Inspiration: Dahlia

Hello, there!
To start the day on the right foot, I want to share with you a series of dresses from Dahlia, a British brand I discovered last week via Skunkboy Creatures.

Just so you know, I want to replicate each and everyone of these beautiful dresses!

Burda 11/2011

The moment has come. This is the last issue of Burda included in my subscription and I'm really torn. I haven't forgotten all the bad stuff in the latest issues, but this one looks so promising! I think I'll end up renewing my subscription anyway, but maybe I'll wait a couple of months.

Ok, let's see what the November issue has to offer.

First of all, I really like the photoshoots in this issue. That's also the reason why I'm so attracted to this super easy skirt.

This dress looks sexy! The technical drawing leaves me a bit puzzled, but I'm very curious.

This looks very original end extremely flattering. It's strange that it fits so well a large-chested model (it's not a plus size pattern). Maybe it's a pattern for us curvy ladies :)

Nice sweater, no? My problem is just that I have such a hard time finding knits...

I LOVE the lines of this blazer and the curved hem. I also really like how it's styled in the picture.

Highlights of the week ♥ 10

Hello, lovely readers!
The weekend is here again and I hope you're enjoying autumn weather as much as I do.
Before I leave you to some pretty links, I want to thank everyone who commented on my Apple blouse. Although sometimes I don't answer to each one, I read and appreciate every one of them, so thank you!

 

1. Beautiful jewellery, via Kingdom of Style.

2. Want a knitted hat but you can't knit? Read about this great French initiative.

3. These photos from the latest issue of Lula are so dreamy...

4. This video made smile (and the clothes are beautiful!).

The Apple of My Eye

I think I fell in love with a pattern. It hasn't happened since I made my first Macaron dress, and now I'm head over heels.

Do you want to know why? Let's see: this blouse has a peter pan collar (AND it's asymmetrical), it has a button placket that it's easy to sew and it's really cute, it has no closures, the fit is great (thank you, double-pointed darts in the back) and it's extremely versatile.

The pattern is from "La mia boutique" and the only modification I made was to shorten the sleeves and put elastic at their bottom (instead of another plaquet). 

For my first go at it, I chose this super cute viscose (if I'm not wrong, it's the same thing as rayon... please let me know) with fuchsia apples printed on it. At first I was afraid it would look too much like a pajama top (that's also why I shortened the sleeves), but as soon as I've tried it with some of my clothes, we became best friends.

Another great thing: it was extremely fast to sew! I tried out some new techiniques for me (the button plaquet, the bias bound neckline and double-pointed darts) and they turned out great. I was so impressed with the finished blouse that I immediately made another one, with some modifications (coming soon).

Although I made some mistakes (the collar is covering the placket, the neckline binding is not perfect), I adore my new little creature.

And now I feel so good! First, the Stretchy Jenny (thanks for your lovely comments! as some of you pointed out, I'm actually getting so much wear out of it already), now this adorable blouse... I hope I can keep my sewing mood on this track!

La mia boutique 10/2011

In my neverending quest for new patterns (should I call it addiction?) I stumbled upon the October issue of "La mia boutique", an Italian sewing magazine that I never buy because the patterns it contains are more often than not for an older targer or... plain strange.

Anyway, last week, while I was at the supermarket I flipped through it and then I immediately put it in my cart. I wanted to share with you the reasons why:

It's a super simple dress, but I think it has lots of potential. I really love the pleating under the bust.

A sheath dress with a fun detail! Those circles might end up being unflattering for my full hips, but I'm sure the silhouette would be so flattering for my body shape.

A cute jacket with a peter pan collar. I really like that the back looks kinda like a trench coat.

The shirt is one of the "strange" patterns I was talking about, but it attracts me for some reason.
The skirt has enough details to pick my interest and, since I have some problems fitting clothes for my large hips, I like elasticated waists more and more.

And, last but not least, the actual reason why I bought this magazine. I've already made two shirts from this pattern and I LOVE THEM. You'll see the first one of them in a couple days, so stay tuned!

p.s. You might have noticed that I made some changes to the blog... I hope you like them :)

Highlights of the week #9

Bonjour, everyone! How are you?
I allowed myself the luxury of taking a break from my studying for almost the whole week, and I sewed a lot. It was so fun! If only it could be always like this...
I wish you all a happy weekend and I'll leave you with my usual collection of fun links. Bye! :)

1. Aya shared an incredibly creative video that shows many ways to wear a man' shirt. It's genius.
2. I found this tutorial for a head wrap/cowl on Pinterest and I fell in love with it.
3. Cupcake nail art tutorial! Need I say more?
4. Finally, one more tutorial; it's for this beautiful skirt and it's beginner proof.

Stretchy Jenny

What better project can you choose to go back to sewing than one that is quick, extremely simple and uses up scraps from another project?

Yes, instant gratification is the best. And in this case, it's this grey pencil skirt loosely based on the Jenny pattern by Burdastyle. The fabric is a medium weight jersey I had left from the super secret project I've mentioned before.

I went on a limb witht this project, because I've always been afraid that pencil skirts and bodycon skirts would be extremely unflattering for my full hips and even fuller derrière. Turns out, I really like the fit! Sometimes it really pays off to risk a little.

 

And finally, this skirt is so versatile! It can be styled in so many different ways. Now that I've overcome my fear of pencil skirts, I think the Jenny pattern will come in really handy...