Burda Style For people who sew
Description
It was such a mistake to wait until two days before attending a wedding to start making a dress to wear for the event! It was particularly dumb considering I was planning on making a bombshell dress. It was much more time consuming than I expected. In the end, it turned out alright, but I stressed myself out trying to finish the dress. I ended up finishing it on the day of the wedding.
The fabric I bought was cotton seething in sea foam color. I tend to go for dark blue, purple or lavender so I wanted to try something new. I didn’t realize it was such a bridemaidsy color until I was close to completing the dress. Thank God that we don’t have the bridesmaid tradition here in Japan. No one thought I looked like a bridesmaid because they don’t know what they are! The game would not have worked if it were a wedding in the States.
The pattern is a Burda pattern that came with Craftsy.com’s Perfect Fit Bombshell Dress class I took. I do like the pattern a lot. The sweet heart neckline is really lovely, and I like the sarong skirt. I did not have enough fabric to make the sarong skirt, so I used the pattern I previously drafted myself. It is an I line skirt with pleats in front and darts in back.
I cut out the smallest size pattern, and made a muslin. I’m not sure what the measurements should be for the smallest size, because I didn’t have time to read directions, but it was way too big for me. I ended up taking 6″ all around the bodice. I’m not sure what happened?! I usually fit the smallest size of the Burda pattern just fine. I was so glad to have made the muslin though! I would not have been happy if I jumped in with the fashion fabric just to discover that the dress didn’t fit at all.
I usually go for an invisible zipper, but as suggested in the class, I used flat zipper. I do like the look of it, and it is easier to zip up than an invisible zipper. Sometimes I fear that I will kill the zipper when I’m using an invisible one.
The entire dress is underlined with muslin fabric. I love the effect of the underlining! It gave so much structure and shape to the dress, without being stiff like it would have, had I used paper-like iron on interface. I finished the skirt slit opening with grosgrain ribbon, that was left-over from making a waist stay.
For the top part, I lined it with the same fashion fabric, and also boning. The bust is padded. I attached the lining by hand, while watching Season 4 of project runway.
This is only the second strapless dress I have ever worn, the previous being my wedding dress. Thanks to boning in the bodice and waist stay it fit pretty well, better than what I would be able to buy at a store. However, I still felt a bit insecure about the bust line, and I had to pay attention not to reveal my breasts accidentally. I felt a bit “bare” at the wedding… everyone else had some kind of shawl or cardigan and I wished that I brought something to cover my shoulder. Surprisingly, the dress fit better by the end of the day, after all the food!
I think I am going to make shoulder straps so I can wear this for other occasions.
More blogged here
Material Notes
cotton, muslin, plastic boning, thread, flat knit zipper, grosgrain ribbon
Difficulty
Advanced
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15 Comments
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Jan 21, 2012, 07.58 PMby Tokie Ang
it was a great job for 2 days working :D and u look gorgeous in it :D
Sep 8, 2011, 10.28 PMby reanalouise
I don’t think it looks bridesmaidey at all, and I love the colour you chose! You look lovely, and I think it fits really well, too.
I can’t wait to finish my own Bombshell dress! x
Sep 8, 2011, 03.11 AMby hannahlee
Looks great on you! Such a good color. I can’t wait to have the time to make my bombshell!
Sep 7, 2011, 10.41 PMby cuada
It looks great- i’ve waited until the last minute to make wedding outfits for myself too- you always think it’ll come together quicker than it does, thankfully you got it finished, and it fits really well too.
Sep 7, 2011, 09.32 PMby milkyway
lovelyyyyyyy
Sep 7, 2011, 02.36 PMby alefthandgirl
I love the color.
Sep 7, 2011, 02.03 PMby hanolalaith
That’s lovely on you! I’ve been seriously considering buying the class as well. Would you recommend it?
1 Reply
Sep 7, 2011, 11.19 PMby Vivat Veritas
yes i would! it was a great course, and i think its worth the money, if you are interested in couture sewing!
Sep 7, 2011, 01.59 PMby bobthesewer
Fabulous colour!
Sep 7, 2011, 12.23 PMby baka-pepica
ist very very nice!!!
Sep 7, 2011, 11.47 AMby jhurienesling
Gorgeous dress, great color and it suits you perfectly! This looks very much like a dress I made for a friend of mine, well done.
Sep 7, 2011, 08.19 AMby innuendo
It was useful to read your notes, because I cut all the parts of this dress from fabric LAST summer, but haven’t started sewing it yet. Yours looks really good!
1 Reply
Sep 7, 2011, 10.53 AMby Vivat Veritas
thanks! looking forward to seeing your version as well!
Sep 7, 2011, 07.52 AMby ichigogirl
Gorgeous, and the colour is fabulous. I think I like it better with your style skirt than the original, this is more grown up, less little girl.
I would never have thought of the bridesmaid-issue unless you had pointed it out, hehe. With a big, fancy shawl it’d look less bridesmaidsey, I think though!
1 Reply
Sep 7, 2011, 10.52 AMby Vivat Veritas
aw glad to hear! i was so worried about looking like a bridesmaid, but nothing could have done since i finished the dress on the day of the wedding! lol
Sep 7, 2011, 02.57 AMby pink-cornelia
love it! love the color as well!
Sep 7, 2011, 02.55 AMby turtlegirl00
gorgeous dress! I really want to make this dress—I like your skirt—great modification!
1 Reply
Sep 7, 2011, 10.51 AMby Vivat Veritas
thank you! i think im going to try sarong skirt or half circle skirt though:)
Sep 7, 2011, 01.45 AMby tulips371
This is soooo cute!!! Very well done for 2 days!!