Hi everybody! I have been MIA for quite some time now, and I have genuinely missed you all and the sewing and blogging world a lot! Where was I? Well, stuff happened and this and that and the other thing and then, yadda, yadda, yadda, I sewed this dress! 🙂
I might blog about the lull at some point, but right now, it’s a sewing blog, so onwards and upwards! I can’t wait to see what all of you have been up to! Feel free to leave a link in the ‘comments’ section of your favourite recent activity, if you like.
A sincere Thank You to everybody who asked about me on twitter, instagram, email and even through the post and in person and kept me in mind! It was so very sweet of all of you. (I must give a special shout out to a few people: Anne, other Anne, Caroline, Shannon, Kat Eldridge, Kat and Mel). I can’t begin to tell you how touched I am by this and how much it cheered me. I feel loved. 🙂
So, in the meantime…..I finally sewed something! 🙂 BurdaStyle 7221. If you follow my blog, you know, I loves me a good research project, and I always research the pattern I’m about to sew. Well, I found absolutely nothing about this dress blogged on any sewing blog and only ONE (1) review on Pattern Review. Anne always says that she selects sewing pattens that others do not, but I have to say, I may have won the “Has Anybody Sewn This Pattern?” prize! And… I like the pattern and the resulting garment! If you’ve sewn this pattern, or if you own it, or even if you’ve had a drunken-stupor induced dream about it, I’d love to hear from you!
I used black and white fabric as my entry into July’s The Monthly Stitch Mono Sewn challenge, where we shun colour and sew garments in monochromatic, only black and white. Have you checked out the monthly sewalongs by TMS? They are just getting better and better! Also, to celebrate the Year of the Horse, I used black and white horse fabric for the skirt. To find out more about Chinese New Year and the Year of the Horse, go here.
Kitty. Looking Dramatic in Monochromatic.
MODEL POSES. Pose#1: Look far off into the distance at something interesting and/or an emergency. Result: Well, kind of an uncaring raving lunatic, standing there doing nothing but looking at an emergency off in the distance. Pose#2: Come Hither Look / Bedroom Eyes. Result: Fairly self-explanatory. Extremely tired / bored and/or really stoned.
The dress has a bit of a 60s vibe. At least when it kind of hikes up as I raise my arms. In the Garden of ridiculously enormously tall flowers, I totally feel appropriately dressed! (PEACE!)
The Inside Story
The pattern has a self-lined bodice and unlined skirt, but I underlined the skirt horse fabric with the same white fabric that I used for the bodice. This white fabric and I were not friends. It stained SO easily. I bought it in the ‘ends’ bin, so once again, I don’t know exactly what it is. Likely a rayon/linen blend with something else. It has a tonne of lovely drape and is textured. But, I transferred pattern marks with sewing chalk and it stained permanently, I couldn’t wash it out. So, I had to re-cut everything but the sleeves. Even just ironing it, would sometimes leave a brown/yellow stain, so I had to use a press cloth. I have no idea why it absorbed everything so easily, but it will likely make it difficult to wear. The horse fabric is a cotton voile, so very transparent, hence the need to underline it.
How do you eliminate wrinkles on a garment made with very drapey fabric with a self-lined bodice with darts, and an underlined skirt without creasing the under layer? Well, you can’t really use the iron, since you would have to spend a lot of time shifting, smoothing, straightening, etc. So….you use your new Rowenta Steam Iron! It works really well for getting out wrinkles without creasing the second layer. But, with my model (Rowenta Ultrasteam GS2010), you do have to refill the water reservoir rather often if you have a lot of wrinkles. I got mine on sale for a good deal and do highly recommend it! I will definitely be using it for most of my ironing needs. (Keep in mind, you still have to ‘press’ your just sewn seams, the steamer would be used for removing wrinkles afterwards). You also don’t require an ironing board and it is Kitty-safe if he happens to knock into it!
I added white iron on interfacing and then sewed all around it, to finish off the raw edges of the folded straps. It adds strength and ensures that the black horse pattern does not show through the white bodice after I sew on the straps. I overlocked the seams and hand sewed a blind hem. I was able to stitch the hem to just the white underlining, so that it was truly invisible on the right, horse fabric, side.
