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!