Men's linen shirt (Burda 06/2011-138) and some trifles

Summer linen shirt and a hat for my son.

Burda 06/2011-138

I enjoyed working with linen, such a wonderful fabric. I would love to sew something from linen for myself as well. The only problem that it wrinkles so easily, so it would be something very casual, for vacation wardrobe.

Two other small projects are the hat and the pot holder. The pattern for the hat is Simplicity 5581.

Simplicity 5581

Burda 08/1989

The pot holder was my first  try on patch-work. I chose this very small project just to see how to do this. This pattern was published in Burda magazine 08/1989 along with some other lovely bigger projects.

Besides trying quilting this project satisfied my inclination for recycling and nonwaste living. Maybe it is because I was raised by my grandmother who survived revolution and two wars and used to save everything, or just my inborn sense of  responsibility but I hate wasting things. So I made this potholder from scraps of  fabric that I used for my sewing projects.

Salad Dress (Burda 7/2011-110)

During first summer months Moscow hosted the exhibition “Inspiration Dior” .

Goes without saying that I visited it. Some dresses in vintage Dior collections had names. So I decided to copy this and to name my new project :).
The name Salad Dress comes from one of the dresses at the exhibition (please forgive me, Mr. Dior).

"Salad" dress (right)

So here is my Salad dress from July issue of Burda magazine. The camera didn't capture the true colour. In reality it is light yellowish green.

I cut size 19 petite (means 38 regular) and I feel comfortable in it but when I look at the picture I see that the top looks baggy. Again I am struggling with Burda measurements.
Good news is that is the first time when I am really happy with making the invisible zipper. Seems I finally managed to become friends with that special invisible zipper foot.

It was not a smooth sewing though. Initially I wanted to make very simple solid colour dress using this pattern.

Burda 6/2011-107

But then I decided that it will be too simple and chose another pattern. Now I regret of not going with my first intention. Still have a desire to make light solid colour dress in a very simple cut.
My second choice was this dress.

Burda 4/2010-108

I wanted to make it since it has been published in 2010 but couldn't find fabric that would drape well. I tried this fabric and it seemed that it would work. I cut out back and front pieces of the dress, basted and tried it on, and it looked like a maternity dress. Not an effect I wanted to get :/.

Since the fabric had been cut already I had a choice either to put it in a trash bin or to try to rescue it with some other pattern. So the choice of the pattern was somehow limited. I managed to squeeze this pattern in previously cut pieces of fabric and in what remained uncut.

It is a petit pattern so I lengthened the top a couple of centimeters. Now I doubt the necessity of doing this. Otherwise made no alterations, just added lining to the skirt since the fabric wrinkles easily.

One more picture from Dior exhibition that I would like to share. Shoes collection, I would wear any pair of these beautiful shoes anytime :). The green ones at the top left would suit my new dress ;).

Unpacking Me-Made Vacation Wardrobe

 

When I received February issue of Burda magazine and was hooked by its Italian pages I didn't know that I am going to have Italian vacation this year. But Burda continued Italian theme in May issue and I sewed another piece from these pages. As I moved on with my sewing, vacation idea gradually materialized and became tangible. At the end of June I was lucky to spend one week in Venice, the unreal fairy tale city. I was absorbing it with all my sences and enjoyed every single minute.
Here are the Me-Made garments that I took on this vacation trip.

Summer Dress (Burda 2/2011-101)

Tunic Top (Burda 5/2011-103)

 

Capri pants (Burda 5/2011-124)

This pants have loose fit that makes them very comfortable for travelling.

Hat

I made this hat just a couple of days before the trip more for fun than for practical reason but it came out very useful for trip on the motorboat to and from airport  since it was very windy.
It is made from leftover Ikea fabric (after making this pillow). The hat pattern is from Burda Easy Fashion Summer 2008 magazine. Easy project, took me not more than two hours to make it.

 
I also wore this combination of lacy mohair jacket and sundress in the evenings, no photos though.
It was nice to wear Me-Made garments though they are yet far from being perfect. And of course the trip inspired me to make more sewing plans.

Tunic Top (Burda 5/2011-103)

A simple silk summer tunic. It is made from the old silk dress which was not old but never worn and then went out of fashion. Since it is wonderful natural silk I couldn't just throw it away and wanted to use it to make something new for hot summer weather.
It is a very simple project suitable for beginners. Made no changes in the pattern, only shortened it to the length that fits me better.

 

Lacy Mohair Jacket

I made this lacy mochair jacket to complement this sundress.

The pattern is from Rebecca #39. It took only two skeins of yarn, total 50 g/420 m. It is so light, I can barely feel it at my skin. I used double thread for neck and front edging only (in the original pattern all ribs are maid using double thread).
I also found a match in my wardrobe for another Burda summer dress.

I knitted this wrap jacket last year and tried to match it with different pieces in my wardrobe. Now I think it has found its perfect match. The pattern is from Vogue Knitting Holiday 2009. It looks complicatd but the pattern was not difficult at all.

Capri Pants (Burda 5/2011-124)

 

Waistband

Retro style Capri pants inspired by images of my favourite classic actresses Doris Day and Audrey Hepburn.

I like colourful summery print at Doris Day's capris and if I had more leisure and vacation time in my life I would love to make something like this. But since I spend most of the time in the city I chose more classical print. It is black and white fine check in retro style. The fabric is a blend of cotton, polyester and lycra.

 
I think Burda very much reproduced the real 50s pattern. Just compare this picture with Burda pattern.

I didn't make any changes in the pattern, the only alteration I've made, I took ~ 1 cm in side seems below the pockets.  

I am pleased with Burda retro style patterns that they include in several last issues. As many others I am fond of that period and find 50s fashion very appealing.

Now after finishing this pants I need to think about some matching top. Of course I can wear them with my regular T-shirts and tops but I like how in 50s they complimented Capri pants with close-fitting blouses and jumpers like at the following pictures.

This wrap blouses and the whole outfits are beautiful. Should think about making something like this.