Burda Style For people who sew

Craft guru, Kathy Cano-Murillo, is wrapping up her next book which is all about “artful stitching.” She’s requesting submissions of blurbs from folks about their various sewing experiences to sprinkle throughout the book. From her blog: “Something gone bad, a favorite memory, even a favorite book you read that has sewing in it, a lesson learned, a sewing circle you belong to, a trick you learned, etc.” Read more about her book and send your submission via her blog.

I hope everyone had a Happyy Christmas! I certainly did, we visited our adopted Aussie family for Christmas Day lunch. Our girls had a wonderful time playing with their friend while I sat on my behind all day being looked after and my husband spent the day getting very very merry! As nice as Christmas is I’m always glad when it’s over and I can breathe a sigh of relief. I spent the last few weeks chained to my sewing machine making gifts for my girls, a mixture of dress up outfits, skirts, aprons and bags. I managed to finish most of what I’d planned and they were really happy with everything. Now I’m itching for 2008 to start, I have so many things I want to do and make but have felt I couldn’t get started on because I had Christmas to get through first.

Then there’s the baby I’ll be having in March, I have around 11 weeks left in my pregnancy and I’m looking forward to getting it over with. I’m feeling a little tired of being pregnant; I want my figure back the way it used to be pre pregnancy, slim! I’m looking forward to making and wearing the Anita skinny jeans and an Alden raincoat since I’ll (hopefully) have my figure back in time for autumn. I’d like to start sewing these before I have baby because I know time will be precious but I don’t want to guess my size as it could take a little while before I get back to my pre pregnancy weight. Since I still have a while to go and I have a limited amount of clothing that fits over my HUGE bump I’m going to make a few more maternity items before I get started on the skinny clothes! This week I made up a muslin of Desira using a cotton sheet I bought at the thrift store a few weeks back for $2. I made the alterations I mentioned in last weeks blog post, the top turned out too long so I shortened it by about 4 or 5 inches, I also left off the sleeve cuffs and gave them a binding instead. I photographed it with and without the belt and I feel there are some changes needed, the neckband gapes which I think could be rectified by cutting the neckband on the bias (which I didn’t do) or maybe I need to make some sort of change to the front pattern piece, what do you think?

The Layla sewalong is almost over and I’ve seen some fantastic aprons posted here on the site. I made my girls miniature versions as Christmas gifts and they love them. If you have made one please post a picture in the creations section and let us know in the forum who you made it for, your choice of fabrics and any alterations you made etc. I have started a new thread for us to choose the pattern for our next project. Head on over there to make your suggestion and I’ll let you know next week what the project will be.

See you next year!

If you’re looking for ideas for alternative closures on your clothing, check out the post on The Sewing Divas – fabric flower “buttons” offer a unique variation on the button.

I just learned through the <a

href=“http://1ststeptosewingsuccess.blogspot.com/2007/12/home-sewing-association-closing-its.html&#8221;&gt;Sewing

Success Sewing Blog that the Home Sewing Association is closing

its doors at the end of the year. Their <a

href=“http://www.sewing.org/&#8221;&gt;web site is a fantastic resource

with a virtual

encyclopedia of sewing resources, <a

href=“http://www.sewing.org/enthusiast/html/e_learntosew.html&#8221;&gt;lessons

and free

projects. They even have a section called <a

href=“http://www.sewing.org/enthusiast/html/e_behindseams.html&#8221;&gt;&quot;Behind

the Seams: Sewing Rooms Unveiled" where they’ve featured photos of

visitors’ sewing rooms (great inspiration). What a loss to the sewing

community. If you haven’t spent time on the site before, hop on over

to you can explore and download resources before they close up shop at

the end of the year.

For the past week I feel like I have been chained to my sewing machine. Christmas is upon us and since I decided to take the handmade pledge the majority of presents my girls will receive on Christmas Day will be made by me. Why on earth do I do these things to myself? I must be mad but then I remember that by making everything I’m limiting the amount of plastic, unethical rubbish that enters my home. In the past few days I’ve managed to whip up a few ruffle skirts and an apron for each girl made by reducing the Layla pattern to their size. I still have more clothes to make, nightdresses, tops and trousers maybe as well as two bride dresses with veils and I crazily keep on adding to my list, someone make me STOP! I’ve also crocheted teacups and biscuits and I’m halfway though handstitching a quilt. Next year I vow to start on my Christmas making earlier, especially since I’ll have 3 girls to make for by that time, maybe I should start as soon as the New Year kicks in? Hmmm.

