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BurdaStyle Plus Size Blog Tour: A Rayon Challis Tunic Dress

Hey there, friends!

I’m the next stop on the BurdaStyle Plus Size Blog Tour!

 

burda tunic 1

This dress is truly a different style for me.  It has kind of a 1970’s vibe and felt a bit strange to put on as I’m not used to a loose-fitting garment.  I thought it would be good for me to step out of my little box and make something with a different silhouette than I’m used to.  This dress is super comfortable and I love the way the fabric drapes.

[source: BurdaStyle]

Burda kindly offered the editors of the Curvy Sewing Collective free patterns  for this blog tour.  The PDF pattern I chose out of the “Best of BurdaStyle:  Plus Size Collection” was the “Printed Tunic” (01/2013 #133A) pattern.  After reading through the details of that pattern, I found that there was a dress version — the “Clean-Cut Dress” (01/2013 #133B) and decided that that would be something fun and different to make.  This pattern is also the same as BurdaStyle 6972, a printed paper pattern.  The tunic is cut out from the same dress pattern, just a shorter “skirt”.

burda tunic 2

This dress reminds me of a poet blouse and is loose-fitting and super comfy.  The fabric I used is Joel Dewberry Bungalow Swallow Study teal rayon challis that I purchased from Fabric.com.  It’s lined with a white cotton voile.

burda tunic collage

The PDF patterns on Burda’s website seem to go up only to a 52, whereas the paper patterns go up to a size 60.  I cut a 52 in this dress, grading out to a 54 on the waist and hips.

[source: BurdaStyle]

This pattern is marked “Intermediate”, but I think that a beginner/advanced beginner could definitely sew this up.  The instructions are good, although Burda does not hold your hand like Colette Patterns do, so if you’re not familiar with some terms, you may have to look them up.  As you can see from the line drawing, there are pleats in the front and gathers in the back.  There are two things that I did different whilst making this dress.  For one, I didn’t use binding on the neckline as suggested, and instead lined the bodice by sewing the two pieces right sides together and then turning out.  The skirt is also lined, although I did not feel the need to line the sleeves.  I also did not put the elastic in the cuffs and left the sleeves loose.  There are no fasteners in this dress, so that makes it a bit quicker to sew up, but as this isn’t a stretchy knit dress, it obviously needs to be loose to put it on.

burda tunic 3

It was about 88 when I took these photos and I was super hot.  My plan for this dress is a cool weather plan, but although autumn has arrived, the cool weather hasn’t!  My vision for this dress is to wear it with boots and tights, but ballet flats will have to do for now as I didn’t plan on overheating for the sake of fashion. 🙂

burda tunic collage 2

I really like the idea of a loose-fitting dress, but I find that I need a bit of waist definition or I look larger than I am.  I added the belt to give me that, but it also pulls up on the side on the sides of the skirt, which is okay for me as it kinda of this dress a shirtdress vibe.

challis collage

Amazingly, I had earrings that PERFECTLY match this fabric!  FTW!  My ballet flats are also a gold shimmery metallic which you can’t tell from the photos.  I think they’re my new neutral basic flat (and also very, very comfortable!).

burda tunic 4

I’ve been a fan of Burda’s pattern for a while now and have been collecting their paper patterns when they go on sale at Joann’s.  For a year and a half or so I’ve been buying the UK version of BurdaStyle magazine and since the US version came out (which is different from the European one), I’ve been purchasing that as well.  I love how the Burda patterns are stylish with gorgeous plus-size models and each collection has a different theme.  So far, I’ve cut out and partially sewn one blouse from the magazine, which was my first attempt at tracing a magazine pattern last year.  I haven’t finished that blouse yet, but it looks like it needs to make it’s way out of the UFO bin.  I like that some of the magazine patterns can be purchased online in the PDF version so you don’t have to trace them out.  I like it even more when I can get a paper version!  I’m actually working on a Burda paper pattern version of a cocktail dress right now that’s nearly done and I just love the pattern and can’t wait to share it with you!

Ready to see some more?

Here are all the stops for the BurdaStyle Plus Size Blog Tour:

September 29th — Jenny at Cashmerette — the Jersey Dress
October 1st — Tanya at Mrs. Hughes – the Printed Tunic
October 2nd — Laurence at Quirky Pretty Cute — the Loose Jacket
October 6th — Mary at Idle Fancy — the Faux Wrap Dress
October 7th — Mary at Young, Broke, and Fabulous – the Draped Dress
October 8th — Sophie Lee at Two Random Words — the Cape
October 9th — T at U & Mii — Contrast V Neck Dress

Happy Sewing!

  • Dress:  BurdaStyle 6972 (01/2013 #133B) in Joel Dewberry Bungalow rayon challis, made by me
  • Shoes:  Aerosoles
  • Belt:  Macy’s
  • Earrings:  Bauble Bar
  • Bracelet:  Berkeley flea market
  • Sunglasses:  D&G

Comments

  1. You and I are fabric soul sisters…I love this rayon challis and have been dying to purchase it. The colors are so pretty. I like this style on you as well. I never wear belts, but I think we are the same shape and size (although I think you are much taller than me!! I’m barely 5’4″) so you are giving me confidence to wear them since you look so stunning in them!

