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A velvet Burda dress

April 10, 2009


Right now it’s just some fabric pinned to the dress form, but what I’m trying to do here is the brilliant dress from Burda magazine’s March issue.


Burda totally outdid themselves with this vintage inspired gem. Melissa of Fehr Trade has already made a wonderful Atonement inspired version and I will also take my cue from a movie with a strong costume department – Henry and June (the actual movie is a bit corny, but I only watch it for the dresses 😉 )

The gorgeous Maria de Medeiros as Anaïs Nin in Henry and June. I haven’t seen Maria in something for ages, has she done any major movies since Pulp Fiction?

This is the first time I’m sewing in silk/rayon velvet and damn is this fabric hard to deal with! And I haven’t even gotten around to the sewing part yet.

Further Reading...

African wax print shorts

Cynthia Rowley dress

A trip to Malmö

10 Comments

  • Antoinette
    April 10, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    It’s looking good! Velvet has been on my “be sure to avoid list” for a long time but I may tackle it someday. Are you sewing this to wear to an event? Or just for lounging around the house in case you faint? 😀

    Reply
  • Emily
    April 10, 2009 at 3:30 pm

    The dress looks stunning! I love that color. You’ve convinced me that I need to work up some version of that pattern for this spring/summer.

    Reply
  • Johanna
    April 10, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    >>Antoinette: I might come to the same conclusion about velvet, we'll see how this pans out. No special event, just stash reduction, but yeah, you gotta keep up appearances!
    >>Emily: Yes, please do! If you haven't already I strongly recommending reading Melissa's review, it's very helpful

    Reply
  • geek sewing
    April 10, 2009 at 4:26 pm

    That dress looks great so far!

    Reply
  • melodie
    April 10, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    Very cute. I love velvet. Hope you have a walking foot. That’s the best way to deal with sewing velvet.

    Reply
  • Cindy
    April 10, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    I love the dress! The style looks like one that can flatter a multitude of shapes and sizes too. Can’t wait to see it. Sorry for the hard to deal with fabric that always throws a loop in the process!

    Reply
  • Mary Nanna
    April 10, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    wow .. it’s looking stunning already! Velvet is high on my list of fabrics to be sewn only under extreme duress…

    Reply
  • gwensews
    April 10, 2009 at 10:44 pm

    Velvet is a beautiful fabric, but it is tricky to sew. Good luck. Make a beautiful thing.

    Reply
  • luckylibbet
    April 11, 2009 at 3:24 am

    Stunning! I hope you have a walking foot? Last time I sewed rayon velvet, I hand basted, I used the walking foot, and it still moved – very slippery, tricky fabric.

    Reply
  • melissa
    April 14, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    Ooh ooh ooh I love it! But oh god, after working with silk velvet once I swore never, ever again! I think I’d rather remake this ten times in silk charmeuse than once in silk velvet. 😉 So I’ll live vicariously through yours instead. 🙂 Are you adding a lining as well? If you take your time, making a proper lining instead of Burda’s interlining instructions is really easy.

    Reply

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