Saturday, February 5, 2022

January Sewing

 My Jan. sewing  had a bit of a trend, tops with draped necklines.  It wasn't planned, it just happened. 

 The first one was featured in the Feb 2021 issue. When I saw it, I recognized it as the same design featured in the Oct 2012 issue.  Have you noticed that BurdaStyle is starting to repeat some styles? I have spotted about 4 other repeated styles recently. Younger sewers probably wouldn't notice, but for those of us with some experience  and large collections of Burdastyle magazines .....



The 2021 version of this top was shown made in knit fabric while the 2012 was in stretch woven. The line drawings are identical.  I traced the  2012 pattern because my chosen fabric was a woven. I am curious if the patterns are exactly the same or  if the more recent one is drafted specifically for knits, but I am too lazy to do the comparison.  My fabric was large scale, irregular plaid, in a twill weave wool.  The fabric was sold  by Fabric Mart Fabrics in 2001 in 72 x 60"  panels  that actually had fringe on both ends.  I kept the fringed remnants to make a scarf. I bought 4 of the panels with some idea of making them into curtains for a dark library/man cave room. That never happened.  Because of the fabric softness and  the bias cut, I did not have to put in a zipper in this top.  I am amazed at how small this top makes my waist look.  I assure  you, my waist is the same  33" one I have had for years. Ha Ha, maybe my hips got bigger.  The top coordinates with the green wool pants I sewed late last year. 



Top number two is style 115 from the August 2021 issue of Burdastyle. 


 It has a high, draped, cross over neckline on a basic boxy bodice. The fabric is a textured cotton blend  knit from Metro Fabrics. I miss visiting Metro Fabrics. A friend of mine was recently in NYC and visited Kashi (Metro), Mood and I think, B&J.  She said Mood was a mess, like major remodeling and B&J had gone to swatch samples at the end of each row of fabric, instead of customer browsing.  I was thinking of going to NYC to look for fabrics for a mother of the groom dress, but my friend's report put me off the idea.   


  I have seen various makes of this top on the internet and the shape of the neckline is very much affected by the drape or stiffness of the  chosen fabric.  My fabric is fairly firm and the neckline stands up nicely. This top is a great alternative to the sweaters I usually wear in the winter.



12 comments:

  1. Those are two great styles with well chosen fabrics!

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  2. lovely. now I'm tempted by both those patterns. The first one also would be nice in sleeveless for summer.

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  3. Inspiring...Just this morning I was yearning for a new top to throw on with my jeans that had a new twist and not the same old style, change fabric.
    Thank you for answering my call

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  4. years ago I was going to make the dress version of the second pattern. Forget why I never did. It's gorgeous as a top too. Nice!

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    1. I remember seeing some great versions of the dress made by bloggers when the pattern was first published. I will have to remember the style if a "dress occasion" comes up in the future.

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    2. Yes to remembering! Especially as you've done the hard work with fitting and making it up already.

      I find that the difficult bit. I'm learning to shop my fabric stash (I'm not buying new fabric until mid-year at least, to get me better at shopping the stash!)

      But I think I need to embark on a campaign of shopping my pattern stash first too!

      Thanks for the heads-up about there being great versions out there. I'll have to have a look :-)

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  5. That cowl-necked beauty is included among the 21 patterns in the book "Burdastyle Modern Sewing: Wardrobe Essentials. Includes directions for knits and wovens, I dimly recall ... will have to search out my copy to verify.

    Nice thing about that book is that it is spiral-bound, thus easy to glance at instructions as you sew the interesting garments included.

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    1. Stretch gabardine is recommended. So, either knits or wovens should work.

      I put this pattern in my "want to make" queue sometime in 2018. Might actually get around to it this year. Or not.

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    2. That is so interesting. Thanks for the info. I am curious to see what other styles are in the Burdastyle Modern Sewing book. I will have to look for a copy.

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  6. Ooh, both of those are gorgeous! I especially like the plaid one; with that brooch it gives off strong Vivienne Westwood vibes!

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  7. The top kept reminding me of Highlander and meeting of the clans, but yes! to Vivienne Westwood. I love her designs and use of plaid fabric.

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