Saturday 3 April 2010

Bird Blouse

You may or may not recall that last year I became something of a Pro-Blouse campaigner. Well, naturally my dedication wained somewhat during winter, but with the first signs of Spring I have felt it return with avengeance. Simply put: I loves me a cute blouse. I've had this pattern from the 1/2008 Burda magazine in mind for sometime, and with the weather and fabric complying, I knew it was time. I mean look at the sum of it's parts: short puffy sleeves that do not require a button opening, rounded collar AND a bib panel?! Basically, this pattern is so up my street that we often lend each other cups of sugar!

So this is my version. I told myself it was going to be a (fingers crossed) wearable toile more than anything else, since I can never be arsed to make a normal toile, and it is subsequently unlikely to fit perfectly. The fabric was very cheap printed cotton from Ikea that I've had in my stash for over a year, with BIRDS! I frikkin' love bird anything, me. I've seen others on Burdastyle use this fabric too and all the outcomes have been very sweet. I decided to add a ruffle to breakup the mental pattern a bit, and to emphasise the bib panel which would probably have got lost in the busy-ness.

The buttons are boring plain white ones I had in my stash, but I thought it best to keep that element plain with all the craziness going on. The pattern actually has a concealed button placket thing going on, which is why there are no visible buttons below the bib section on the technical drawing above, but I thought that was a bridge too far for me and eliminated that detail. I've noticed Burda magazine does tend to over-design their styles on occasion.

So, inevitably the question of fit must be answered. No, it doesn't fit perfectly. I did what I always do with Burda magazine and Burdastyle patterns, I carefully and honestly measure myself (no vanity measuring round here!), dutifully pick the size that corresponds with said measurements, cut and make it. And it ALWAYS turns out too big. I think I must have had a few painful disasters that I've blocked from my memory of making garments irrevocably small in the past which forces me to never to heed my Burda lessons and go off-piste with their prescribed sizing. Basically this blouse is fine around the waist/hips but is about one size too big over the bust and one or one and a half sizes too big around the shoulders. I'm guessing I like my garments to have less ease than the Burdas deem appropiate. Ah, next time...?

Despite, or more likely because of, the fit issues, this blouse is extremely comfortably and doesn't look too bad. I've worn it almost every day since it's completion (that's only a few days, I'm not a scuzz!). I've got a heap of variations in mind for more of these blouses, and I'm wondering how many I can jam into my wardrobe before people start to realise that I'm continously wearing the same garment. Still, I thought that about Built by Wendy/Simplicity 3835 when that pattern crush hit hard. Such concerns didn't stop me making six versions based on that pattern!

15 comments:

Debi said...

I love it!! I love the addition of the ruffle too! YAY! Looks fabulous!

Miss Lottie Lou said...

Ahh it's so cute!! I think it was a good plan to keep the buttons simple and adding the ruffle round the bib panel was genius, looks really good.
Lottie x

Cecili said...

Your blouse is super cute! The ruffle definitely enhances the bib and the proportions look perfect to me :) But I agree that I too often has to alter BWOF patterns in the shoulders area, they tend to make them a bit too big. I also wanted to thank you for commenting on my blog and yes, I'm a native French speaker^^. A bientôt!

Uta said...

Very nice, esp. the ruffle! From what I can see I wouldn't say it's too big. That is a very pretty pattern, and birds and me... It's just the same! I haven't sewn a blouse yet, but I wear them at least half the time, even in winter under sweaters, so I probably ought to stop wasting my money at H & M and get sewing some!

Clare said...

Love it! That print really works, and I love what you did with the ruffle.

Minnado said...

Lovely blouse - the ruffle makes it extra cute. It is interesting to know about the sizing with burda patterns - I was eyeing a burda pattern mag in my local shop the other day...

Tilly said...

I ruddy love birds! So many lovely fabrics in Ikea, but I don't drive so can't get there very easily :(

Sunni said...

I simply love it. I need to get a pattern like this. One that I make over and over again. It's a good staple. And well, if the shoe fits why not have several pairs right? It's darling and I love the sweet ruffle! Everything looks better with ruffles I think!

frk.bustad said...

The fit looks quite good nevertheless. I've stopped following the measurements charts that Burda gives, and measures directly on the pattern pieces to get the approximate size. Great idea of making a muslin though, using some cheap fabric instead of just calico. I love the birds!

Angela said...

Cute top! Love the added ruffle!

Tasia said...

Cute blouse! Love the ruffle, it's such a nice touch. How great is that print with birds on it!
I'm the same way, if I find a pattern that works for me, I make it again and again. Why not? :)

Stephanie said...

I L-O-V-E it!!!

Vonnie said...

So, SO cute!

angie.a said...

Very cute. LOVE that pattern and had totally forgotten it!

I always do my high bust measurement to cut the shoulder/neck portion, then use my full bust measurement/waist/hip to cut the rest. It's tracing between sizes, but I get a lot better fit that way! (This may be exactly what you do, but just in case your tracing your full bust for shoulders, I thought I'd give you another idea. :)

Rose said...

I really love it! Great choice in fabric, too!

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