Burda Style For people who sew

• Main
• Instructions
• Finished Projects

• Add to favorites
• Print page
• Get all Instructions (PDF, 2.8 MB)

18 Comments

• 

  Nov 9, 2009, 11.25 PMby quiltingmick

  I’ve purchased this pattern, and really want to make it right now … but the pattern pages have no margins on them after page 1 and therefore I get no fold lines. I’ve had no problems with the other patterns I’ve purchased.

  HELP! It’s not supposed to be this difficult, surely??

  1 Reply

  • 

    Nov 9, 2009, 11.41 PMby quiltingmick

    If anyone else ever has this problem, I discovered a solution, although it’s not ideal. When printing at home, select “shrink page to fit” but test it first on the test square on page 36 and make sure you measure the square.

    I have been trying to figure out a way to do this for days! Hopefully the next pattern I print won’t be such an exercise in frustration!

• 

  Apr 5, 2009, 08.58 AMby Laurie1962

  Kiki_r….I don’t think anyone said that plus size girls should hide their shape…in fact I believe the concensis is that this dress does just that, covers too much and in the end will make you look bigger and lumpier. Can’t wait to see some of the versions of this dress to see if anyone actually looks half arsed decent it. I’m not holding my breath though. It is exactly like those horrible gym dresses we had to wear in the 60’s. There is a post in the forum regarding plus size clothing with some really awesome suggestions. Check it out and put in your 2 cents.
• 

  Apr 5, 2009, 04.12 AMby kiki_r

  I really love this dress! Why does everyone always say that plus size girls need to wear clothes that HIDE their shape, size, fat? I hate the stupid fashion rules us fat girls are supposed to follow! I am never going to not wear a dress just because I’m afraid someone will see how big I really am, or god forbid think I am even bigger, wtf?? It is totally cute, exactly what i’ve been looking for – I am definately making this dress!! :)
• 

  Apr 3, 2009, 07.44 AMby wzrdreams

  Alden looks great in this dress!

  So here’s my comment:
  I am busty….. and if I go by my bust measurement that would put me in the size 44 range (depending on recent cookie consumption) but I know from experience that a 44 NEVER fits me because my shoulders and cross back are smaller. I pick my patterns by measuring my upper bust (under my armpits) which is a size 42. So, I always have to do extensive pattern work to make a 42 fit a D cup.

  I like that this plus sized version has bust darts, but since it starts at size 48 it does me no good. I would really like to see the “plus” sized versions start with smaller sizes (42-44) so that us M/L girls with BOOBS can have an easier time deciding which pattern to buy. Can’t “plus” sized really mean “curvy” sized?
• 

  Apr 2, 2009, 05.09 AMby SewVeryTall

  Alden is definitely the smallest plus size I’ve ever seen. The really bad news is, this dress makes her look bigger than she actually is! Now if it does that to someone her size, just imagine what it will do to bigger sizes, ugh.

  Also, imagine what happens to those pleats when a person sits down. There will be a big poof of fabric in front, from the pleats pulling open. The belt would help to solve this, but most plus sizes are not going to want to wear a belt.

  I agree with many other posters that have said those pleats are a bad idea. Tons of extra fabric on an already larger body doesn’t hide anything, it just makes the whole image look bigger.

  Plus sizes just need to make sure they’ve got enough ease in their clothing.
• 

  Apr 1, 2009, 05.54 AMby sweet-saboo

  I also agree with many of the prior comments, that the model depicted
  is certainly pretty, this pattern appears to be another ‘scaled up’ version of the smaller size – with no real modification from the smaller size designs specs, once again making the widest parts of a plus-size person ( tummy & hip area) appear even wider than they already are, by adding visual bulk in the form of pleats combined with the A-line trapeeze silhouette of this dress. If anyone with a round tummy tried to wear this dress, it’d look like as though they were hiding an alien baby beneath the tent-like front. I’m sorry, but this dress is a miss. Instead, how about offering a pattern that would look professional & dressed up, or casually chic on a plus-size person…..like a body-skimming (think “ease” here, not “tent”), sheath dress with mock turtleneck, & option for sleeves or sleeveless, back zip closure, and a slight A-line skirt(once again, think “ease”, not “tent”) starting from nothing at hip – to slight A-line at – or just below knee length, no pleats, no added visual bulk. In a khaki-colored crepe de chine, it would be very pretty…and very wearable for plus size people…how about it?
• 

