Giveaway for my Facebook page friends!

Dear readers, I wanted to thank everyone who supported my Facebook page in the past couple of weeks. While the blog allows me to post longer pieces, upload tutorials or write reviews, Facebook helps me keep my finger on the pulse of the online style and sewing community!

So, having enjoyed interaction with you there, I am giving away the April 2012 issue of Burdastyle magazine! The giveaway runs on FB and is open to all my Facebook page friends. To participate, leave a comment on my page by Thursday, April 12.

Here are, again, my favorite styles from the issue:

Blogiversary Giveaway 3: Burda 11/2011

I have to catch up with the Blogiversary Giveaway Week(...s) - there are two more scheduled for tomorrow morning and Monday. Today, I got for you the most recent issue of Burda Style Magazine (November 2011) and two other bonus publications featuring holiday crafts and shirt construction techniques.

I got two issues of November Burda, so one is for you! Check out the styles at Osinka.ru - it's a Russian Sewing forum, but you don't need to know the language to browse through thumbnails!

The giveaway is open to all followers, readers, friends, likers etc... Leave your comment under this post telling others about your blog, or ( if you did it in previous posts) about the most recent post on your blog. If you don't have a blog promote one of your favorite ones. At the end of the giveaway I will compile a post with blog addresses and descriptions. For this giveaway, the last day to comment is Wednesday, November 9. Sounds good?

For other ongoing geveaways, check out these two posts:

Giveaway 1: Project Runway Wrist Pincushion
Giveaway 2: Claire Shaeffer Custom Couture Pattern V8621

Oh, and stay tuned to the Revival of Gadgetmania: Reviews of Tool essential for couture sewing. I am planning changes to the format! Starting tonight ;-)

My Haute Couture attempt of a blouse :-)

Burda 9/2010, #110 - was my trial run for an Haute Couture Silk Blouse. I doubt the Chanel House would hire me after seeing this blouse, but I am happy nevertheless :-)

Pattern Sizing:

I went one size smaller. I always do, with Burda patterns. For some reason, if I go true to measurements, pieces turn out too baggy.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

It did, more or less.

The original style

Were the instructions easy to follow?

It is a relatively easy style, but I did follow instructions, which were ok, except for the closures. I had to guess how the closures work. I used self-fabric selvedge to reinforce the stitched edges underneath the buttons; and, instead of making buttonholes, I decided to make loops on the outside, and small snaps inside.

I reenforced the side seam allowance (1" / 2.5 cm wide) with a selvedge strip.
The buttons are sewn through the seam allowance and through the strip.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I liked how the blouse drapes, as well as the style. I don’t like the height of the collar - it collapses. Therefore, for drapey fabrics, I would either reduce the height of the collar, or reinforce the collar with some interfacing.

the neckline

Fabric Used:

I chose silk charmeuse, and it feels really wonderful against the skin!

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I have already described some of the changes I made above.

More importantly, I have sewn the entire blouse by hand! I also hand-overcast the entire blouse, following an example of an Haute Couture silk blouse featured in Claire Shaeffer’s PDF “Behind the Seams: Chaeffer on Chanel” 

Two reasons:

(1) I wanted to learn and apply couture techniques I learned recently, and

(2) I wanted to have more control over the slippery charmeuse. I was watching Netflix movies while I was sewing, because the sewing process took several long evenings.

Hand-overcast shoulder seam.
Seam allowances are about 1" (2.5 cm) for all seams

I also made self-fabric bias binding for the sleeves. 

Lessons learnt:

Shoulder seams: even though I hand-stitched, then pressed-open the shoulder seams and then hand overcast each section, as in the Shaeffer’s example, I would have rather used a narrow French seam. It would have added more stability to the seams. 

This reminds me of Roberta Carr’s Rules of Couture (from her book Couture: The Art of Fine Sewing) " "Sew with your head... Understand that couture requires judgment."

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I would recommend this sleeveless version, but I won’t sew it again- there are enough other styles I am looking forward to.

Conclusion: 

I really like the final result, even though there were few things I would have done differently for this type of fabric (marking, shoulder seams, hem). But, all in all, it makes a great wardrobe builder that works well with cardigans (which I love), jackets, or on its own.

paired with a cardigan

Apart from the garment itself, I really enjoyed sewing charmeuse. As Ms. Carr said: "Enjoy the process as much as the result." Which I definitely did!