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Burda

Cruella Devil

by Pauline Alice 10 February, 2014

written by Pauline Alice

I’ve never been an animal print fan, but sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants! And my heart was wanting a leopard print coat so that my inner Cruella Devil could be satisfied.

I found the fabric in my usual fabric store, Julián López. It was on sales but still a little bit pricey, but I really liked the light
background and the furry touch. It was easy to work with as the wrong side is very similar to linen but the whole house was full of hairs for the next few days… (and I have a sewingroom so imagine!).

I chose a bright blue lining to contrast with the leopard.

As the fabric was bold enough on its own for me, I decided to use a very classic coat pattern: Burdastyle #101 from 08/2012.
It’s a good pattern: I just enlarged the collar and shortened the coat. I didn’t make any buttonholes for the moment as I wasn’t sure which one to use, but I might keep it buttonless as I like better open.

I’ve already worn it quite a lot as the weather is perfect for a light coat.
It adds interest to an otherwise simple and casual look like this one.

10 February, 2014 50 comments

Blog My makes Sewing projects

Safari Jacket

by Pauline Alice 28 October, 2013

written by Pauline Alice

As soon as I opened the October issue of Burda, I knew I wanted the jacket #105. I even made a special Pinterest moodboard in order to choose what kind of fabric would be better (I like the camouflage version a lot but I know I will not wear it as it will not go with about 95% of my wardrobe).

Finally, I remembered I had this blue cotton gabardine (originally beige but tyed in blue) left from a dress, with one side plain and the other with little flowers. I decided not to line the jacket so the flowers would show inside and when the sleeves are turned up. I just had to make nice flat-fell seams.

It was the first time I used hammer-on snap fasteners and I have to say they are pretty easy to use (I just had to borrow a hammer, oups).

I changed some little things to the pattern: I omitted the front storm flaps, the zipper and reduce quite a lot the sleeve width. Other than that, nothing: the pattern is perfect.

I wanted a jacket with lots of pockets for a trip (where the pictures were taken, doesn’t it look like a jungle?) so I wouldn’t have to carry a bag. I felt so free with the use of my both hands! I had room enough in those pockets for everything: wallet, phone, 3 lipsticks, keys, mirror, blush… even my kindle! Best travelling jacket ever!

Have a great week!

28 October, 2013 36 comments

Blog My makes Sewing projects

Sailor Trousers

by Pauline Alice 18 August, 2013

written by Pauline Alice

Hello Sailor!

This is my 1srt pair of trousers! Aren’t they cute? I am sure they are made to be worn by a tall model like in the Burda magazine (and not a very short girl like me) but they caught my eyes last year when the issue came out and I had to have them. It took some time (and I don’t even have the fabric excuse: I bought that denim fabric as soon as I opened the magazine and had it over a year in my stash especially for that purpose). I was scared of sewing trousers, here’s the truth!

The pattern is Burda 125 from April 2012, high waisted sailor pants with side button placket. The fit is easy to achieve as the legs are very wide. I didn’t make any change to the pattern, only hemmed the leg wayyyyyyyyyy higher:) The most difficult part is the back welt pocket, but as that wasn’t my first, I didn’t have any problem.

Do you like my photoshop tattoo?

The button placket is lined with a red and white cotton fabric I had left. Behind the placket, there is a zipper to close the trousers. This is a quite clever opening and a nice detail. Speaking about details, I added gold buttons with an anchor for an even more sailory touch!

As for the denim, it’s light and nice to work with. But way to warm to wear for more than 10 minutes with the weather we’re having this summer. But I’m sure that they will be perfect trousers for the fall…

I feel very “pin up” while wearing these trousers, they have a 1940’s vibe for me. With a tank top or a crop shirt tied on the front, they would look so cute! And very high heels of course!
I wish you a nice week!

18 August, 2013 24 comments

Blog My makes Sewing projects

Dice Kayek (Burda 07/11)

by Pauline Alice 29 October, 2012

written by Pauline Alice

That might well be the last time of the year I am going to pose bare legs and without a jacket, so I tried to enjoy while it lasted:

Does it look like late October to you? It was so warm in the sun, even if a little windy. The pictures were taken on Saturday, when it was still about 20 ºC in Valencia, but today it went down 10 ºC. I have to start on my winter coat!

This little number is the designer pattern from Burda magazine July 2011 issue. It is from the turkish brand Dice Kayek and you may not recognise it as it originally came with a double peplum.

Other than omitting the peplum, I didn’t change anything from the pattern. It fits quite well, the overtop design is interesting and the general shape is flattering.

This is quite a classical pattern but I am very newly drawn to it. I am normally more into flared and very full skirts, but this is a nice change, it makes me feel more mature. And I have to admit, to me, it screams Joan Holloway (the redhead secretary from Mad Men, in case you are wondering).

I used a medium weight cotton that I dyed in my washing machine. It was beige with yellow flowers and I must have liked it when I bought it last year, but as I still had not used it, I decided to give a go at the indigo dye I had and see if I would like it better that way.

And it was a good thing to do as I like the new colour a lot.

I lined the skirt portion so it will be ok to wear it over tights this winter.

On a different matter, there is a new club in Valencia and I am so excited to have the first meeting on Saturday: Club Handmade Valencia.

I’ll tell you more about it after the inauguration. But if you are in Valencia, come!

29 October, 2012 25 comments

Blog My makes Sewing projects

Little Black Dress, the sequel

by Pauline Alice 5 October, 2012

written by Pauline Alice

Who said you need one Little Black Dress in your closet when you can have two?