  Mar 31, 2009, 03.48 PMby themisstress

  I have to agree with many of the coments above, while the modle is beautiful, she is not a fair representation of how this dress would look on a "real " plus size. And being one myself, i can confidently say, unless you have a perfect figure and flat stomac, not too much chest or hips, don’t bother. It will look like a maternity dress. I must also agree that once again the quality of the workmanship realy lets the dress down. We know you can do better, we’ve seen it!
• 

  Mar 31, 2009, 02.38 PMby chrisjalys

  I have to agree with ‘emtee’ the dress does resemble the tunic/gymslip I wore to school in the 60s. That said the lines are fabulous, but on someone of my size (English 26) those pleats would not stay flat and I have had my fill of maternity style clothing!
  Alden does look good in it, however I also feel that she is too small to model a plus size convincingly! No offence meant.
• 

  Mar 31, 2009, 02.24 PMby DaisyGreenlight

  She is definitely not plus size! I like the fabric choice on this dress better than the one in the “thin” version, but I think the dress overall would be cuter with the pleats on the back too. They would have to be sewn really well though to avoid the billowing out. Overall, I like that there are more options for plus size now.
• 

  Mar 31, 2009, 01.02 PMby Jaie

  Well, I can’t say that a St. Trinian’s gym-slip would be a bad idea :-) but I do wish (and I understand Alden to be a 44-46) but I’d like to see this on the highest end at 60. I’d have a better idea how it will lay when spread out by bigger shoulders or bust line. Not that you don’t look great dear, but I for one am a 48-50 and you look far smaller than that in this picture.
• 

  Mar 31, 2009, 12.13 PMby Lookingpast

  Alden is a great model but I’m not so sure about the dress. I just don’t see those pleats in front staying put—and if they don’t, the dress quickly becomes a maternity dress……which it might be well suited for. But the dress as is wouldn’t be suitable for the plus-size ladies I sew for. Also, the scarfs are distracting, and I’d rather not read so much about the scarfs in the description of the dress itself. (More about the dress, less about the scarfs.)

  That said, the design does have great vertical lines, both back (which I really like) and front. I may try the dress in a flowing cotton gauze or rayon and see what it would look like with the pleats sewn down.

  Lookingpast
• 

  Mar 31, 2009, 11.41 AMby MaineCindy

  I really want to like this dress but it’s hard to get past the fit and workmanship issues in the sample. Surely a good pressing would improve it somewhat? I don’t want to be negative but I’ve noticed these same sorts of flaws with other featured patterns. I hope Burda will take the time to improve these details so the designs can really shine.
• 

  Mar 31, 2009, 09.01 AMby JMcEntee

  She is a plus-size model?
• 

  Mar 31, 2009, 08.40 AMby ememtee

  This just needs a white shirt underneath, and you have a St. Trinian’s gymslip. Sorry to be so negative, but I thought this even when I saw the ‘thin’ version. Alden does make a lovely model though!
• 

  Mar 31, 2009, 08.22 AMby Alden

  Hey Everyone,
  

  You are all very sweet, thanks for the compliments. Just so you all know, depending on the day and how many cookies have been in the office recently, I vary between a size 44 and 46. Most BurdaModen Plus patterns start at 44 and on BurdaStyle they start between 44 and 48. Just like how lots of regular models are on the small end, it’s the same with me (but i get to eat more yummy food than they do). I hope you enjoy the pattern, I had a lot of fun wearing it and all the other outfits!
• 

  Mar 30, 2009, 03.39 PMby nehmah

  I cannot help but wonder if the pleats stay reasonably flat and fall in straight lines. A front view with Alden standing erect without a scarf or belt would give a much better idea of the fit from the neckline to the hem. (While I have no personal interest in Alden’s measurements, she does look a tad too small to be a Plus. I only wish I looked that good. :) Nehmah
• 

  Mar 30, 2009, 03.15 PMby camilaustral

  i’m not plus size either, but i like this very much…

  although i don’t think she is a plus size at all!!
• 

  Mar 30, 2009, 02.07 PMby Ghainskom

  I was wondering if there was no pattern this week. I’m no plus size but I like this just as much as the original. Alden is modelling beautifully once again. The technical drawings don’t seem to have been updated, though.