Vogue 1217 and Burda blouse 10/2011

Any readers who live in a cold climate.... can I come and live with you?  Help!  The weather forecast here for the next week is 40 degrees celcius, 41, 39, 42, 40, 40, 40.  It's ghastly HOT. 

In dire need of hot weather clothes a quickish cotton top was the go.   This fabric is so loud I wasn't sure what to make out of it but eventually picked Vogue 1217, an Anna Sui dress pattern.    

I just realised there are only 2 reviews of this pattern on Sewing Pattern Review - and one of them is by me.   When it came out I assumed it would be quite popular so I'm surprised.  Good job I'm not a Vogue pattern picker, I'd never have a clue what would sell.  

Anyway, it's a nice pattern - give it a try.  Maybe it's better as a top than a dress?   In fact the dress pattern is so mini it doesn't take much to make it a tunic!

This is the version I made a while ago.  Oh how I loved this top until I managed to put a giant rip in it one day! 

It's meant to have a fabric frill attachment but in this print it looked like my chest was exploding.

The fabric is a light cotton from Potters Outlet store.  

Now for a not at all summery and not very successful blouse from Burda 10/2011. 

I think I went wrong with the fabric choice.  Black charmeuse (too heavy) and a black silk georgette remnant for the frilly thing - not too sure what to call it but mine looks disturbingly like a built in napkin. 

But the magazine photo looked so nice!   The Burda version was in 2 layers of georgette and the napkin was in a single layer.  With the benefit of hindsight, this one really needs a very light fabric. 

The napkin is a rectangle with a narrow hem (or left raw if you like the deconstructed look which  Burda did).  A 'V' is staystitched. 

Then the V is basted on either side of the neck point.

You then do your facings or binding and placket as normal. 

The last time I went to Melbourne I came across these little covered snaps and used them for the closures. 

Back to the aircon for me! 

Manequim 631

Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Year!  

Back to work for me today after a nice few days break. Blah! But a treat was awaiting after I moped home. The first of the new Manequim subscription.

The last one ran out mid year but I made a meal of renewing it.  I emailed the renewal form (3 x), posted the renewal form (2 x) and finally faxed it.  In the midst my credit card expired and I re-translated the form and realised I had filled it in wrong.  Aaarghhh!! By the end I was going to renew that subscription or die trying!      

So, what is in it?  Lots of summery things and big on dresses.  They have some freebie patterns too.  First up a tiered skirt, shorts and cotton dress inspired by a young TV actress.   

Then the dress section modelled by I think another TV person?  This is elegant.

Next up beachey clothes including this light cotton top. 

The next section is 'Summer Fabrics'.  Culottes, a blouse, maxi dress, 2 pairs of pants and a summery top.  Funnily there are a couple of things in this Manequim that I'm sure I've seen in earlier editions but in different fabrics.  Including this dress. 

A section of white clothes follows.  A maxi skirt, shorts, 4 simple dresses - full-skirted, racerback maxi, shift and long wrap styles, wide legged trousers and this top.

My favourite in this magazine is in a larger size dress section. 

And last but not least, if you  are going to be needing a formal dress in the near future, Manequim has a new freebie at Manequim patterns, as well as some others that have been up for a few months.  The new one:

And the older ones.