The famous Burda dress! As soon as I saw it on the August issue, I knew I wanted to make it. It’s a lot more mature and sophisticated that what I am used to wear on a daily basis, but the picture on the magazine was so beautiful I could not resist.

The fit was great, I just had to taper down the hips a little bit, take the bodice in a couple of centimeters and shorten the bodice; the usual. I followed the Sewalong Sonia did on her blog (La pequeña Aprendiz) with some delay but it was great to read what she and all the other seamstresses did beforehand.

Obviously, at the beginning, I wanted to find some jacquard fabric similar to the one used by Burda, something metalic in black, silver or gold. But it was impossible or way too expensive. Then, I found this black fabric with great relief, I am not sure what it is but it looks like a very heavy cotton piqué. The dress is fully lined in grey lining fabric and I did a lot of hand-sewing to overcast all the seamed inside in order to reduce the bulk to a minimum. Because of its texture, the fabric felt quite dressy and I decided to go with it and add some pearls and sequins on the shoulders, as the original model.

I found the appliqués already made and hand-sewn them on the shoulders pieces. I guess I could easily take them off if I ever get bored. But for the moment, it’s a great party dress! I wore it during this week while in Paris and I have to admit it’s the best scenery for such a dress, very Parisienne…

The beautiful original: dress nº 120, Burda Magazine from August 2012.

I am now ready to start sewing some autumn-winter clothes: a coat or two, some skirts, some dresses to wear with cardigans and tights, a jacket, some blouses… So many things! If only the weather would behave appropriately and just get a little bit colder…

5 October, 2012 27 comments

Blog My makes Sewing projects

El tiempo de las cerezas

by Pauline Alice 8 July, 2012

written by Pauline Alice

I have been wearing my newest dress yesterday and it happened to be very appropriate for the day: a perfect Saturday afternoon, walking in the city center, enjoying a handmade and second-hand market and discovering a great bar.

But first, the dress:

This is the vintage pattern of the Burda June issue, dress 133. As soon as I saw it on the last page of the May issue as a preview, I knew I was going to buy the next one just for that dress. And it’s true that the rest of the issue was not the best, but this dress was worth it.

It’s an halter top with an almost full circle skirt. It’s not particularly difficult but I found it a bit hard to make the lining stand still and not show on the top.

I was scared about the piping as there are various angles but I basted the pieces first, which helped. If I was to make it again (which I doubt), I would underline or fuse the top pieces for more support. Well, the dress is nice but I can’t say it lived up to my expectations.
But that’s because I made some small errors, not because of the pattern.

I bought this fabric a few weeks ago: it’s a white cotton with small red flowers and cherries (cerezas in spanish, the name of the dress is the title of a song I like). I knew red piping would make it pop. I really like the X shape highlighted by the piping in the design of the
pattern, I find it retro yet modern at the same time. I can see this
type of dress in a bold print for a more modern look. Or a contrasted colour for the X shape would be interesting as well. Does someone want to try it?

As you can see, the dress liberated some Marilyn poses in me, I felt very Pin-Up next to the swimming pool. The sun is a little bit too bright for me to keep my eyes wide opened but the background is very nice. And I wasn’t feeling like going to the park this morning, so swimming pool it was!

I pincurled my hair yesterday and it stayed curled up until 5 minutes after the photos when I jumped in the pool. I like the look but I can’t bother to make it the night before. I wish my hair would stay like this forever…

A detail photo of the cherry print and piping. And what I found at the handmade market: some very nice jewelry. Belen had a stand at the market (which took place in the afore-mentioned discovered bar) and makes very cute necklaces, rings and hairpins. She also sells them on her webpage: www.bohemismo.com. Go and check it out, it’s a great idea for small presents!

When I saw this sewing machine necklace, I knew it was coming home with me (as well as a croissant necklace!).

8 July, 2012 35 comments

Blog My makes

Burda dress 106 10/10

by Pauline Alice 22 April, 2012

written by Pauline Alice

A pink dress, what a surprise! I am very predictable, most of the garments I make are either pink or with flowers. When it’s not with pink flowers…
This seems to be a winning team for me, so why change it?

I am very proud to present you the Rosae, rosae, rosa dress:

It’s my second dress for the Colette Spring/Summer Palette challenge. If I keep going this fast, my sewing projects will be finished very soon. Well, it’s not like I don’t have huge pile of patterns and fabric to continue feeding my sewing machine.
I used to top pattern of Burda dress 116 from the october 2010 issue. I was reading it at my friend Catherine’s house and I had to borrow it from her when I saw this dress. The pattern is easy, there are princess seams on the front and back, a little opening in front and a back invisible zipper.

Again, I changed the skirt pattern for my own eight panels one. The original had a simple rectangle gathered at the waist. Nice but I prefer my own as it gives a New look style to the dress.

I am not sure of the fabric composition. I admit that it was on sale and I liked the colour and the drape so I didn’t pay too much attention to the name on the tag. Well, I can say it’s a medium weight fabric, there is a very little bit of stretch and it’s very confortable to wear. Will that be enough?

I lined the bodice with a flowers printed cotton, and I made a bias tape of it to enclose the hem. Which was catch-stiched by hand this morning in front of a James Stewart movie (nothing to make time fly as James Stewart!). I used French seams for the skirt to avoid fraying. So here is a view of the inside, neat and tidy, no loose threads:
I enjoyed taking the pictures in the park, it’s so nice to feel the sun on my face and the gentle breeze playing with my skirt. I hope everybody had a nice week-end!

22 April, 2012 22 comments