Burda Style For people who sew

Last night Tessuti Fabrics hosted the very first Melbourne CBD BurdaStyle Club meet! Ten lovely ladies attended and the night started off quietly as everyone felt a little nervous but once we had introduced ourselves and i asked everyone to do a little show and tell of their most recent, current and future creations the chatter was soon flowing. There were some wonderful creations that included vintage dresses, teddy bear shirts, childrens clothes and handbags.

We did not sew at our first meet, instead we took the opportunity of having Colette and her Mum Silva there and picked their brains. Between them both they knew all the answers to all the questions asked and there were many! We also had the chance to flick through the new arrival of Japanese sewing books and shop at our leisure with a bonus discount. There were nibbles including delicious biscuits from Brunetti and plenty of tea.

Being the first meet we were unsure of what to expect and discussed what we would like from future meets. We talked about tutorials we could do such as how to sew slippery fabrics and sew in zips and more advanced classes that could be organised. We will hopefully have sewing machines set up soon to save people having to bring theirs in with them. We also decided that meeting once a month would give us plenty of time inbetween to create something new for the next show and tell.

Have there been any other BurdaStyle Club meets yet? I’d love to hear how they went and what you have planned for future meets. Maybe you’d even like to show your photos in the BurdaStyle Flickr group?

If you’re in Melbourne and would like to attend a future meet please email me at nikkishell@burdastyle.com. Also, there is a possibility i will be hosting a meet at one of the Sydney Tessuti stores in August so if you are interested in attending that please email me.

Nichola.x

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It’s time for a new sewalong here on BurdaStyle! For those of you who took part in the Bow-Tie Sewalong you should have your creations sent into BurdaStyle before the end of April. Mine will be in the post tomorrow!

For the next month we will be digging into the piles we have scattered around or sewing rooms and the rest of the house and pulling out those unfinished projects.
Maybe your unfinished project was left behind due to a problem you encountered or a mistake you made or maybe you didn’t feel the love anymore or just didn’t have time to finish it. Well now is the time to get it finished! Maybe you will love it again once it’s finished or maybe you would like to swap it or gift it to someone. You WILL feel good knowing you have finished it. EVERYONE has at least one unfinished project. I’m too embarrased to tell you how many i have!

Are you in?! I most definitely am and i will be starting with my Bella jeans and Ute blouse i have cut out and draped across my workbench and sewing machine. I also have a JJ blouse i started while still pregnant! (Heidi is now one year old). I accidentally cut a hole in it and promptly lost the love for it. So i’ll be making an attempt to finish that too.

Leave a message in the thread telling us which projects you plan to finish. If you need help with anything ask questions, there will be someone who can help you.

At the end of May we will all feel great knowing that we finished that project and will have something new to wear without having to go out and spend more money and that’s a good enough reason for me!

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Now that the Melbourne Stitches & Craft Show is over i have a little extra time to sew. My first project was to make some bow-ties for the Sewalong. I chose a number of pink and black fabrics from one of my favourite fabric stores, Amitie Textiles, here in Melbourne. I particularly love the fine stripes! I had thought of embelishing some of them but i think that the fabric speaks for itself, so simple yet so striking. All i need now is to take a trip to the fabric store to find the correct size sliders, those i bought a while back were too small. I’m thinking of making some more snazzy bow-ties too. They’re so quick and easy to make and so addictive! Have you had time sew up a bow-tie for the sewalong? Don’t forget that they will need to be with us by May 4th after which they will be auctioned off to help the American Cancer Society.

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Don’t forget that we have sewalong happening at the moment. The David bow tie is not only a great way to accessorise your outfit but you can also do a little good by making one (or a few) to donate to the American cancer Society.

To make a difference download the free David Bow Tie pattern and check out our many bow tie How To’s. Using pink and/or black fabric you can choose to make the bow tie as it is in the pattern or alter it in some way. Change the shape of the bow tie, make it bigger or round the edges maybe. Why not add some kind of embellishment? How about buttons, beads, sparkles, sequins, ribbon or embroidery? There is only one rule, the bow tie’s must be pink and/or black so get creative!

Send them in to us by May 4th to donate to the good cause. The sew along has been extended, and I will be answering any and all questions in the forums.

