Summer blouses

Carole · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

I've made a lot of progress on my purple batik blouse. I've got everything done except seam finishing the side seams, buttons and buttonholes and sleeve and bottom hems. It's going to be fun having two different blouses out of the same fabric.

Carole · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject:

I did some backtracking today. I redid the neckband on the blouse. Previously I had sewn it together and topstitched it, but it didn't look very neat. So I took out the topstitching and invisibly stitched the facing of the neckband to the blouse neck edge. I still need to go back and re-topstitch it, but it looks a lot neater and I think it will lay flatter after the topstitching.

In the past I've sewn the neckband on in a cool motion. I used a method outlined in David Coffin's classic book on shirtmaking. I was always happier when I used that method. I don't remember the details, but it involved rolling up the shirt fronts vertically and stitching the collar band to the neck edge with the fronts partially encased in the neckband. The back part of the neckband was left open for a while, the fronts were unrolled and pulled straight, then it was easy to do the topstitching.

I need to remember that for next time! Has anyone else used that technique?

BrendaJo · Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 41 Location: Cape Cod

The book on making shirts by David Coffin is my bible when I am making a shirt. I have used the technique you mentioned for sewing on the collar and have been very happy with the results.

Carole · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

I wore my first batik blouse to breakfast this morning and I decided that I'd like the sleeve hem up an inch. Currently it falls right around my elbow and feels a little dumpy. When I got home from breakfast I went right up to my sewing room and re-marked the hem on my shirt-in-progress up another inch too, so I wouldn't forget. I need to get buttons for the purple one this week at SB, but I think I heard Barb or Dixie mention we were low on the button I'm interested in . . .

Carole · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:40 am Post subject:

Yesterday after cleaning up my sewing room I got some more work done on my purple blouse. I serged the side seam edges and bottom hem. Then I re-serged the hem edge of the sleeves for the shorter length. It's really a nice looking blouse. Last fall I made a jacket out of Louise Cutting's Ready for Anything pattern in a fabric we called Purple Brick Road and this blouse will be a perfect complement underneath!

Last I checked at SB we were a couple of buttons short of the ones I want to use. While I'm there today I'll see if we have any more in yet. I think I need seven for the front. It's good to make progress. The blouse had been hanging in my sewing room for a few weeks without me doing anything and I sort of forgot how much I like the fabric and style. I'm excited again about getting it done!

Carole · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 8:07 am Post subject:

Oops, the Louise Cutting jacket pattern I used is By Popular Demand.

Carole · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject:

A little more progress on my blouse. I re-topstitched the neckband - it looks so much better! Then I hemmed the sleeves and bottom edges. On Saturday, I picked up seven Prim buttons in eggplant at SB after the Pattern Review ladies were gone.

Now I have two garments waiting for buttonholes and buttons (also the Gemstone Tweed jacket). Looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and just get them done!

Carole · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

My second batik blouse is done! I made the buttonholes this morning and sewed the buttons on after lunch. I wore it out to run errands this afternoon and it is so nice and soft. The purple color is perfect. I'll try and post a picture soon.

Carole · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject:

Hi Everyone,

Here's a photo of my second batik blouse from this summer. I love this fabric and I love this blouse. I wore it all fall, with a purple silk jacket from an older fabric named Purple Brick Road. It's going to be sad to put it away for our cold New England winter.