Pattern Challenge: Burda 7661

 

Dolly, Me, and the Dress

I made a dress from a real pattern! I've started and scrapped lots of patterns in the last couple years (yes, I've balled up tissue paper patterns and cut pieces of fabric and just chucked it) but this is officially my first completed real pattern. Somehow tutorials, patterns in books, winging it and the like don't seem to be "real" patterns to me...totally illogical.

This is also the first pattern on my list for the Pattern Challenge (check out the button in the left sidebar) and it was a quick project. I bought Burda 7661 last summer and sat on it until about 4 days ago. 4 days ago was when I realized that we were taking family pictures Friday (today) and I didn't want to wear a single thing in my closet. What's a girl to do? Well, I had just signed on for the Pattern Challenge and I had a pattern. I dragged the boys to Joann and found a cotton/linen blend I liked. I'm good under a deadline so these were ideal conditions for me...a little odd but it works around here.

 

I made the dress, not the top (though I may revisit this closer to summer and make the top). The pattern is overall easy to make and I would recommend it. There are very few pattern markings which makes prep a little easier. It's all straight-stitching and a 5/8" seam allowance. No zippers or buttonholes if you have an aversion - just a button and loop on the back. The only thing I might do differently next time is use a fabric with less body. Because it gathers at the waist I think it would be more flattering to have less bulk.

Before stitching down the casing for the belt tie around the waist, I'd recommend trying on the dress and pulling a ribbon or measuring tape around your waist to make sure the placement works for you. Everyone's figure is different and the wrong placement could really undermine how flattering this dress could be.

I excluded the pockets and made the following changes to the pattern because I'm just 5'2" and the pattern is based on a 5'6" figure:

-brought up the shoulder straps by about 1/2"

-took several inches off the hem

-moved the position of the "belt" casing up by about an inch

Here are some pictures 

(put together as a collage using this)

And me in the dress...

Anyone else just feel goofy "modeling" for the camera? 

My sweet husband did such a great job on our little photoshoot - thanks, sweetie!

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