Self-lined bodice and underlined skirt; overlocked seams; hand sewn blind hem; interfaced raw edge straps.
The sleeves were a bit wide and did not touch my shoulders, plus I found them to be really boxy. So rather than just taking in the seams to make the sleeves smaller, I added a dart to the centre of the top of the shoulder on the sleeve, to alter the fit, and to provide some roundness and shape. I have no idea if this is the ‘right’ alteration to make, but it did work out perfectly! The sleeves fit great on the drop shoulder now and have more of a round shape to them.
Kitty indicating darts added to shoulder area of sleeves.
Drop shoulder sleeves and straps detail.
Next time, I’ll narrow the sleeves. They’re looking a tad too boxy and wide.
In the Future
The only alteration I would make for future Burda 7221 garments (and I do believe there will be more as I’ve already cut out the pattern for version B, the tank top) I will narrow the sleeves by about 2 cm (3/4″) as I felt they were a bit wide on my twig arms. Also, keep in mind, the pattern runs long. I shortened the bodice by 3cm (1″) and the skirt by 6cm (3″).
I find this dress easy to wear and fairly casual without looking sloppy. I’ve no idea why practically nobody else in the world has sewn it! But, perhaps it’s a testament to my, ummmm, fabulously avant-garde style?? Yes, that’s what we’ll say.
Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty.
Kitty!!! “Help Me!” -Kitty
Me and my Burda dress in the Garden where literally hundreds of tomatoes are forming.
Ooops, sorry a little distracted by my tomato plants; Oooooooooh!; An almost ripe one!!
Black Cherry Tomatoes (will turn a Merlot wine colour); Roma Tomatoes; Zebra tomatoes (these are huge, can’t wait to see what colours they turn).
Kitty’s Eye View of the Garden.
In Conclusion
So, to sum up:
- Black and white is über chic
- I love my sewing friends
- We heart horses and horsie fabric
- If you are in the ‘hood in the next 2 to 4 weeks, drop on by and we’ll have bruschetta, gazpacho, pasta marinara, Bloody Marys/Ceasers and caprese salad.
Looking forward to it!
Gjeometry 
So great to have you back and looking more fabulous than ever and SQUEEEE! Horsies! I’ve missed your happy style. Harriet is lucky she doesn’t need any filter applied for Mono-Sewn month but she thinks kitty looks great in black and white 😉
Thanks so much Mel! And, thanks again for the gift. I still don’t know what I’ll sew with it, but I have some time till it’s winter here. Harriet is the perfect fit for Mono Sewn! I filtered the cr@p out of that monochromatic pic of Kitty. Ultra black and white, fades, vignettes, etc….and, he still looks sort of grey and peach. 🙂
cute – today in the southern hemisphere it is the day for every horses birthday!
Hi Colesworth, thanks for dropping by! I had to look up what you meant by your horse birthday comment and found this: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-01/horse-birthday/5640514 I discovered that August 1st is equivalent to Jan 1st for the Northern Hemisphere. I did not know that, thanks so much for sharing!! And, Happy Birthday Horses in the southern hemisphere. 🙂
Hurray, you’re back! Love the dress!
Thanks Denise! Happy to be back. My blog was positively dusty. 😉
So glad you’re back. You look fabulous.
Thank you Cari! It’s hard to look bad when you are sporting tiny horses.
So glad to see you blogging again! Your hair got looong! You look fantastic, I’m love with this dress – totally digging the 60s vibe and the horses. And Kitty, of course!
Hi Kirsty! Yes, the hair is growing. It’s kind of exciting because I was kind of thinning and it was difficult to grow it long. But, due to getting some health issues under control, it’s growing back and thicker, very exciting! Kitty says ‘hi’.
Welcome back! Love the horse fabric! Where is it from?
Hi Helen, I purchased the horse fabric from Fabricland, in store. It is from their ‘European collection’ specialty fabrics that they get in and rotate, so I don’t think they have it anymore. But, I’ve seen different styles of horse fabric online, it seems to be popular right now, likely because it is Year of the Horse.
Awesome to have you back xx
Thanks Dudette! Awesome to be back.