I’ve also managed to finish sewing up the third pair of trousers I made from the Nichola pattern. They are so comfortable that I’m thinking of making another pair in denim. I still haven’t managed to make the Lydia top and I’m not going to promise to have it done this side of Christmas or even the New Year but I did get the pattern put together and cut out ready and it hangs in my sewing room where it’s a constant reminder for me to get it done. I cleared up my sewing room on Sunday, I started after a late breakfast and it took me 5 hours! I moved everything, vacuumed, changed furniture around and put stuff away, I even did some dusting and I never do that. I’m so glad I did it though, it was far too messy in there for me to actually do anything constructive and it wasn’t particularly inspiring, i’m trying my hardest to keep it tidy. I think I must be nesting  I even swept the yard today, crazy!

Anyway, I’ve worked on how I will change the Desira pattern and have come up with the solution in the picture above. I will extend the front downwards giving the hem a curve and also extend widthways into the shape you see in the drawing. I will have the ties underneath the bust and above my bump. To help keep the top wrapped over my bump I plan to add small ties to the inside side seam. I’m also going to leave off the plackets on the sleeves I think, I’m not too fond of them. Please tell me if you think it’ll work or if you have a different suggestion. I plan to make up a muslin in the next week or so to work from. Now I’m off to lock myself in my sewing room again, luckily I have downloaded a few good audio books to keep me company although I do have the odd little person wander in to ‘help Mama’ by leaving a trail of buttons, fabric scraps and pencils strewn across the floor. Ah the joys of motherhood, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Happy holidays!!!

ADVENT QUIZ #18

So happy to announce that congrats are in order for Julie Eastwood, for answering the 17th advent calendar quiz question correctly! The question- Where did Gabrielle Chanels’ nickname “Coco” come from?. Her answer- Her nickname “Coco” came from a song she sang at this time about a little dog, although she later said it was a pet name used by her father for her.

Now, for the 18th Advent question is:

Who designed the famous black dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in "Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

Please send your answer to answers@burdastyle.com with subject line: “Advent Quiz #18" and PLEASE be sure to include your mailing address in your response so that we can quickly mail you your Christmas treats!

We look forward to seeing all your responses! Rules and regulations, you find here.

Good Luck!

Don’t worry if you haven’t won yet, we still have 6 days until Christmas! But if you have won already, please share the Holiday spirit with members who haven’t! We’ll only choose winners who haven’t won yet.

1. Where are you from and/or where do you live?

I´m born, grew up and still live in Dresden (Germany). I love this city! I made my job training as an occupational therapist here and worked for three years in this job. now I´m waiting for a retraining in the next year because I can´t work any longer in this profession (I must not carry heavy things…) I hope my hobby becomes a profession :)!!!

2. What was the 1st thing you made? How did you start sewing?

I grew up int the GDR (east germany). nice clothes were scarce and expensive. so my mother sewed for our family (for her, my dad, for my sister and me). my sister, too, began sewing clothes for her dolls and later for herself. and then I also began sewing. I think the first thing I made is a quilt and a pillow for my doll. then from old shirts skirts together with my sister ;). In my youth i had first tried working with patterns and real fabrics, but I did not actually wear many of them, because the result wasn´t so good ;P! I gave up on that for a while. And when I began to work I did not have much time for it.
But now…in January 2007 i tried again and was very happy that it was a success! And I can´t stop, like you seeing here on this side!!!

3. What role does sewing play in your life?

At the moment it plays a very big role! I have much time for it and use it for sew a lot. I want to improve my skills to prepare me to be trained at a fashion school, hopefully.

4. What is your favorite and what is your least favorite thing about sewing?

I love to see how a project goes to the end, see it finished. Wearing it and getting compliments for it ( Who wouldn’t like that ;P). What I really don´t like is to copy patterns and cut the fabric pieces out. For me it´s very annoying. Also when something doesn´t work in the way I want it to work.

5. If you could make something for anyone who would it be and what would you make?

I like to sew clothes for my friends and family. It´s very nice to see them smiling and happy about the things I´ve done for them. What I would to sew are historical and film costumes. When I saw those costumes that made by mellu and paranoire I wish I could make this, too!
I also have some plans for my future which have a lot to do with sewing and pattern making for other people…

6. What are you looking for on our site? What do you think should be improved and what do you really like?

I really like to get much inspiration from other members’ creations. Also the free pattern downloads and how to´s! It´s great to have a forum for these things and to communicate with other members. And get feedback on my creations is a very good thing!
What should be improved are the things that don´t work on this side (the problems are listed in the forum). I know that´s not so easy as we thought but with the time it´s very frustrating. Hope you get a handle on this, because I love burdastyle :) and it would be nice to use it without any trouble!

7. What is your motto?

I did not use to have a motto, … but now: Never give up!

Erin over at A Dress A Day is offering a 2008 daybook with all

sorts of fun and interesting fashion quotes scattered throughout.

