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Despite the cold weather, I made Burda 5/2016 #115 – a dress from the May edition of BurdaStyle Magazine. The style is called a bat sleeve dress. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I was intrigued by this pattern enough to make it top of my trace and make list. The pictures didn’t really do anything for me but it was the line drawing that grabbed me:

Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern
Burda 5/2016 #115 Pattern Review - saturday night stitch - a sewing blog
Burda 5/2016 #115 Dress – Pattern Review

It almost looks like a cape doesn’t it? Anyway, I had bought this ‘winter storms’ ponte from B&M Fabrics in Leeds Market which I thought could work well as an autumnal dress that could be layered. It’s that time of the year where I start to think a lot about layering things so this seemed like a good candidate. I pictured it with different colour roll neck jumpers underneath.

Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review

The instructions were quite good – though this is a very simply constructed dress made up of 2 pieces (front and back) and a neckband. You just have to finish the arm flaps before draping them over each other and securing them with the neckband.

This leads to the only fly in the ointment with the otherwise easy & quick dress to make – the neckband is too big. I used the Burda dimensions and it sort of stands away from the body. I tried hand sewing it down but I needed a do-over which I wasn’t willing to spend time on.

More Burda sewing pattern reviews and projects


Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review - Saturday Night Stitch - a sewing blog
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review – Made in medium weight ponte
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review - Saturday Night Stitch - a sewing blog
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review – Back view of the dress
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review - Saturday Night Stitch - a sewing blog
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review – It has interest on the sleeve area.

Burda 5/2016

Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review - Saturday Night Stitch - a sewing blog
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review - Saturday Night Stitch - a sewing blog
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review – The sleeve pops over the shoulder.
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review - Saturday Night Stitch - a sewing blog
Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review – The neckband.

This tiny issue aside – it’s a good neutral addition to my wardrobe. I wasn’t too sure about the fabric when I bought it – but I got it because of my tendency to get bright and bold colours – it is confusing but I am trying to diversify IYSWIM. Anyhow, I digress…pictures…..

Will I make it again? – Undecided. Its warm when I layer it and its very comfortable – a good candidate for a Christmas day dress perhaps? I cant help but feel that maybe with a lighter weight jersey this could be truly lovely….. We will have to see.

Burda 5/2016 #115 Sewing Pattern Review - Saturday Night Stitch - a sewing blog

So this is number 9 of my Burda Challenge. I have to make 12 Burda things by the end of the year to justify a subscription in 2017. So here’s hoping I can get 3 more done by then :-).

First published in December 2016.