It Runs in the Family

Just minutes after I posted my Mystery Pattern Theater post, both my daughter and my sister told me that they NEEDED the red Chado Ralph Rucci dres I had featured. Vogue 1317 from their Fall catalog. (We also like the same colors, books and shoes...it must be genetic)
This pattern has some interesting construction features, looking at the line drawing:

MISSES' DRESS: Dress has low neckline slit, close-fitting bodice cut-in-one with sleeves (slit), side back bodice extending into uderarm gusset, lined midriff, single-layer tie ends (wrongside shows), skirt with side front/side back seams, side front pockets/vents, invisible back zipper, stitched hems, and self-bias binding. Topstitching and edgestitching.

FABRICS: Synthetic Suede, Lightweight Double Knit.

Unsuitable for obvious diagonals. From reading the description, it sounds like the bodice has some unconventional construction features, including a lack of side seams and underarm gussets (shades of retro-fifties dresses!). I have never done an FBA on a dress made like this, so a muslin is definitely in order. Especially since I want one of these for myself.. (On a side note, do the pattern companies ever say This pattern suitable for obvious diagonals?I don't think I have ever seen that. Diagonal prints can be very flattering. I wonder why they hate them. The pattern matching n this one would be a puzzle, so I think that's why they don't recommend it) I'm watching for the next Vogue sale, because this pattern will be mine.

Burda Tracing Time

Today I have a rare couple hours to myself, so I'm am tracing a couple patterns that I need to make from Burda's latest issues. The dress on the cover of the latest caught my eye. I am tracing it as a top, as I don't need the long sleeve top option in Virginia in the summer. It must be cooler in Germany than here. They show lots of long sleeved options for summer. (I'd faint from heat stroke if I wore some of their ideas: sequined pants and long sleeved silk high necked tops? In the summer? Really, Burda? It must be a cultural thing.)
Then I have to do an FBA, using my trusty copy of Fit For Real People, adjusting dolman sleeves. It looks pretty voluminous in the picture, so it may not need much at all. Although, on the other hand, that model is a wisp of a thing, whereas I am considerably more voluminous than she is. I'll lay a pattern piece on top of of the traced pattern of a similar top that I have already adjusted and see where I need more room.
The blue fake wrap skirt from last month's issue caught my daughter's eye, (as well as about every other thing in that issue. If you want your daughter to get interested in sewing, show her that issue. Lindsay T says the same. She made a dress for her daughter that is awesome.) My daughter has begged me to make it for her. So I will trace that too. Plus from this month's issue she likes the shirtwaist dress, the two high waist buttoned skirts and another dress. I hope I have enough tracing paper.
The other choices for me are this blue dress
and the red one.

I can't decide which I like better. Mr. Hunting Creek likes the blue one but also expressed appreciation for the red one. (I would also like the lace bedspread, and the diamond necklace in the box but that's not an option. What story are they telling here? Are they lying on the bed contemplating unwrapping that dress because of the fancy diamond necklace?) Their photographers and stylists have an interesting sense of humor. Maybe if I were German I'd get more of their visual jokes.

Don't forget that tonight we will do a drawing for the purse pattern featured earlier this week. Drop a comment on that post if you'd like to be in and sign up as a follower of the blog to be eligible for this drawing and the following ones later this month.
Happy Sewing!