Purl and Seam

handmade in Lancashire

Burda 7368 review – DIY Blouse

April 30, 2019

Oh! Burda 7368 – how this blouse has tried and tested me.

Burda_7368

A combination of drapey, shifty fabric and a less than stellar pattern, plus a couple of big schoolgirl errors really pushed me to the edge with this.

To start, I tissue fitted on Maud, made the required alterations and then tissue fitted on me. So far so good. Except that I omitted to tissue fit the sleeve!

Burda 7368

That was big schoolgirl error number one.

I then sewed the darts, the bib the neck and went to sew in the sleeve, only to find it’s 3″ bigger than the armscye. After much head-scratching I measured the armscye and the sleeve head and confirmed that the sleeve pattern piece is significantly larger than the armhole it’s meant to fit.

I should point out that this is a flat fitted sleeve, not an inset one, so no gathering or easing is required.

I’ve double checked all the pieces and all the measurements and can find no reason for this, so I’m calling misprint.

I scientifically cut the excess off one side and crossed my fingers.

Having sewn up the side and sleeve seams I tried it on and I’ve got away with it!

Burda 7368

But….I had no idea what was going on with the darts.

At the fitting stage I’d already raised the bust darts by 2 inches, and they’d looked good. Here they were, still a good 1.5 inches too low. And schoolgirl error number 2…..I’d already trimmed and overlocked the seam.

What was I thinking?

I finangled the darts into an approximation of the right place. The fabric thankfully hides them, and if someone is looking that closely I have bigger problems.

I have checked the internet and it seems to be a problem with my copy of the pattern, not the pattern as a whole. Perhaps just a printing error at Burda. With the quantity of patterns they produce, it’s bound to happen occasionally.

Burda 7368

The sewing of this was a bear too. I constantly caught the fabric in the seams and had to deploy the seam ripper. At one point I even caught it in an overlocked seam. It was a close thing!

However the blouse is finished now and I’ve worn it a couple of times. And whilst I don’t love it, I don’t loathe it either. It’s a perfectly serviceable every day blouse that fits better than a ready to wear top would.

This fabric (from Guthrie and Ghani, about 2 years ago) isn’t one I would purchase today as my taste has moved on. No shade thrown at G&G…this is a quality fabric! Thankfully it is also a very busy, softly draping fabric which covers a multitude of construction sins!

I made Version B and raised the front hem to create a hi-lo effect. If I were to make this again, I would probably raise the back hem too. I could go back and do it but….

Burda 7368

I think I could also benefit from going down a size and making a slightly larger FBA to compensate.

So, rather like my Sew Me Something Imogen top, Burda 7368 didn’t quite work out the way I’d hoped. However, I now have a new top, am edging towards better understanding the fit changes I need to make, and I have contributed to my goal to reduce my stash in 2019.

I’m calling that a win!

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Comments

  1. K-Line says

    April 30, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    Great top – and great haircut!

    • Evie says

      May 1, 2019 at 11:39 am

      Thanks so much! The hair has actually grown out a bit and is ready for a restyle! Watch this space! 😉

  2. Kim says

    May 1, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    Some garments end up just feeling ok. This too actually looks fine – but I agree with your assessment that you could go down a size and do a FBA.
    Looking good!

    • Evie says

      May 2, 2019 at 6:39 pm

      I really appreciate your feedback…you’ve got a great eye for this. Thanks so much!

  3. Tialys says

    May 2, 2019 at 12:14 pm

    I really like the fabric on you and it goes brilliantly with your skinny jeans. I think the front hem is just the right length and, you’re right, the back hem could come up a bit but it looks good.

    • Evie says

      May 2, 2019 at 6:40 pm

      I think the problem is that it could do to go up a bit, but it’s not so awful that I won’t wear it without making the change! 😉 #boneidle!

Evie

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