Tuesday, May 27, 2008

BWOF 3/08 #108 Blouse

Pattern Description: Small details make a big impact on this blouse. The gathered collar and rounded, pleated pockets furnish that certain special something. In non-Burda-speak, fitted blouse with gathered collar, pleated pockets and flounced sleeves.

Pattern Sizing: BWOF 36-44. I made a straight 38, my usual size in BWOF patterns. If I hadn't been using such a stretchy fabric, I might have gone up to a 40 on this one because it is QUITE fitted.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? More or less, yes. The parts I really liked look like the photo.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Not too bad for BWOF. I don't want to say they're getting better with their instructions for fear that the next pattern I attempt will be completely incomprehensible, but I have noticed a little more clarity lately. That being said, they completely lost me on the sleeve vent, sleeve band and flounce, but it was easy enough to figure out on my own. Whether I did what they wanted me to is another story, but it looks right so that's what matters.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? This was a pattern I liked as soon as I opened the magazine. The pockets reminded me of the folded/pleated skirt BWOF did a while back, and I loved the gathered collar. These are both elements that I will use on future jackets/blouses because after making the pattern, I like them at least as much as I did in the magazine photo. The collar is my favorite part of the entire project.

My least favorite part, and I wish I had read Cabinbaby's review more closely, is that the facings (especially the right one) do not want to stay put inside the blouse. I had to eventually tack them down because otherwise they would roll just enough that the edges would be visible.

Fabric Used: Green stripe with metallic threads picked up at Mood a few months back. I think it's some kind of rayon blend, and it has a significant amount of cross-wise stretch, more so than you would expect. I haven't yet determined what buttons I want to use on this top, but I wanted to post the review while people are still likely to pick up this issue.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I cut the sleeve bands on the bias both to add a little extra interest and to keep me from insanely trying to match the stripes from the sleeve all the way to the flounce (which wouldn't have worked anyway but I would have driven myself crazy trying). I'm not going to add buttons or buttonholes to the pockets. I think that would look good on a solid color, but my fabric didn't need the extra busy-ness of a button there. Other than that, no changes whatsoever.

I have to say it again: I really love the gathered collar. And the drafting on this pattern was good - you know how sometimes you sew your front facings to your back neck facing and the resulting shape appears to belong to another garment entirely? This fit reallly well on the first try, which made me very happy. Next time, however, if there is a next time, I would draft a wider facing so that it would behave better and not keep popping into the otherwise very nice neckline of this top.

I cut this out prior to leaving for vacation, and finished it off this weekend because I'm trying to get all my unfinished projects done with before I touch my vacation fabric. It went together really easily and I like the fit.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? This is definitely on my list of recommendations, with the warning that you might want to grade up a size because this does have quite a snug fit, even with fabric with a crosswise stretch. I don't know if I'll sew this exact top again, but as I said above, the collar and pocket elements are my favorite part of the shirt and I will definitely find uses for them on other projects. All in all, a pretty, flattering shirt.

8 comments:

AllisonC said...

your version is lovely, the posckets and collar look great!

Dawn said...

I don't really like my version but I really like yours. The collar is great isn't it? I found the opposite to be true with the sizing. I'm usually a 36 with Burda and this one was very large and loose on me when I made a straight 36.

toy said...

nice shirt, I like the gathered collar also

MarilynB said...

I love your blouse, especially your choice of fabric for this design.

Cathy said...

Lovely top, Karen. Love those pockets!

CraftRage said...

Oh, I REALLY liked that fabric when you first posted about your NY purchases, and I like it even more now that I've seen it sewn up! That gathered collar looks great!

Meg said...

Nice stripeage!

Claire said...

Yet another really nice shirt. You amaze me with how quickly you get garments made.