Made in Sweden

Desperate Housewife, Bree Hodge?



I saw this in Boston Proper and immediately thought that this reminded me of Burda 7647 sans the front band.



Pattern Description and Some Background...
This top or dress has a gathered or twisted bust section and matching shoulder straps. Both versions are chic and uncomplicated, so they are ideal for packing in a suitcase.
Recommended fabric:
Jersey




Yes, I agree that my top was ideal for packing in a suitcase, because of the seemingly easy care knit that I used. However, this top did not get packed in my suitcase for our trip to Sweden to visit my in-laws. It got packed on our way home to Southern California. How did that happen?

Standing near my in-laws' guest house. My in-laws so kindly gave up their own room to accommodate the three of us (there's only one bathroom and it's inside the main house). They ended up sleeping in the guest house.


So when youre near me, darling can't you hear me
S. O. S.
The love you gave me, nothing else can save me
S. O. S.


I purchased this pattern at a little shop in Oskarshamn, Sweden (popl 17,143). We stayed with my husband's parents in Hogsby (popl 1,965) for nearly 3 weeks after visting Stockholm for four days. Somewhere in between sight-seeing, eating great food, and visiting and being visited by my husband's relatives, I was going through some rare form of S.O.S. (Sewing Over Seas or Sewing Obsession Syndrome). My mother-in-law was very kind to let me use her 20-year-old Pfaff (Uh oh... that is enough to trigger my condition). My husband told me it had been collecting dust for some time now.

There was no local shop in Hogsby that we knew of that carried sewing supplies and my father-in-law drove (approximately 40 minutes) us to Oskarshamn. We took a mini-tour of this cute and quaint coastal town and visited the town's al fresco shopping mall. The textile shop that we entered carried only home deco fabric. Across from this shop, I spotted a little shop that specialized in selling Husqvarna sewing machines. When we entered this shop, bingo! It also contained a limited selection of fabric and sewing notions. The shop seemed no larger than my living room. Fortunately my husband was able to speak Swedish to the friendly saleslady who spoke very limited English. The only patterns she carried were Burda and Butterick. This is not a Jo-Ann's so I was not expecting any pattern sales. I perused the Burda catalog and Heather the Burda for Kids catalog. I liked the look of Burda 7647 due to the sweetheart neckline and that it was geared for knits. Heather selected a pattern that carried a knit top with a gathered front finished with a bow and a pair of shorts. My husband told the saleslady the pattern numbers that Heather and I liked. We also included the fabric, a pack of sewing needles, ribbon trims, and Pfaff bobbins, thread (Guterman). Altogether, my husband paid $899.50 kronor, roughly $120 U.S.D. No special discounts for foreigners. I remember watching on Nightline a few evenings ago about being charged hidden extra fees from ATM use to hotel accommodations. You could even be charged more if you are not a local resident while shopping.

Size
Misses' 34-44. I sewed a 38. I went down a size due to my anticipation that it would be voluminous.


I know there's something sewing on...
Fabric
A floral printed knit from the shop mentioned earlier in Oskarshamn, Sweden. I believe my husband paid extra taxes on this fabric.

Heather also liked the fabric and style. To make a top more age-appropriate for her, I drafted the top from one of her RTW shirts, gathered the center front and added a little band.



Favorite Features
*Gathered center front held by a thick loop or band

*Sweetheart neckline

*Entire bodice is self-faced

*Wide shoulder straps

*Pleats below the bust


Not-so-favorite Features
*This type of empire styling has a tendency to look maternity on certain body types like mine

*Seam allowances are not included. It looks like I forgot to add seam allowances to the center band and to the lower edge of the upper front and back bodice pieces.

*To prevent the straps from sliding off the shoulders, I would need to position the straps a tad towards the center.

*I forgot to include the seam allowance above the front skirt and the back skirt which would have prevented some "riding" up one side of my bust.

*The neckline does run somewhat low for my preference


Sewing me, sewing you, it's the best we can do...
Directions
When I opened the pattern at my in-laws' home, surprise! There were no directions in English. Included were 8 languages: Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, German, Pyckynn, Swedish. Swedish is to be expected. The English directions were downloadable from the Burda website, however, my in-laws did not have internet at the time. So, I relied on my quasi-fluency in Spanish and French, along with the more than decent illustrations. I admit that my sewing terminology is limited in the two languages, so at times I referred to the illustrations and the words in context. I discovered that 1.5 cm seam allowances were not included. Later I was able to download the English directions. From my perspective, the directions in the other languages seemed more detailed than the English ones.

The center loop or band (after sewing one side right sides together and turning inside out) is basted on the right side of the center front of the bodice before the self-facing is attached. I don't know how I skipped this step. Maybe I had just admired the lovely landscape outside the window to my left and skipped the step where I left off when I returned to sewing.

To prevent the straps from sliding from my shoulders, I wished I placed the straps another cm towards the center. Otherwise, it is not a major issue as is.

As instructed, I handstitched or slip-stitched the folded edge of the facing onto the seam of the upper bodice and skirt (front and back). I then handstitched the other end of the center loop or band along the inside seam over the front self-facing.



Mamma-Mi-odifications

* Shortened straps each by 1"

* Skipped the lengthwise topstitching on the shoulder straps

* Omitted lengthening the top by the recommended 4 cm.



Yes, if I had to do the seams again
I would, my friend, Fernan-Sew...
Conclusion
Although this pattern is marked 3 dots, the overall construction is fairly simple. I was able to get by without the English set of directions!

If I sew this top again, I would
*raise the neckline by a little longer loop to decrease the gathering (although I like the gathering the way it is) or adding the possible missing seam allowance below the bodice

*add the missing seam allowance above the front and back skirts, which I hope would reduce the "expecting" effect.

*transfer the strap positions to prevent the straps from sliding off the shoulders

I still would recommend this top because it has a super potential to be a lovely and versatile summer piece.

My S.O.S. lasted for only 3 days...