!

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  5. All right Tina. The top looks great.

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