{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

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{this moment} ritual from Soulemama

building a blouse, pt. 3

blouse no. 3

back

I made this several weeks ago, when Mark and I unexpectedly (or at least with less planning than is typical for us) found ourselves in Binghamton for the weekend. We hadn't scheduled our visit that weekend, partially because we were planning a weekend trip the following weekend, and partially because we had just come back from Easter (and have you seen the cost of gas lately?!), but Mark scheduled an important meeting. My parents-in-law were coordinating a 5k that weekend, which we walked together (slowly) on Sunday,  but Saturday I was left with whatever I had grabbed from my sewing stacks on our way out the door.

I worked a little on some older WIP (works in progress), but when my supplies for that ran out, I decided to return to the quest for a perfect summer blouse.  Summer is coming soon, and blouse no. 1 didn't cut it.  Blouse no. 2 is more of a success now than I thought it was when I made it, and after blouse no. 3, I might be going back.

I installed a zipper in a garment without a zipper foot!

In any case, I used New Look pattern 6754, which I picked up at JoAnn's at one of their regular $1.99 pattern sales.  The fabric (while not as cheap) was also a reasonable cost with a coupon.  After I began reading the instructions and cutting out the pieces, I realized I would need a zipper.  Luckily, Mark was headed out to his meeting and agreed to pick up a zipper for me (armed with a swatch of material for color-matching purposes).  He came back from his meeting just time for me to sew it in.  And, it matched!  Good job, hubs.  I now have the confidence needed to send you out to the fabric store again...

this blouse has the same type of arm and neck bindings-- but this blouse has darts!

This pattern was not as simple as blouse no. 2, although this pattern also touted multi-sizing.  There were actually two different pattern pieces for each piece you would cut out-- to accommodate the different sizing.  Unfortunately for me, my sizes spanned both pieces, so I actually had to lay one piece out, mark to a certain point and lay the other piece out and continue marking.  I think the multi-sizing (while necessary for proper fit for me) did not do me any favors in terms of ease of completion in this project.

I was using Leslie's sewing machine (which I may be in love with), and I found that the pieces sewed up together faster and cleaner than on my machine.  She didn't have a zipper foot, so I winged that part (and had to redo it once) but in the end it came out okay!

wearing new blouse with stylish blue skinny belt

The fit of the pattern is a little off for me.  While it fits under the arms and is an acceptable length, the blouse is too wide from seam to seam.  If I were to make this pattern again, I would cut out 1-2" from the middle of the pattern.

back of blouse while on

This blouse is not a complete bust. I love the colors and have a few different other items that match/coordinate well with it (including yellow flip flops with flowers on them that mimic the flowers in the print)!  I like the zipper and feel like I made it well, although the fit is off.  My mission is still incomplete - I think I'll be trying the Wiksten Tova tank next - but I like my new shirt anyway!

building a blouse, pt. 2

I mentioned previously that I am working on finding the perfect spring/summer blouse pattern.  On my second try, I used a pattern I had purchased more than a year ago, a Cynthia Rowley for Simplicity (pattern #2593).  I'm pretty pleased with how fast this turned out (about an hour and a half!), and how well it fits!

The multi-size option of Simplicity patterns is really awesome. Often, I will have a hard time finding certain tops or dresses to fit me in bust, waist and hips. With this blouse, I cut a size 16 for the bust, but a size 22 for the hips! Imagine if I had to make the blouse all one size...

Because I had not made a garment to completion using a paper pattern in such a long time, I didn't want to cut into any of my nicer fabric for this blouse.  I used a very loose weave cotton (I am sure it is 100% cotton, and it has the feel of linen) that was given to me by one of Mark's great-aunts who discovered that I loved to sew.  I love the pattern on the fabric, but there was a minor problem with discoloration, so I thought it would be a great choice for the first iteration of this blouse.

The pattern features a gathered neckline...

binding for the neck and arms...

and a 1/4" hem on the bottom.

I like the blouse enough that I will try another variation (one option is a rolled neckline-- cute!), and the blouse I made wasn't too difficult and fits pretty perfectly.  I also love how well it goes with one of my new-to-me thrifted cardigans (my favorite thrift shop was having a sale the last time I was there, 50% off all coats, jackets and sweaters!) that I picked up for just $3.  The cost of this look?  Fabric that was given to me, cardigan, and pattern that I bought forever ago on sale? $4.99 plus tax.

fits me, top to bottom!

if I walked by you, would you hear my clothes shouting, "Spring is coming!"?

That's a deal I can't overlook, and the colors make me feel like spring.  Although I'm going to keep looking for the perfect blouse, this one is not too far off.

building a blouse, pt. 1

Sewing is a skill that I list in my repertoire.  However, once you know anything about sewing, you know that there are a lot of different kinds of sewing.  There's quilting, a sometimes complicated and frequently time-consuming skill (with many different variations in and of itself), there's hand-sewing (which I do NOT list in my repertoire), and of course, there's garment sewing.  The latter, I have not counted as one of my skills in quite some time.

I guess now I'll have to.

As I've been sewing more frequently (Farmer's Wife blocks with Leslie), I've been thinking more and more about how to make things that are useful in my life and more and more those ideas have branched out away from the small items that I love for how fast they can be whipped up and therefore produce a sense of accomplishment in me.  I've been the sewer of small things for quite some time-- cloth napkins, zipper bags, wrist rests, bunting.  And I've been the incomplete sewer of large things (how many quilts do I 'owe' as Christmas gifts from years past?).  So, I've been seeking something intermediate.  Enter, the cotton blouse.

I love cotton blouses that can be worn under cardigans.  The knits are covered in my wardrobe, for the most part-- camisoles and t-shirts in every color-- but the sleeveless cotton blouse?  The loose, yet fitted, breathable tank?  It's hard to find those at Target.

My first attempt was pattern-free.  I used the instructions and tutorial from Made by Rae, posted on Sew, Mama, Sew. Because I wanted a blouse that could be worn to work, I did not include the ruffle.  Because I wanted a blouse that could be finished faster, I did not include the pockets!

No pockets, but I did make a two-inch wide hem at the bottom.  It works because I've got a short torso.

My variation was made from this awesome orange polka dot fabric (DS Quilts for Joann's), that I envisioned with a bright blue cardigan or even a fuschia one.  After finishing all the steps save the bottom hem, I realized I wasn't really happy with the tent-ness of this bouse on me.  The back was not only not fitted, it was enormously baggy!  I extended the pleats in the back from 2" (front) to 8", which seemed to help.

2" pleats in the front

8" pleats in the back!

If I were to make this blouse again, I would definitely do the optional under-arm divots.  I would also deviate from the instructions when cutting the back piece- I think the back doesn't need pleats and could be made, fitted, with far less fabric.

While the top fits, and I still love the fabric, I'll have to keep hunting for a perfect Spring/Summer blouse that will be a wardrobe staple. I'm sure there's a pattern/blouse out there for me that I'll be able to happily make in ten differently patterned cottons for a new Spring/Summer wardrobe!

Stay tuned for 'building a blouse, pt. 2' (and maybe 3, 4, 5... until I find the perfect one!)