BurdaStyle 7287 done: Dramatic spy look for Natasha

Thank you all for your comments on the NewLook 6067 dress from last weekend. It's a real kick to read your comments!  KC, I might make it again, maybe in red?   I wore it to work on Monday with a cardigan and found that the v was sort of collapsing, as the cardi was pushing together the entire neckline.  I may try interfacing the entire V slit area to see if it helps.  and maybe wear it with a shirt underneath instead of a cardi over it.  I'm interested to see how it wears in the summer!

So, do you ever see one of those patterns where the style is kind of costumey and you're not sure where you'd ever wear it to but the only way to get it out of your head is to sew it up already???

Meet "Natasha" and her dramatic spy dress, cape, and fingerless gloves, from BurdaStyle 7287.  I'm wearing it with a purchased belt and a long sleeved black shirt from H&M:

I saw this in the Burda catalog at Joann's last summer and it has been floating around my sewing room ever since, asking to be made.

I started it yesterday and finished it today.  It's made from gray double knit fabric with lycra from Metro Textiles, purchased during PR Shopping Day back in Sept 2011.  It's a substantial, heavy fabric with a nice stretch and recovery.

I cut size 12 in the bodice and waist grading to 14 at the hip.  The cape is also a 12 and the gloves are essentially a 12.


As of this moment, no one has reviewed this on pattern review which made me wonder a bit--too cray-cray?  Impractical?  Or maybe previously published in their magazine and reviewed under the magazine number?

What attracted me to this pattern?

1. The fingerless gloves.


I've thought about making fingerless gloves for a few years now, especially for work.
I didn't have enough fabric to make both gloves out of one continuous piece, so I pieced together one of the gloves.

I cut the size 20 gloves and then tweaked the fit. Turns out, I could have cut the 12 and used 3/8 seam allowances and been ok. I like the rouched look and the size 20 were not rouching on my arm.

The pattern has you sew the seam for the gloves, then sew down the SA around the slit for the thumb. Er, there's NO way to machine stitch down the SAs for the slit after you have sewn that seam.  Right now that slit is unfinished; I will have to hand stitch it down.

2. I like the cape.

I especially like how it drapes at the top and then hangs down. I think it's pretty flattering, if a cape can even be flattering.

I don't think I've ever worn a cape, much less sewn one.


3. I like the dress itself. I don't have any knit dresses with a neckline SO high. No need to worry about bra straps showing or plunging V's....you are COVERED in this Burda.  And it has back darts!  YEA!  I don't have to get out my Muse dress to place the darts, they are already there.  The CB seam is straight and I thought I would wind up curving it but I didn't.  So the back could be cut on the fold.





Here's the dress by itself:  No belt, gloves or cape.  I cut 2 inches off the bottom of this dress and hemmed 1.25 inches.


Detail shots:
I used a 2.5 twin needle for the armholes and neckline, and a 4.0 for the hem.  If you look closely you can see the stitching.

For whatever reason, I had a LONG struggle with the binding of the armholes as I did it as per the instructions. It creates a nice finish but it took me a while to get there.  I wound up not following that technique on the neckline.

I bought this ribbon remnant for 40 cents from Soutache Ribbon in Chicago during PR Weekend last year, thinking I'd sew it onto some underwear.  It's impressive ribbon; strong, sturdy, luxurious.

Today I thought this might make a nice "label" for the inside of the cape (as the cape has a front and back piece), and then sewed more of the ribbon into the dress, just to make me happy.

What is "Natasha" thinking?

Watch out?  


Vote for me?

Is it even crazier with my winter hat?  Do I look like I'm about to go out caroling?

So what do you think? Too crazy? Too costumey? Just right for a day at the office? (which, by the way, is where this whole look is heading tmw...)

Oh, and I'm going to Tucson, AZ for a week in Feb for work--should I stay extra time? If yes, to see what?

Food for the week:
Sweet chicken and broccoli stir fry from Rocco DiSpirito's Now Eat This Diet:

Be well and good night!