  3. Trying again to comment. I forgot my Discus password. Actually, I’d forgotten I’d ever made a Discus account. New subscriber to the collective. I found your page and the collective via a Google search for this pattern. It’s discontinued at Simplicity but still available through Burda? I’m trying to get back into sewing after many years away from it. Like the last thing I recall making were maternity clothes and my son is 28. LOL. I hope I can find someone who still knows how to work on aged Singer machines. So, the only other review of this pattern that I’ve read suggested it was quite difficult to follow the instructions compared to American patterns. It wouldn’t be my re-entry attempt, that’s for sure. But your review is giving me hope. I love the folkloric vibe of this pattern and assuming I can locate the pattern, I hope to find some suitable material. Your material is gorgeous. I love anything and everything with birds.

    • HI Wendy! Thanks for your comment and I’m glad you were able to leave one! I hate remembering passwords! The paper pattern is still on the Simplicity site: http://www.simplicity.com/p-11661-burda-style-plus-to-size-60.aspx I made the PDF version from the Burda site, which is the exact same thing. The paper pattern will have better instructions though, so I doubt it would be hard for you. I think sewing can be like riding a bike — once you learn, you never forget? My mom hasn’t sewn since I was a kid and I can still ask her advice. 🙂 I can see why you love birds! lol 🙂

        • It is still on the site but when you try to put it in your cart and check out, nothing happens. The cart is still empty. I’ll keep looking. It looks like I might be able to get it from Amazon UK. Well, thanks for the vote of confidence but I’m not sure I could ride a bike either at this point. And the last time I did any sewing I weighed sixty pounds less–nine months pregnant! I wasn’t making anything with a waist so the paper patterns fit fine. I’ve never altered patterns because I never had to–MY mother helped with the fitting. LOL. Anyway, I’m going to start with finding out if my machine still works and go from there. I might take a class to get my confidence back. I found one for a simple skirt at a store called Sew L.A. It’s not plus-size friendly but I might be able to squeeze into their largest size–a 20–if their measurements are accurate. They offer a class on making quilted potholders that I have to take.

  4. Awesome article!
    I like it very much.I think that your article is very important for us.This is so beautiful that you make.I think that you should add other difficult style.
    Thanks a lot for sharing this article.
    Munmun Nishi 🙂

  6. I’m the person who blog stalked you in Britex today – so excited to “celebrity sight” while buying delicious on sale fabrics!! Totally forgot to say in person how much I LOVE this dress on you – both the cut and the fabric. (And also the nautical Moneta that I got to see in person!)

    • A “celebrity”! Hahahaha!!! 🙂 I hope you found some treasures yesterday! I was taking it easy on fabric buying and didn’t have anything I really “needed”, but it’s always nice to go a Britex sale!

  8. so pretty! and the material is unique! thank you for sharing….

    it froze overnight here in Iowa, so I am finishing my weird Vogue wrap…i look like a starling in it, but really like it…

    • Thank you, Cara! I love this fabric, although the print is one that I kind of stepped out of my little box when I bought it. I’m thinking of making a cape, so maybe I’ll be feeling the same way!

  9. SUPER cute and it looks adorable on you. I am definitely a “tunic girl” so I will be grabbing this pattern ASAP!

  10. looks great ! i often sewn burda pattern, because there are in germany first choice pattern.
    i know the difficults of burda pattern on my body, and in the last years i sew i learned to get them passed. you look very pretty in this dress, and i set this pattern on my list…

    greetings from germany
    stella

    • thank you, Stella! I love the variety of the Burda patterns and actually just bought a few dress patterns in their online store the other day when they were on sale. 🙂

  11. I actually have this pattern and fabric for it in my stash! I may have to push it up the list…

  12. fantastic! i absolutely love it! i have seen the tunic and now I am itching to get a copy of that dress pattern for myself! i will be adding it to the list! you are beautiful and that fabric is gorgeous!. i am definitely going to try those shoes too!

  13. I haven’t really sewn any Burda patterns (tried one, but my measurements increased between cutting it out and getting to sew it a couple months later, so it didn’t fit). I think this might have to be my first! I love it, and I also love the fabric you chose.

  14. I love your fabric choice, it looks fabulous.
    I’ve made this dress twice already and like you I just attached lining and main fabric at the neckline, but to give the dress a little more waist definition, as I do prefer too, I added elastic to the waist, that pulls it in nicely and is still easy to get over your head.

    • Thank you, Alicia! It’s nice to do a little change with both the pattern and the fabric. You never know what suits you until you wear it!

  17. Very cute on you! I like that pattern a lot. Thanks for all the great information you give on this blog. I am learning so much from you and the rest of the Collective.

  18. I’ve seen this fabric on a couple of different makes and although lovely, I’m often left at, “Eh.” This, however, has to be my favorite in this fabric. You look fantabulous!

    • Thank you! I did see a couple of shirts with this fabric when I was googling it. I wasn’t sure how loud it was going to be in a dress, but I do like the outcome!

  23. I adore this. I saw the previews of the fabric on Instagram and patiently waited to see what it would be and think it’s perfect. I have so many Burda patterns and really want to try them out. I think this one just jumped higher on the list! 🙂 I also love those earrings. You always accessorize so wonderfully. 😀

    • Thanks, Andie! I can’t wait to see which Burdas you’re going to make! They are definitely becoming one of my favorite pattern companies now that I’ve jumped in!

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Mrs. Hughes: A retro inspired, vintage garment sewing and plus-size dressmaking blog by Tanya Maile Hughes.