Nice to see you back! And this dress – it’s great! It really suits you, and the horses are a nice touch.
Hi Chloe, thanks for stopping by! I have fabric picked out for the Victory Patterns pattern that I got from you. Just can’t decide whether to make the top or the dress. Top is likely more practical, so leaning in that direction.
Very happy you’re still alive and well and sewing. Love that you have a horsey dress and that your steamer was put to good use
“It’s Alive!!!!!!!” 🙂 I can’t believe that I’ve never had a steamer prior to this!! It irons so easily and quickly and doesn’t cause all those annoying creases that you can get from a regular iron. It will be used MUCH more often now.
Love this dress!! I actually like the wider sleeves on you – they go with the boxy shape of the dress 🙂 And I wish I was in the ‘hood – I would totally take you up on that tomato-based meal!
Thanks Gail! I think you hit the nail on the head of why this pattern is not more popular. Folks don’t seem to like the ‘semi-fitted’ (or boxy) look. I really like an empire waistline and things that are not too fitted/tight. I don’t think the tight bodice, full skirt looks very good on me and it doesn’t really fit into my lifestyle, so I prefer something with cleaner lines that ‘skims’. You like the sleeves this wide? Hmmmm, I still think they are too ‘baggy’. I don’t want everything to be boxy! I’d love to have you over for the much anticipated tomato harvest. I will have so many to share, wish I could pop by and bring you some!
So happy to see you back and in a fab new dress!! I have never seen this pattern. I’m always scared when I can’t find any reviews on a pattern. Makes me think it’s a dud for sure. This one however is definitely not a dud!
I’ve been looking for a new steam iron so I’ll have to check that Rowenta out. Annnd your garden is awesome! This year was my first time in planting a little garden. I tried roma tomatoes but I think I started too late because they never took off. I wish I lived your way cuz I’d love to stop by for some yummy bruschetta!
Anyhoo, yada yada yada, oh check Vito out in his comic debut in case you missed it…http://www.shanniloves.com/2014/06/the-rambo-project-this-pugs-leaving-no.html
Hi Shannon, so nice to hear from you. Apparently, you are not the only one who has never seen this pattern. You and 876,999 others. I kinda liked it from the cover and now rather like it sewn up! I forgot to mention in the post that I did leave off the front kangaroo pouch pockets. Did not see them adding to the design or shape.
Sorry about your tomatoes. Here it is tomato-gedden. They are taking over, what did I feed them????
And, Vito. Oh, Vito. I went to your link. I am SO HAPPY that I did. Great job, my dear, it is folks like you that make me want to keep on sewing and blogging. Thanks!
P.S. Yadda 🙂
So good to see you are back! Love the dress!
Thanks Debbie!! Glad to be back and in horses, no less.
Love it! Those hors-ies are too dang cute. I love the unexpected-ness if it . From a distance it looks like checks and then closer, closer cute horses! And the shoes, nice. Oh and the legs, nice gams lady.
Thank you Jilly! I like that the horses are small, as well and just a silhouette. It makes wearing horses all over your person, more suitable to all occasions. 🙂
Glad to see you again! 🙂 I have a soft spot for horse fabric, but no idea what to use it on–you found the perfect fabric and then applied it perfectly to the pattern, LOVE!!! I forsee many iterations of Burda 7221 popping up now. 😉
Thank you, glad to see you again too! I had this horse fabric for a while, and also didn’t know what to use it with. But, I liked using it for only a part of the dress, rather than having horses everywhere. I have the pieces cut out for the tank top and I think I may also sew up the ‘top’ version. It has pintucks on the top of it and I’ve never sewn pintucks before.
Love your latest creation! Looks like you and Kitty had quite a bit of fun ‘horsing’ around in the garden lol. Oh if only I had your legs I think I’d wear mini dresses and skirts everyday of the week. You really do wear that style so well. 🙂
Thanks Chris! “Horsing around” hahahah! Good one. The dress only becomes ‘mini’ when I raise my arms due to the straps lifting it up. Otherwise, it’s a pretty decent length, so it’s more versatile. I have to remember not to raise my arms TOO high though, I guess!