You can purchase

a pre-printed, bound copy or download a PDF and print and bind it

yourself!

ADVENT QUIZ #17

So happy to announce that congrats are in order for Yoshimi Tanaka, for answering the 16th advent calendar quiz question correctly! The question- Should the under collar be smaller or larger than the top collar?. Her answer- smaller

Now, for the 17th Advent question is:

Where did Gabrielle Chanels’ nickname “Coco” come from?

Please send your answer to answers@burdastyle.com with subject line: “Advent Quiz #17" and PLEASE be sure to include your mailing address in your response so that we can quickly mail you your Christmas treats!

We look forward to seeing all your responses! Rules and regulations, you find here.

Good Luck!

Don’t worry if you haven’t won yet, we still have 7 days until Christmas! But if you have won already, please share the Holiday spirit with members who haven’t! We’ll only choose winners who haven’t won yet.

ADVENT QUIZ #16

So happy to announce that congrats are in order for Diana Foss, for answering the 15th advent calendar quiz question correctly! The question- What types of fabric are velvet and corduroy?. Her answer- pile fabrics

Now, for the 16th Advent question is:

Should the under collar be smaller or larger than the top collar?

Please send your answer to answers@burdastyle.com with subject line: “Advent Quiz #16" and PLEASE be sure to include your mailing address in your response so that we can quickly mail you your Christmas treats!

We look forward to seeing all your responses! Rules and regulations, you find here.

Good Luck!

Don’t worry if you haven’t won yet, we still have 10 days until Christmas! But if you have won already, please share the Holiday spirit with members who haven’t! We’ll only choose winners who haven’t won yet.

ADVENT QUIZ #15

Congratulations to Susan Manthey, for answering the 14th advent calendar quiz question correctly! The question- What is the source of Cashmere?. Her answer- ”The wool from the Kashmir goat”

Now, for the 15th Advent question is:

What type of fabric are velvet and corduroy?

Please send your answer to answers@burdastyle.com with subject line: “Advent Quiz #15" and PLEASE be sure to include your mailing address in your response so that we can quickly mail you your Christmas treats!

We look forward to seeing all your responses! Rules and regulations, you find here.

Good Luck!

Don’t worry if you haven’t won yet, we still have 9 days until Christmas! But if you have won already, please share the Holiday spirit with members who haven’t! We’ll only choose winners who haven’t won yet.

ADVENT QUIZ #14

So happy to announce that congrats are in order for Bärbel Born, for answering the 13th advent calendar quiz question correctly! The question- Which American designer invented the idea of a capsule wardrobe in the 1990s?. Her answer- Donna Karan

Now, for the 14th Advent question is:

What is the fiber source of cashmere fibers?

Please send your answer to answers@burdastyle.com with subject line: “Advent Quiz #14" and PLEASE be sure to include your mailing address in your response so that we can quickly mail you your Christmas treats!

We look forward to seeing all your responses! Rules and regulations, you find here.

Good Luck!

Don’t worry if you haven’t won yet, we still have 10 days until Christmas! But if you have won already, please share the Holiday spirit with members who haven’t! We’ll only choose winners who haven’t won yet.

We put together a little collection of quick and easy Christmas gifts for you all so you can show off your sewing skills and creativity to your loved ones. There is plenty of room to have fun and be creative with these projects, so go nuts! If you always thought Aunt Sally should have a pair of fluffy hot pink slippers, now’s your chance. Please post your creations before you give them away so we can see how great they turned out.

You find the bib pattern here, and you learn in How To section to Make Fancy Towels and to Make a Scrunchy Hair Tie. The slippers will be posted soon….

For those in the Toronto area who would like a chance to put their

sewing skills to charitable use – head over to the Sewing Studio’s

Six-Hour Sweatshop event on Sunday, December 16. They’ve been

sewing gifts for charities for an entire month, and are wrapping up

the marathon event with a party where folks can purchase handmade

items and all proceeds will go to a handful of charities. More details

are available on their

website.

ADVENT QUIZ #13

Congratulations to Emily McGehee, for answering the 12th advent calendar quiz question correctly! The question- “Tatter” is another term for what?. Her answer- ”Tatter: To makes lace edgings.”

Now, for the 13th Advent question is:

Which American designer invented the idea of a capsule wardrobe in the 1990s?

Please send your answer to answers@burdastyle.com with subject line: “Advent Quiz #13" and PLEASE be sure to include your mailing address in your response so that we can quickly mail you your Christmas treats!

We look forward to seeing all your responses! Rules and regulations, you find here.

Good Luck!

Don’t worry if you haven’t won yet, we still have 11 days until Christmas! But if you have won already, please share the Holiday spirit with members who haven’t! We’ll only choose winners who haven’t won yet.