This "pinafore dress" from the September, 2007 Burda WOF caught my eye the minute I opened the magazine this autumn. Many people have made it. It has been reviewed many times on PatternReview.
So, I made this jumper and have literally "jumped" on the bandwagon. (Bad pun intended, snort snort, har har.)
So, about the jumper in concept: My husband, Nick, like me, attended elementary school in the 1960s and70s, when the girls wore jumpers with knee socks. And oxfords. So when he heard I was making a jumper, Nick, who is ever ready with a frank comment said that a jumper would make me look like an overgrown school girl...(HEY...but what's wrong with THAT? LOL). So I forged ahead and made this anyway, because I trusted my instinct. And when I put it on he admitted how wrong he was. Worn with the shoes and tights, the outfit has a 'comfortable' feel with a casually dressy look. Perfect for more casual days at work.
I used a double knit wool, bought in 2000 from a store called "Exquisite Fabrics" in Washington, DC. This is a wonderful wool, but it is a bit thick and bulky. The bodice of this style, including the under bust band, is supposed to be cut from self fabric. You basically make two, then sew them together. Then you attach the skirt. To reduce bulk in the bodice, I lined the inside bust band with silk knit.
I finished the jumper inside, using more silk knit as a lining for the skirt. I stabilized the neck and armhole curves using fusible bias tape. As a result of the lining, the inside of this jumper looks as good as the outside.
The only change I made to the pattern was to lengthen the bodice above the seam 2 inches.
I used hand finishing for the hem, and overall this has a dressy vibe, but still very wearable. This jumper will be a 'staple' for me this winter.
8 comments:
Very cute. I have that reluctance to wear a jumper too - having been in grade school in the 60's, but you're right, yours does have a very grown-up vibe. It looks as if it is sitting at your natural waist - ?
Very kewl jumper...so I guess women of a certain age can wear it! :) Thanks for the inside pics and details on how you lined it...this isn't a pattern that I can wear but I have appreciated every version of it that I've seen.
I love your version of this jumper! When you add length to the bodice (I usually add from 1 - 1 1/2 inches depending on the pattern company) do you add all in one place or do you divide the amount, let's say 1 inch at the armhole, one inch above the waistline?
Thanks
Thanks! Marji, the band ends about 1 inch above my natural waist. Lisette, I added 2 inches to the bodice, all in the same place, about 1 inch below the armhole. In retrospect, I added too much, because the knit stretches slightly lengthwise. I should have added only 1 1/2 inch. But it's wearable regardless.
Ahhhhh! Lining the skirt. It didn't occur to me yet makes perfect sense. You look terrific in this.
Wow, you look great. I must add this to my "to do" list.
Isn't this a great jumper! I enjoy wearing mine.
I love jumpers but being of a certain age as Carolyn put it, I had the same reservations as your husband did.
So a 2 part thank you for
A. Showing a great example of how to wear it so it is perfectly respectable, adult and suitable for the office and
B. for the tip on what to line knits with!
YAY!!! I can wear jumpers again.
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