With those legs I’d be walking around with my hands up in the air all day hahaha…by the way I love those shoes!!!!
Hahahaha! It’s funny because I can totally picture it. After a while, it might seem completely natural! 😉 (Believe it or not, the shoes are Hush Puppies, so are actually VERY comfortable!)
Love this dress. You look fantastic – summery and chic.
Thank you Tia! I just wish that the weather here was also summery and chic. Too many days, it’s brrrrrrrrrr cold. Bring on the heat, I’m ready!!
Another great interesting fun blog. I don’t know which I like better, your terrific dress that looks so good on you or those yummy tomatoes.
Thanks Lady! The tomatoes are starting to take over the garden. Nay, the backyard, the block….the world!!!! Hopefully, they will ripen fine and no fungus comes our way. And, ummmmmm, a) terrific dress, b) yummy tomatoes…..Kitty thinks you forgot c) Kitty. He vomits up furballs on your pillow.
sorry kitty! I know you are the most important part of this blog .
“Duh!!” -Kitty
Love the 60s vibe of this dress! The horse fabric is DIVINE!
Thanks Meg! It didn’t look at all 60s on the pattern envelope, but sewn up, with a shorter bodice, and likely in the black and white, it took on that vibe. And, who doesn’t love horse fabric?? I’m seeing a lot of it around, so may get some other variation of it.
So Happy to see you back. The dress looks great, I have not really looked at any of the patterns by Burda Style. I love the shoulder detail. It looks very 60’s but I think that is the colours or lack of colours 😉 that were used. It is amazing how different fabrics can change the look of the dress.
I just picked a bunch of black cherry tomatoes, and they were so sweet and juicy. YUMMY.
Take care of yourself, lovely to see you again and Kitty.
Kat 🙂
HI Kat, thanks for your kind words. Yes, it never ceases to amaze me how you can alter something just minimally and it takes on a whole different look / vibe. It makes personalizing so easy to do when you can sew. I can’t wait for my tomatoes to ripen! The black cherry are supposed to have a very dense, sweet flavour. I’m interested in trying the zebras, when they ripen, as well, I’ve never had this type before.
So glad you are back to blogging! – I missed you x oh, and Kitty too ; )
Loving your longer hair and your fabulous monochrome dress – WITH horses too. Bonus.
Looking forward to reading about your sewing adventures and finding out what mischief Kitty has got up to!
Caroline x x
Thank you Caroline, we missed you too! (I just noted I spelled your name wrong in the post, I fix now – I sorry). It sounds like we are creating an ad for a sports car: “Fabulous Monochrome – WITH Bonus Horses!” Heh, heh.
Hey Catja – I wondered if that was me when you had written Carolyn – so thanks for changing it. Glad to have you back in the bloggersphere and being the awesome cat that you are!
Hee ‘awesome cat’, love it! You’re welcome and I had linked your name to your blog, in my blogpost anyway, so if folks clicked on it, they’d know who you were, regardless of my inability to spell 🙂 .
Welcome back!
Nope, didn’t forget you… was looking at your site just the other day, sending good thoughts.
xx del
Thanks Del! So happy you did not forget me! I didn’t forget you either, looking forward to see what you’ve sewn. (Receiving your good thoughts and re-sending them back).
Thank you!
How perfectly lovely to see you and Kitty again and looking so stylish! Great dress and you look so, so wonderful in it!
Aw, thanks Karen! Glad you like the dress! I was just thrilled that I could follow along the Burda instructions (which have given me much grief in the past on other patterns) very easily.
I’ve ‘neigh’ idea why no one would have blogged this pattern before, I think it looks grand. I especially like the straps showing at the back. Of course I love your horsie fabric, but I think you already knew that 🙂
Ps: I’m Scottish so my pun is really funny to me lol
Hahahaha! NICE one! 🙂 We are getting some fabulous horse-related puns in the comments section! I looked up ‘neigh’ in Scottish slang and Google came up with “Nae Danger – no chance / no way”. So happy you love the horsie fabric (who doesn’t?) I am looking forward to seeing your horse dress sewn up. Ping me when it is finished!
