Strictly entre nous I love my new dress. It is part of a six piece business wardrobe I'm working on. The key elements are trans-seasonal wearability, easy wear/easy care and colour. I've blogged before about my loathing of grey and black business wear. My six pieces are the dress Burda Sept 2012 121; a Patrones 298 jacket in Teal ponte (pictured below); a black Palmer Pletsch mock wrap t-shirt McCalls 6513 view C; a pencil skirt in the same graphic print as the dress and teal jersey rouched cardigan both from Burda March 2013. These fabrics are still available from Tessutis.
When I look at Burda's batwoman interpretation of this dress I can see why it hasn't been a popular choice with sewers. A few tips - cut the side panels as a detached piece and dispense with the extra layer in the Burda design. If using ponte or a reasonable weight fabric you don't need to line it. Use piping to highlight the centre panel and sleeve edge.
I'm not sure if I have the discipline to sew all six pieces in sequence - I need a party dress for an occasion in September, but I'm mad keen to start on the jacket. I love the style and will wear it with pants, skirts and the dress.
Off to make a muslin. Meanwhile happy sewing!
