Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Burda Challenge: January

Prizes have all been claimed! Congrats to the winners! until next time... :)


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One of my goals for 2015 is to use my Burda magazine subscription that I gifted myself. I've joined a bunch of other PRers and Bloggers in the Burda Challenge!

I am choosing to use all 2015 issues but others are choosing to just sew from the month (of any year) and still others are just planning on sewing ANY Burda magazine pattern each month. 

After going back and forth and back and forth and realizing I was running out of time; I went back to to one of the first things in the mag that caught my eye; this skirt:

Image from the ever so gracious P-an-da who provides us early Burda previews every month!

I chose a tan colored buttersuede that I'd picked up from Hancock sometime ago when they were having a 60% off sale; plus an additional coupon. I paid like $9 for 3 yards of this stuff. It seemed perfect for the skirt -- it would drape nicely, not fray, and have the same feel as the photo.

I grabbed pics on Sunday in full daylight but couldn't find my brown boots! 
I may look unhappy but I really like it! haha!


Photos taken Monday night after finding my brown boots. The lighting isn't too off...

I cut a size 42 and opted to cut the back pattern piece on the fold. As you can see, the right side falls slightly longer than the left and that's the primary reason they have you cut two separate pieces.

However, I cut one and then went back and traced the left side cut line onto my fabric. I then cut off the excess.

After cutting out the back I realized I forgot to add seam allowances - oops. I added 5/8" to the front and sewed 3/8" seam allowances. You can see my side seams are sitting more towards the back than at my sides. In the first photo you may also see that it's a little snug at the waist! :-)

It actually provides decent coverage too! Especially if you REMEMBER the seam allowances(!) as the right side (bottom panel) goes completely to the side seam. 

I did not have petersham and used grosgrain ribbon as the waist stay.
I cut the exposed edges with a rotary cutter for crisp lines.
I serged the side seams but the grey/cream thread stands out more than I'd like. I may go back and bind them.
I opted for snaps instead of buttons.
I think the length is PERFECT.
It has darts! (There are 2 front darts but no back darts).

Definitely consider this one a win and would highly suggest this pattern! I think it's a lot of "bang for the buck"! It looks very stylish and with very little effort.