So glad you’re feeling better! You’re right back on the horse, so to speak…really like the colour block potential of this dress!
Hahahah, ANOTHER excellent horse pun! That’s about the 4th one. I’m thinking ‘compilation’ soon. And, yes to colourblocking! This dress (or the top versions) would look so striking in complementary colours, or even shades of the same colour. Me thinks that will be the theme for tank top, Version B that I am going to sew next.
Yay! I’m glad you’re back! I feel a bit like I’ve been MIA with blogging & social media myself. Life and work just get in the way sometimes.
Cute dress, fun fabric, and lovely model! And Kitty is looking handsome too. =)
Yay, seconded! As much as I love the friends I’ve made online and interacting as well as blogging, there does seem to come a point sometimes where you think “I really have to just be with live human beings, animals, pets for a while”, you know? You have been really busy with your costuming if IG is accurate. Good for you!
Glad you like the dress, it was nice ‘segue’ back into sewing for me (and Kitty).
You’re first sentence cracked me up. I’ve missed you too.
Your dress is adorable. You’ve got the style and poise to pull it off and what a clever idea going with a horse print. Your garden is equally wonderful. Everything is so lush. Please give Kitty a scratch behind the ears for me. He’s as handsome as ever.
So, are you growing out your hair? It’s quite a bit longer than when we saw you last. I’ve been letting mine grow, but it sure takes time to get those bangs one lengths.
The shoes paired with the dress are perfection. Very 1940’s. I love that era.
Awww, I’ve missed you! And, yadda, yadda, yadda, here you are!!!! I was so hoping that you, of all people, would see this post since I finally posted pics of The Garden!! Everything is SO huge this year!! I think that’s because we have had rain, as well as not too hot temperatures. Fantastic for the garden. Less fantastic for the humans and kitties. I’m excited to harvest the tomatoes.
I am growing out my hair! It is actually growing in. (it was thinning quite a bit due to health / hormone problems, and now is finally thickening up, so I can grow it out. Yes, the ‘bang/fringe grow-out’ stage is often pretty ugly, on many levels. I am actually thinking I will add back a fringe, but a longish one, nothing blunt. What do you think? I find all one length hair on me weighs me down a lot and looks so stringy since my hair is rather thin/fine. You need to post a pic of you with your longer hair.
I never thought of the dress with the shoes being 1940s, but you are right! The boxy shoulders and oxford-esque shoes lend a vintage ‘nod’.
I’m so glad I didn’t miss it. It looks amazing. Rain and cooler temperatures sound glorious to me. We’ve had the opposite: extreme drought, hot days. Blah!
I’m happy for you and your moderate days.
Sorry to hear about the hair loss, but at least it was temporary and is now returning to its full glory. Mine is thicker then it used to be, but I’m also starting to go grey. I’m 55 I’m my next birthday, so I guess it was about time. They say redheads go grey last, so I’ve enjoyed it while it lasted.
I think you’re a natural beauty with classic good looks and charm. I’ve no doubt you could pull off any hairdo and that whatever you choose will flatter your style.
I’ll think about updating my pics soon.
Lovely dress and good to hear from you! I am jealous of your garden (I have no green thumb) — new dress in the garden with homemade Bloody Marys sounds divine.
Thank You Annie! Oh, I ‘sew’ wish I lived near you, I could totally help you get a garden started. I find there’s nothing better in good weather than just to putz around in the garden. And, “new dress in the garden with Bloody Marys”??????? BEST…..DAY……EVER!!!!! Come on over soon and we’ll make it happen!!
Glad you’re back, and I love the dress!
Thanks so much, Elli! It’s good to be back and in a home-sewn dress! All the better. 🙂
This dress if FABULOUS!!!! You really did win the obscure pattern award with this one. 🙂
Lol, right? I wonder if it’s a special Burda limited edition and I’ll find out it’s worth thousands!!! $$$ #WishfulThinking. So happy you like the dress 🙂 . I’m trying to decide on a fabric combo for the tank top version. Do I go fun and bright and summery? Or more neutral and sophisticated that can be worn cross-seasonal under a blazer?