There are a few points to remember while sewing for the American Cancer Society:

1 The ties must be pink or black or a combination of both.

2 We need to receive them by May 4th.

3 Send your bow tie to:BurdaStyle 325 Gold st Suite 201 Brooklyn, NY. 11201.

4 Include your personal story on a note card if you wish.

Head on over here to download your pattern which is FREE then check out the Sewalong thread in the forums.

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We are still looking for volunteers to help out for a few hours each day with the BurdaStyle stand at the Stitches and Craft Shows. It would mainly be while I attend to the workshops and fashion show. In return for your help you will receive a great little goodie bag.
If you are interested in being part of the show or would like more info please email Nichola at nikkishell@burdastyle.com

Show dates:
Melbourne- 11th till 15th March
Brisbane- 29th April till 3rd May
Sydney- 19th till 23rd August

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BurdaStyle is heading Downunder to Australia to attend the Stitches & Craft Shows. I will be representing BurdaStyle at all three shows, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
If you’d like to be involved by helping me out on the stand or taking part in the fashion show with your BurdaStyle creation(s) please email me at nikkishell@burdastyle.com.

You can find out more about the shows at the Stitches & Craft Show website

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Turning down a small alleyway in North Melbourne the last thing you would expect to come across is a sewing lounge but if that alleyway is just off Errol Street then that is exactly what you will find. Climb your way up the stairs to find a cosy but organised place selling an array of beautiful vintage and original fashions and a light filled space equipped with sewing machines and overlockers for hire. Thread Den opened in November 2007 and is the creation of Melissa Kramer, Kylie Shepherd, Erica Menting and Tennille Rohde.

You can hire a sewing machine by the hour or attend one of their Many classes, they have previously used BurdaStyle patterns which include the Anita jeans. They also offer private lessons and in January will have a week full summer holiday program suitable for kids and teens.

www.threadden.com
Level 1, 16 Errol St
North Melbourne
(Entrance via Webbs Lane)
Tel: +61 3 9329 5305

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Christmas is a mere 6 weeks away. ‘Where did the time go?’ I hear you ask, I keep asking myself the same question. I’m yet to get started on my handmade Christmas gifts but I do have a shopping trip planned for next week to stock up on supplies and get down to business. We don’t give a lot of gifts in our family, since we live in Australia and all of our relatives live on the other side of the world in the UK it seems silly to spend so much on gifts and their postage costs. This arrangement suits me fine since we have more than enough of what we need, although it is nice to receive a few surprises on Christmas Day. I think I’ve said before how expensive Christmas can be and how carried away we can get with gift giving so we plan to give our girls only a few gifts this year and focus more on the time we spend together rather than the actual gifts themselves.

This brings me to think about those that do not have families to share the holidays with or those parents that cannot afford to buy their kids a gift. I have a loving family with whom I can spend my time with and the ability to give my children a gift or two. It’s that simple, my family is important and I am lucky to be in the position I am. I do not have a lot of spare time on my hands but this year I will be making a few extra gifts to give to those less fortunate and I urge you to do the same.

I have started up a thread in the forum for us to discuss this topic. I would like for you to give details of charities you know of that need gifts for Christmas, there are charities such as the Mirabel Foundation here in Melbourne which assists children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use who are looking for gifts to give to these children. I would also like to know about charities helping out adults too.

Please take the time to sew up a small gift; you really will make someone’s Christmas special by doing so.

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Oh man! Where do i start!? What a crazy few weeks I’ve had. Each member of my family has been ill with Gastroenteritis, all except me who had to take care of them all. Poor little Heidi even ended up in the emergency department for a night. I’ve also had some major computer problems where my laptop died, i bought a new one while it was being repaired and earlier this week it was returned to me and i was able to retrieve all my work. Thank goodness i did, i won’t go into the gory details but let’s just say that laptops and vomit don’t mix. So, i’ve been busy but not sewing, in fact i think my machine has collected a good layer of dust this past fortnight. I have been itching to sew and have so many things to work on but alas taking care of my poor sick family comes first.

I’m incredibly impressed with the entries for the recycle mini challenge and i’m look forward to seeing who the winner is. Of course i think you all deserve a prize! I have started a new sewalong in the forum, this time we’re having a Christmas theme, between now and the end of the year we will be sewing Christmas related projects. If you plan to sew Christmas gifts or party outfits then head over there and tell us all about it. I truly can’t believe that Christmas is almost upon us already, it feels like this year has gone by in a flash.

