My Burda Easy Dress 3B 2021/6

As you know, I have subscribed to the Burdastyle magazine, but I also subscribe to the Burda Easy magazine. The discount was too good to resist and I think they complement each other. Each Burdastyle magazine has one full tutorial, complete with diagrams and explanations, the BurdaEasy has full instructions for every project. Some of the tutorials come with links to full YouTube Video tutorials, too.

I sewed pattern 3B in Burda Easy, issue 2021/6. I traced it, cut it, and sewed it in a single afternoon - a really quick, fun make.

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This is the first pattern I made from Burda Easy. If you want to buy any back copies, you can get them here on eBay. Burda Easy Back Copies.

The pattern itself was quite easy to trace out and to transfer the markings onto the paper.

The instructions were quite easy to follow, complete with diagrams.

Be sure to check the sizing chart for any pattern and take measurements. As I discovered, Christmas can have more of an impact than we realise.  Also, each pattern company has slightly different sizing and your size may differ, for example, I use a size 44 in the Burda chart, but my waist is 86, not 82, while my bust is 96 (but 100 with my favourite bra) my hips are 106, so I cut the waist to a size 46 on their chart. Sometimes I have a little too much extra. If you are not making a toile, carefully transfer all the notches correctly and make sure you trace to the same size line at the waist on all the pieces, you can trim off the excess once you have basted or pinned the side seams. When making an adjustment, try to make sure the garment sits straight and the side seams run in the correct location down along your ribs under your arms. If your tummy sticks out just a bit (like mine), you can adjust for it when taking the waist back in a bit.

I laid out the fabric exactly as described in the instructions.

On cutting the paper pattern out, I held it up to my body to get a feel for how low the neckline was - quite low for my taste, so I modified the neckline and the neck facing. I am rather pleased with the result. By the way, this is really easily done - just make sure that your head can easily pass through the neck hole - as it may be that you need to topstitch the facing to the dress. 

The only difficulty I had, was the fact that my fabric - which is a scuba-type crepe, was a bit springy and did not want to press flat. In fact, it pressed flat and while I went away to grab a coffee - it sprang back to its original shape - not what I wanted. I tried to sew the facing down, but it just sprang back and looked like a fat sausage instead of laying nice and flat. I actually had to topstitch around the neckline with a twin stitch needle, close enough to the edge to keep the fabric flat. I do think the original, now unpicked, stitch line will fade after a wash, as the surface of the fabric has a knitted appearance. By the way, I did try iron-on interfacing on a scrap - the heat of the iron damaged the fabric before the glue melted, so I couldn't use iron-on interfacing.

Note to Self: Rather use a t-shirt style neck insert on this fabric with topstitching. I think it would have been simpler and less faff.

The fit is a bit looser than what I would usually wear, but, to be fair, it does fit me loosely - the same as it fits the model in the magazine. The dress in the magazine is not a bodycon dress, in fact, it is only partly fitted above the chest. My fabric has more body than that used in the magazine and hides many sins, shall we say. Perfect for me. Now I have something comfortable that is smart enough for the office - exactly what I wanted. I also think the fabric will wash and wear many, many times.

I made my version with sleeves that cover about three-quarters of my upper arm. I don't always feel comfortable wearing long sleeves - our office is kept really warm. This fabric is lovely for a pop of colour in winter.

I also took in the side seams and the front seams a bit, as the dress was a bit too loose for me as originally drafted. I did keep the dress fairly loose, so it hangs similarly to the picture in the magazine.

I am really pleased with my dress. I used my overlocker to sew up all the seams and I used a twin stitch for the hems on the sleeves and skirt. If you are still new to sewing with an overlocker, this is a good pattern - although I would not recommend such a thick fabric for this neckline, if it's your first time.

I am new to sewing and I tend to try to save money where I can. I had only bought a few colours of overlocking thread - as my machine needs four cones. I ended up sewing my red shirt (Batch Sewing post) with white overlocker thread - while the outside looks fine - the inside doesn't look as tidy as I'd like, so I bought some red overlocking thread on Amazon. I usually buy through Amazon Smile, as Amazon donates to my chosen charity every time I shop. It may be a few pence at a time, but it all adds up. 

I got this lovely red scuba crepe on Amazon.

I have a couple more projects planned, including from Tilly And The Buttons. It will be my first dress with a fully lined bodice. I will keep you posted. 

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