Saturday 23 January 2010

Burda World of Fashion 03-2009-105 pleated skirt

I am still working from March 2009 Burda Magazine. I liked this skirt as soon as I saw it in the magazine, and even more after I saw a few reviews. I think this was the skirt from which I took Quilt Sew Sue's brilliant button tab-at-the-top-of the zip tip.


Mary Nanna made an interesting comment about Burda's use of a slightly older model for this issue. I think this particular skirt looks smart on this model, much better than the belly gather blouse, but agree with Mary Nanna that not everything the model is wearing in the magazine seems to fit properly. This really shows up design issues for those of us with post teenage figures. However, as I made this skirt for my teenage daughter, I did not need to worry about such issues for this project :).
I find this photograph very amusing. My model was waiting for me to get organized, with her library book. Does anyone else find it odd that the Burda model has an English language newspaper?
SDC10020
My main concern was that this skirt, selected by my daughter in the full knowledge that it was to be made from navy blue cotton twill, would look exactly like a school uniform skirt. My daughter has no particular dislike of navy blue, (her school uniform being a green and white plaid) and she assures me that the nifty pockets and knee length remove this from school uniformishness. (Her school uniform has to be worn at mid calf length - highly unflattering, but I digress)
SDC10012

The skirt went together quickly. I made a straight 38, then took in all the pleats and the side seams at the waist. I used Sharon's recent tutorial for the invisible zip, so naturally, for about a 1/1000 chance, I did not need to move the zip (Sharon's tutorial lets you do this easily). Burda had a whole extra page with illustrations for the pocket, so this was easy too.

SDC10007
The only change I made to the pattern was to bind the facing, and to edgestitch only near the waist seam instead of topstitching at the bottom of the facing.

SDC10006
I finished the hem as Burda suggested, but if I was to make this skirt again, for someone who will not grow out of it in 3 months, I would blind stitch or handstitch the hem, as I can see it. This is piece 4 of my daughter's work SWAP.
Oops, nearly forgot the materials cost
Fabric: Cotton herringbone twill from Michael's Fabrics @$AUS12 per metre, 1.3m =$16
Button and zip recycled (that would be why the zip is dark purple, but hey, it is invisible) =0
Interfacing, call it 10c, Pattern, free as second use of magazine,scraps for binding, free, thread $3.
$19.10

10 comments:

KID, MD said...

What a fun design! I love the pockets, and your daughter looks lovely in it.

I saw your ? about gripper elastic. I got mine from Sew Sassy (www.sewsassy.com). They are out of Alabama, but do ship internationally. I thought that their prices were quite good.

Rose said...

Great job! I like the pleats and the pockets. Re: Burda--I just noticed that the model probably isnt' reading an English language newspaper, as it appears that newspaper text would be upside down..... :)

Rose in SV

neighbourhood.gal said...

I made that skirt for myself and wore it all summer. I made it out of quilting cotton (which I wouldn't do again) and it was a perfectly breezy skirt for my summer "mom uniform".

And anything with pockets is great.

What kind of work does your daughter do? She looks so young to be working.

Sue said...

I wear my version of this skirt a lot as it is easy to wear and comfortable. I hope your daughter enjoys hers as much!

You have done a great job on this skirt.

Sharon said...

Love the skirt. The pleats and pockets do make it look very smart.

Thank you for the link to my Invisible Zip tutorial.

Mary Nanna said...

Cute! Your daughter looks great!

I have been thinking about making this skirt too although at my age no-one will be mistaking it for a school uniform...

The pockets are such a sweet part of this design. I really love this skirt. The trim on the facing looks very smart, there's something very professional looking about a finished waistband.

Gail said...

I love this pattern. In fact that March issue is one of my favourites. I feel like I'm stalking you pattern wise because I'm planning to do this skirt when I finish my blouses (when being the operative word!)

Gay McDonell said...

Great skirt - smart and well fitting - I like the pockets - cool photo!

Little Hunting Creek said...

Cute skirt! (and blouse too) I love the pockets. I didn't notice that the model was reading an english paper until you pointed it out

Carol said...

I've been eyeing off this skirt for a while. It's a great fit and the fabric is nice, bit school uniformy at all. It's great that your daughter is seeing the value of sewing her own clothes at an early age. She's going to have a great wardrobe that totally reflects her style.