So good to hear from you! I HAVE MISSED you! When I saw you peek your head in Instagram again I was delighted to see you. Count on you to come back with a splash and making something fabulously sexy with HORSES on it! Only you! xox
D’awwww, thank you Laurie, I’ve missed you too! ‘Fabulously sexy’????? Wow. Not sure that’s how I would’ve described this, but I’ll take it!! LOL. Let’s not be strangers, for sure.
Then it must be your legs! 😉 Look at the whole picture: Great legs… strappy on/off the shoulder dress, gorgeous blonde hair, skims your great figure… I mean it’s not blatantly sexy- just sexy enough when you put the whole package together! In my most humble opinion! (OH, and you freakin’ used HORSIE fabric!)
Oh, you make me blush Laurie.(….doesn’t know how to deal with such compliments so runs screaming from the room neighing!!!….) but HORSES!!!! Yes, please. Although I love the bright and almost comic-like printed fabrics, I don’t really wear them, so the silhouette pattern is fun but not too in your face.
GJ !! Kitty !! helllllooooo 😀 Seems like forever! Fantastic to see you’re happily sewing along and enjoying your garden or as we’d call it **jungle**, LOL What on earth are you growing back there? Catja in a bean stock?
I do like the loose fit of your vintage frock. That colour blocking reminds me of the 60’s for sure. But the cute little straps up top give it a mod-updated vibe. Sorry to hear the lining fabric was such a nightmare. It still looks like a home run and as always you are a knockout in it. You look happy checking out the tomatoes 😀
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii!! It does seem like forever, I even forgot how to post a blogpost! But, luckily, I did not forget how to sew and am enjoying it more than ever. The Garden has totally bean-stocked out! I think it’s due to the mix of rain and sun we’ve had and the lower temperatures. Nothing too humid and hot. And the green just takes off!
Yes, the colour blocking is definitely 60s. I think if it was a shorter mini (which I wouldn’t wear), it would really look 60s. I think those are the perils of buying from the ‘ends’ bin. You really don’t know what you are getting, (at least I don’t, not experienced enough with fabric, even if I do a ‘burn’ test….BURN ALL THE THINGS!) So, the white fabric felt so nice, draped beautifully and has this lovely cross-hatching texture. But, for some reason just drank up any and every stain possible. I wore it once (to a Fair and posed for a pic in front of the Horse Carousel 🙂 ) and the white part of the dress looked like it hadn’t been washed in weeks! Oh well. It still does drape nicely, I will just have to be sure to wear it for short periods of time when it’s not too hot and I don’t perspire and/or come into contact with any kind of dust, dirt, nature or food. That’s do-able, right? 😉 Nice to hear from you.
I love the dress with those shoes! And what a gorgeous garden you have…
Thanks Kristin! I find it so easy to dress in all black and white and look like you’ve spent hours planning and selecting just the right things. The Garden is in FULL ‘Day of the Triffids’ Force right now! (except, happily, nobody has gone blind…). Pop on over soon for some tomato based treats!
I’m so glad you’re back!! Your absence was definitely noticeable in the sewing world, and I’m happy your first make back had lots of horses all over it! 🙂 Such a great and simple dress, and I can’t wait to see future versions of it. Ha, and I’m also more than a bit of jealous of your garden. It looks wonderful!
Yay for being back! Thanks for your kind words, Kristin. I actually just completed the tank top version of the pattern and am blogging it today! The garden has definitely been rewarding the fruits of my labour, for sure, with…..fruits! (and veggies, too).
How did I miss your recent posts? I’m glad you’re back… It has been a weird spring/summer for me as well, and I am also glad things got straightened out a bit… So here’s to a new, creative, and awesomely sewn rest of the year! The dress is fantastic, BTW, and I love love love your hair!
Thanks Jagoda, its good to be back. I already blogged the tank top version of this pattern and am starting work on a sundress. I’m out of control!! 🙂
I hope that things are going to keep improving for you! Feel free to email or text me anytime too.
PS, don’t forget to comment on your favourite fabric to sew / wear on the next blog post https://gjeometry.com/2014/08/09/i-said-id-do-it-and-i-did-tank-top-version-of-the-burda-horse-dress-plus-some-questions-for-yall/