Summer blouses

Carole · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject:

My new blouse is almost done! I just have to put in the buttonholes and sew on the buttons. I'll wait to do that until tomorrow morning, when I'm more energetic and it's cooler in my sewing room. I have to say that this pattern works for me. I made the following changes: I sewed a larger seam allowance when I attached the sleeve to the body, I sewed a larger seam allowance along the sleeve and body, I shortened the dart about an inch on the front of the shirt. If I don't shorten the front dart, there is only an inch of space between where the bust dart ends at the bust point and the top of the dart on the front. I love the hem on this shirt. It's curved, so it looks nice if I wear it untucked, but not too much so. The gentle curve is easier to ease through the sewing machine. Even my husband said it looks like the perfect shirt for me. When I get the buttons/buttonholes done tomorrow, I'll post a picture. I've already got plans for a couple more shirts like this.

Lois · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:25 am Post subject:

Carole - My photos of the San Diego jacket are under My Vision - then look for the Discussion called Embellished Jackets
or here:
scroll down and you'll find my photos.
http://www.sawyerbrook.com/salon/viewtopic.php?t=115

Carole · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:11 am Post subject:

Well yesterday I stitched the buttonholes. They came out well. I went to sew on the buttons and realized I forgot to buy enough - grrrr! I'm missing one so I will pick it up at SB today. When I get them all sewed on this afternoon, I'll have my daughter take a pic and get it posted.

Lois, thank you for providing the link to your San Diego jacket picture. Your work is so nice. The collar doesn't look nearly as drapey and wide on your finished jacket as it does in the technical drawing on the pattern. Did the fabric you use have quite a bit of body and/or heft to it? I'm going to try and make up a muslin soon.

Lois · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:11 am Post subject:

Carole - I made the jacket several years ago, so my fabric was bought quite a while ago, however I do remember the fiber content is Cotton & Linen. It's not really bulky, has more drape than Cotton Canvas Lycra which is pretty popular today. I think most Linen would work - prewash and dry. Also you could us a Cotton which has drape - not too crisp.

I bought Vine Ripe Double last Fall to make this pattern again. That's a double faced fabric and has some bulk to it. However the jacket in my photo does not have a heavy bulk - it's similar to a med weight line.
The Ellen Tracy red fabric looks like it would be perfect for this jacket:
http://store.sawyerbrook.com/Templates/frmTemplateP.asp?CatalogID=4618&Zoom=Yes&SubFolderId=54
or for a lighter look the Dusty Red Tencel would be fabulous too.
http://store.sawyerbrook.com/Templates/frmTemplateP.asp?CatalogID=4612&Zoom=Yes&SubFolderId=57

Lois · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:22 am Post subject:

Carole - How's the blouse? Did you get the extra buttons? I'm looking forward to seeing the shirt on you. The pattern looks like a classic. Did the sleeves set in smoothly?

Carole · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:19 am Post subject:

I finished sewing on the buttons yesterday. I have to say that buying one extra button and keeping track of it until I got it sewn on the blouse nearly drove me nuts! When I picked it up on Tuesday, I decided I didn't need a little bag for one button. So I put it in my pocket for the trip home. When I got home I put it on the counter and warned everyone to watch out for it. Then I moved it to the stairs so I could take it with me to my sewing room. You can imagine how difficult it is to remember one button on the staircase. I should have just not been so lazy and just taken it straight up to my sewing room and put it with the rest of them. Anyway. . . the finished blouse is lovely. My camera is away on a hike right now with my hubby, but I will get a picture soon.

I used Dream Weave for the interfacing on the blouse. It is a microfiber interfacing that I tested last summer. I liked it so much that I bought a whole bolt. It works well with the soft rayon.

The sleeves set in pretty well on the blouse. It's kind of a different fit. The pattern envelope says slightly relaxed. The sleeve cap is definitely the shape of a fitted blouse, though. The directions don't tell you to run a line of basting stitches on the sleeve cape before setting it in and that would have helped me with a couple of puckers.

I will change the button placement on the next blouse. I like a button right at the bust point and as placed on the pattern, mine didn't end up in the right place. It's just a little off, but I will make sure I get it right on the next one to stop any 'gaposis'.

I do like that the blouse has an easy casual feel, without looking oversized and sloppy. You'll see that when I get the picture posted.

Nata · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 86

Congratulations on finishing the blouse. I'll be waiting for the pictures.

Carole · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

Okay, here's a picture of my batik blouse . . .

Lois · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

That is one fabulous shirt - very classic and I like it in Batik.

Nata · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 86

Great blouse, Carole.

Janee · Sawyer Brook Staff Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 76

Carole,

I love your batik blouse! I came across something on a RTW blouse I own that may help you if your buttons aren't quite correctly placed. This blouse has buttons in groups of 2 - placed about 1 1/4" apart, with about 3 1/2" spacing from the midpoints. Perhaps you could pin to simulate adding a second button above or below to close your "gaposis" and see if the spacing works for the rest of the buttons?

You guys are making me want to join in this sew-along - but as I've already told Nata that I'm trying to concentrate on my daughter's wedding gown this summer, and besides, I don't have any batik fabric at home! I'll try to join in when I get back to Sawyer Brook in mid-August.

Carole · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:12 am Post subject:

Thank you for that tip Janee. I think I have seen this done on other tops and I always think it is clever and cute. I've got another batik cut out for this same blouse pattern and I'll look at doing that when I get to the buttons. Yesterday at SB Dixie helped me pick out some nifty squarish buttons. Good luck on the dress - what an honor to sew that for your daughter.

Nata · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 86

He He, are you sure you don't want to make just this last easy project before embarking on a wedding gown? Wedding gowns can become very complicated very fast Evil or Very Mad

Think, UPS guy at your door with a package of fabric - doesn't that sound tempting ?

Janee · Sawyer Brook Staff Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 76

Okay, you guys - I'll tell you what. If my test muslin gets done in the next week or so, I'll pick out some batik and join in on this project! Th front of the gown is draped on my dress form, I've been trying to get the pleating right. I'm having trouble with where it opens up into the full skirt. Last night I had a revelation that I need to make the whole gown out of muslin to test what I've draped as it joins into the skirt and side seams, so that's what I've slated for my sewing schedule over the next couple of days. I've been tying up loose ends this week - on Tuesday I finished a pair of pajama pants for my son out of Salt Marsh Plaid, that I'd cut out to give him last Christmas!

Carole · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

I've got another batik blouse in this pattern in process. The fabric is a wonderful dark purple with squiggles. I liked the piece so much last year I bought a bunch. I also have a more tailored top out of it in process. Read about that in the Sew Along section of this forum. That blouse is much different. It's dressier and will have a lining. It's fun creating two different shirts out of the same fabric!