I plan to make my girls a waldorf doll each amongst other things although this year we are simplifying the gift giving after spending far too much in previous years on gifts that now clutter our home or ended up as waste because they did not pass the kiddy test. The one person i struggle to sew for is my husband Kev, he’s a little fussy about what he wears, he’s a jeans and t-shirt guy so i’m thinking i will use the Pete pattern and make up a few simple t-shirts for him. If they pass the fit and fabric touch tests then they should be a winner. I’ll be borrowing one of his favourite t-shirts to compare fit but first i must find some good quality knit fabric, some of the stuff i’ve seen is just not up to scratch. A call to one of my favourite fabric stores, Tessuti is in order, i think they have some lovely organic knits.

What Christmas sewing do you have planned? Do you have gifts in mind for your children, family and friends? Leave a comment and tell us about it or even better go join in the sewalong!

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Don’t forget that today is the last day to submit your creation for the recycle mini challenge. Have it uploaded by midnight tonight to be in the running for some fabulous prizes! See more details here.

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Details about how to vote will come soon.

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The BurdaStyle Mini challenge is back but with a twist! Starting today Sunday the 12th of October you have 2 weeks to make and upload your creation to the site for a chance to win some special secret sewing treats and BurdaStyle goodies! And the twist? Your creation MUST be recycled. You may use any patterns, how-to’s or techniques featured on the BurdaStyle site.

THE RULES:

• You need to be a registered member to take part.

• Your creation MUST be recycled.

• You must upload your creation into the ‘Mini Challenge’ category by Sunday the 26th of October.

• Put the word “recycle” into the name/title of your creation so we can tell it’s for this MiniChallenge

• When you upload your creation you must give a detailed description of how you made your creation, the patterns, how-to’s or techniques you used, materials you used and how it was recycled etc.

• Show us your ‘before’ materials in a photograph.

The mini challenge will be judged by you the members. Voting will start on Tuesday the 28th of October, more details about how to vote will be given at a later date. When voting you should take the following into consideration:

• Creativity.

• Wearability.

• Skills and techniques used.

• Best use of recycled materials.

• And of course your favourite!

• You can vote once only.

This is going to be fun!!! Are you up for the challenge?
Feel free to ask any questions.

EDIT TO ADD: Anyone can take part, no matter which country you live in. Upload your creation in the ‘creation’ section of this site and add it to the ‘mini challenge’category. Make sure you put RECYCLED in your title.

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A few of you gave me a much deserved kick up the ‘you know where’ but alas it wasn’t enough for me get anything worth showing done on my jacket. I did do a little work on it but not enough to babble on about here. Sigh. Next week? Should I promise?

I did manage to finish my Kasia skirt and I LOVE it! The waistband was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, so many pieces and easy for them to get mixed up. I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out which piece was which after they’d been mixed up. It was quick to sew up otherwise, or it would have been if I hadn’t had trouble with the zipper. I decided to use an invisible zipper but once it was sewn in I couldn’t open it past a particular point. It turns out that one of the teeth was damaged so I had to unpick the whole thing and use a regular zipper. Ugh, I was not happy oh but I am now that it’s all finished. I think this could be one of my favourite patterns at the moment, it fits in all the right places, feels snug enough around my hips and bottom and the high waistband holds in my leftover mummy tummy. I made no alterations to the pattern, there was no need. What more could I ask for? Perfect!

What makes it even better is it cost me nothing but my time to make. The denim was given to me (I have denim coming out mf my ears), the zip was from my stash and the buttons are vintage glass buttons I had found at the thrift store sometime earlier this year. A stash busting garment always makes me smile :) I’d like to say I’m going to make more from this pattern but who knows when I’ll get around to that. If you haven’t already made this skirt then you absolutely must, when you’re done reading here head on over to this page, print out the pattern and get to work.

I have decided to shame myself into getting some of my projects finished. I have started a thread over in the forum where I have listed unfinished and yet to be started sewing projects which I will (hopefully) cross off as i finish them. I will also add projects as they come up. Anyone care to join me? I have this funny idea that it will make me more productive and stop procrastinating although it could all go horribly wrong.

Also, don’t forget about the sewalong for the Laura dress.

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