Sunday 17 January 2010

BWOF 03-2009-109 blouse,

This blouse is one that caught my eye straight away when I first saw the March 2009 issue of Burda World of fashion, but not in a good way.

I really dislike the isolated gathers below the bust. The magazine photograph looked horrid and unflattering IMO.

(Photographs from Burdastyle website)
However, when my daughter and I were looking through the Burda magazines for SWAP ideas, she fancied the neck and placket on the line drawing. She asked, could I gather the whole front? She has good ideas. Normally, I make a small bust adjustment for her, gathering from above the bust instead worked nicely IMO, and was much less trouble.

Here is the blouse worn loose, over the 12-2009 trousers I already showed you.

SDC10783

I have used machine embroidery (mode3, #68 on Janome 6600) in pale grey thread on the neckline and placket. I have also tried to make the fastening snaps invisible from the right side, rather than use them as a decorative element as shown in the magazine.

I also used machine embroidery on the cuffs. Neither of us liked the ties in the magazine, so the cuff is just sewn in the round.

SDC10787

I like the blouse best worn tucked in.

SDC10795

Materials Cost:
White cotton shirting fabric, about 160cm wide I bought the end of a roll at a closing down sale for about $6 per meter. Call it $7
Pattern - the first use of this magazine, so $10.55
Thread, one roll of white, one roll of grey, $6
4 snaps, at $1 for 20 pairs, and a smidgeon of interfacing
Total, approximately $24.

17 comments:

Gail said...

Funny thing personal taste. I'm making this blouse at the moment and have absolutely loved the design since I saw it. But I have been debating about the whether to include the ties on the arms or not. Your daughter looks lovely in hers.

SewRuthie said...

Very nice. I completely ignored this in the mag, but love yours. I like the gathers moved to the bust, and being not all that busty myself could see it being a good thing.

KID, MD said...

Beautiful and IMO much better than the weird burda version. Nice work!

Lisa said...

Nice shirt. Your daughter has a good eye for design. She looks good in her shirt

Claudine said...

Yours looks much better than the original. Moving the gathers makes a huge difference.

Mary Beth said...

Really cute, raising the gathers made this into Perfect for her.

Julie said...

Good call on moving the gathers up. When I see a blouse with the details below the bust, my first impulse is to move them up to the bust. It just looks like the top doesn't fit right otherwise.

PuggleTrouble said...

Love it!

Carol said...

I didn't like the picture either, but it changes everything with the gathers up higher. Plus, I think the cotton works better than a slinky fabric.

neighbourhood.gal said...

Fabulous! I too thought the blouse was serious ugliness - especially in the photo. I would have completely overlooked it, but now I might give it a second glance.

Little Hunting Creek said...

I like your version best - very nice

Kathi said...

How very pretty!!

Mary Nanna said...

I was really intrigued by this issue: they used an older woman with what looked to me like a waist that had seen childbirth. I really applauded them for that - what's more they used her for 2 shoots - which meant she had a high profile in the magazine.

But there's no doubt - some of the clothes don't look that flattering on her and - gasp - don't even fit that well.

Since that experiment I've noticed they're back to young, svelte beauties and each theme has a different model, so clearly it was not a big hit. That's a shame. But maybe we all like a little fantasy in our lives?

I think you and your daughter have improved this design immeasurably. I thought the original design had possibilities, but somehow didn't quite work, too much "low" - low gathers, low sleeve detail. It looks more balanced now and the eye moves more restfully.

gwensews said...

I hope she loves that blouse because it is as cute as can be on her!

Gay McDonell said...

That's a very sweet top - love the embroidery - great modifications.

Joy said...

Lovely save on that pattern! I had shuddered and dismissed it when I first saw it. But yours turned out beautiful.

Uta said...

I absolutely agree with your opinion on the blouse as it is in the magazine - terribly unflattering gathers. But I like the rest of the blouse, and I love how yours turned out, so I'll file away your tip on gathering from the top for the future!