Sunday 4 May 2014

Birthday dress, Burda Style 04-2013-109

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At the beginning of summer, I made my daughter a quick little cotton dress - cut in shoulders, A line, contrast collar, from Burda Style 04-2013-109. 
technical drawing from http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/Magazines/burda_Style

Somehow I forgot to put it on the blog, but she really liked it, and reported constant wear and unsolicitations.
Due to the ease of constructing this dress, and the reported wearing success, it came to mind when I was considering her annual birthday sewn present, with only a few days to go ( there is nothing like a self inflicted deadline for getting the sewing mojo stirred up).
I had a gorgeous piece of unusual pleated silk crepe lurking in the stash with Daughter the first in mind (Lisa Ho remnant, via The Fabric Store, Brisbane) and it seemed an excellent match for the simple pattern. This time I used version B, with a back opening and no contrast neckline, to keep things even more uncluttered.


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Naturally, this being a birthday dress, I took a bit of trouble with the construction.
I lined the dress with silk habuti, some of which in exactly the right shade was also in the stash (I love my stash), and piped the neckline and armscyes -using a double layer of the habuti, as it was a bit thin and showed the perle embroidery cotton I use for mini piping through a single layer.
The pleats of the silk crepe looked a bit ruffled at the neckline, so I controlled them with some beading.

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I then could not find a suitable button - so did some beading on a self covered button (with2 layers of the habuti lining) for a little added interest at the back. The back opening is just the right length to avoid bra back exposure. This is unlike the cut in shoulders, which needed lingerie straps in order to avoid strap exposure with a normal bra.
Inside, all the pleated crepe edges are finished with bias habuti.
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I am very pleased with the outcome.I think this is a very versatile after 5 dress. It is such an unusual fabric, that it needed a very simple pattern to showcase it suitably.

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20 comments:

Julie Culshaw said...

A lovely dress. You give great attention to the little details that make your garments special.

prttynpnk said...

Deceptively simple- you've made a beautiful dress full of rich tiny details- you look lovely.

Summer Flies said...

I just love this... I love, love, love cut in shoulders and I love the beautiful detail of the beads on the neckline. You have the patience of an angel to make the silk bias finish the seams with it.

Sew, Jean Margaret said...

Perfect pattern for such a special fabric. Love your embellishments to. Very lucky daughter.

Janine said...

So beautiful. The fabric and your special finishing touches show up so well with the simple design. Your daughter is looking rather grown up now !

Anonymous said...

Great color and fabric! Everything works together awesomely

KellysSewing said...

What a simply beautiful and beautifully simple dress! Lucky daughter!

Mary said...

Beautiful gift for a beautiful daughter.

Gabrielle said...

That simple shape looks absolutely elegant on your daughter, and I completely agree, for this sort of fabric you need a simple shape!

Marie in the cave said...

A beautiful dress, and it suits your daughter so well! The dress surely gained from your attention to details!

Allison said...

What an incredible job you have done .... yet again! Love the fabric with this simple pattern shape. You always seem to have such an eye for adding the perfect details which elevate a simple style to something completely elegant. And goodness - your daughter is looking so grown up and adult!

Sewtime said...

Beautiful dress!

Sharon said...

Gorgeous birthday gift dress, love the colour and the beading adds that extra little touch.

velosews said...

Simple style and wonderful sewing techniques. I can see why she wears it so well.

Sue said...

So pretty!

Annette Siverson said...

What a glorious dress, deceptively simple! And your daughter looks great in it!

fabric epiphanies said...

What a gorgeous dress! I wondered how this pattern would make up!

Gail said...

Cute dress. My younger daughter would like this pattern.

Anonymous said...

Wow. So glad you made another version and blogged about it. Like everyone else has already said: this is stunning.
-Sewingelle

Anonymous said...

The colour is great, isn't it? I love the handmade button too. I would have avoided this pattern because the cut in shoulders look severe on technical drawing, but actually it looks great on your daughter.