Finally, Burda 7396, with bonus hack!

The most beloved Burda 7396.

 

Here it is at last! Those of you who have watched my Youtube video about making crackers have seen this baby live in action. I bought the fabric, which is a stretch cotton sateen, at Arthur Toyes in Wellington. I am absolutely unable to pass up painterly rose anything, and even though this fabric is unusually neutral for my taste, in this pattern I just love it.I teamed it up with some contrast pinstriped linen.

My first outing of this pattern early last year, was a black, striped number, remember? It has since been gussied up to be my go-to Steampunk top:

In the original I missed out the faux pocket flaps, but I like them against the rose fabric. (Goodness me, photos can change a person can't they! I look like I've been yoyo dieting and taking my clothes in and out!)
Because I had cut the latest version out very soon after making the first, I remembered all the adjustments I needed to make. So even though it took me a year to get around to finishing it, it went together like a dream.

I LOVE this top. It has been way too hot to wear it, however - anything with a sleeve is too hot right now.

And so to The Hack.

I want to love this but I don't. I hacked the pattern by taking out the front closure and making it into a tunic, and using the one piece, shorter, sleeve option. The first time I put it together it was so ugly, I pulled it apart. The bust seam was too far over, the sleeves too full in the top, and the bodice too long. And yet, same pattern, same stretch cotton sateen. Weird! Oh yes, and the neckline was too high.
So, after cutting the neckline lower, cutting heaps out of it everywhere and reassembling, I found that the neckline was too low and showed the top of my new bras. Grrrr. So, I added a drape of lace on each side.
I don't like this and it annoys me that I made such a newb mistake.
I think my issue with this top is that I want to love this red rose fabric, because it is red painterly roses on a black background. So of course I love it right? But I just don't care for the lined up roses all the same size, they look blobby.
But it is done at least. And when I add a little clear elastic to the lace insets so they sit better, I will like it more. But it kind of reminds me of the trouble it has caused and I am not convinced it was worth it.
What I do like though is that the hack is very different from the original. And I will use this pattern again, never fear! Today I fell for some black linen with huge gold roses on it that I want to make into a short peplum jacket, and I'll use the bodice pattern for it.
Yes, yes, yes, I know that there are fabrics out there that do not feature large roses on them. Otherwise what would everyone else wear? ;-)

Christmas Segment 2 starring my Second Burda 7396 make!

Christmas Crackers and a quick look at napkin ring finishes. I finished this version of Burda 7396 at a quilting retreat in the first weekend of December. No time for quilting, me! :) I love it sooo much. It is a heavy cotton with 5% spandex. Normally a fan of more dramatic colour schemes, I still fell hard for this neutral water colour rose pattern. A touch of pintucked linen for collar and tabs.
Unfortunately it was the only make from that weekend to work first time. The other need fixing. I hope to post about them soon. Tooroo!

Sew Grateful for Burda patterns!

Today I want to share my delight and gratitude to Burda, for making pattern 7396. I have had this EXACT garment in my head for years now, but it was just a bit more thinking than I was willing to put into a make for myself. So when I was passing time while on holiday idly flicking through the Burda pattern book in a shop and found this one, I was ecstatic. And it was half price!

I love the combo of the high waist, scoop neck and lapels. And it went up to a 28, which is kind of where I am at!

My make of it. I had to lengthen the bodice, and cut more flare into the skirts to get the effect I wanted, but it came together super fast. The 100% cotton has woven stripes made up of white and grey dots, bought to ages ago for about $2m. So no big loss if it didn't work out. The stripes are a mess - I meticulously cut this top out to match the stripes, ahem, without checking to see if the bottom layer of the fabric lined up with the top. Sooo, not my best work. But I still love it. I am already making another one - no stripes this time.
It has a hint of the 1910's era about it, fun for the year of the Titanic Centenary and the popularity of Downton Abbey!