Weekend Sewing: Summer Blouse

Bet you thought I burned out, huh? Nope, at least not yet. Here's the "Summer Blouse" pattern from Heather Ross' book, Weekend Sewing:


This was my favorite project in the book and the one I wanted to run home and make after purchasing it. No surprise, but there are tons of these out there on the nets. I'm just late to the party!

The pattern needed a few adjustments. I started with the Medium and added a FBA using the Nancy Zeiman method. I had to lower the neckline 1-3/8 inch...it's really high (even for you Shan!) I lengthed the bodice pieces by 2 inches because I could tell right away they weren't long enough for this style. The proportion was off. (Next time I'll be adding at least 1 more inch. I only serged the edge to hem this one!)

Some bloggers have lengthened the sleeves, others have shortened them because they were too long. If it helps at all, they were "just right" for me. In length only though...I did a tissue fit but I still need about an inch in width at the biceip. It's not uncomfortably tight and should loosen up on wearing, so I'm not going to sweat it in this top.

Lastly, I lowered the bust dart 1". Now for the goods! I used an old favorite, a dark blue dotty print for my facings, binding, and the button loop:



It just barely shows through the fabric, which is a look I LOVE. I also hemstitched the facings from the right side, rather than plain old topstitched. It goes much better with the vintagey feel of the fabric (which is an awesome lightweight cotton from Hancocks! It looks and feels like a lovely vintage sheet!)


The placket ends in a V shape, and you slipstich the opening a few inches. This is purely decorative, only you can't "see" it. It's an odd treatment...and I'm not sure it will stand the test of time on someone with a bust. The model in the book isn't as well endowed as yours truly. ;)


I added a vintage lavender button from my antique button stash. I'll never be buttoning this top, but is a nice addition:


Here's the top on me (who hasn't fixed her hair or face yet. And probably won't today.)


Other than the slight snuggy feeling of the biceps, I LOVE THIS TOP!! I would wear it every single day. Which means I need to get some fabric washed & on the line so I can make another!

Lest you think I've been whiling away my time in front of the tv (I have) I'll have you know, I've also almost finished this little pattern, also a Built By Wendy:


But I'll save that post for another day.

Sew What Skirts: Drawstring

Ok, I know. I've posted 3 (or is it 4?) days in a row...each time with a new project. Don't get used to it. I'm just having a moment.

Anywho...I made another skirt from the Sew What Skirts book. This time I made the "gathered" skirt version, except I added a drawstring. I did have to make some changes to my original draft of the pattern. First though, here's the cutie patootie finished skirt:


When I drafted the gathered version using the directions in the book, it was VERY a-line! And too big all around. So I removed quite a bit from the side seams, and also lessened the angle of the hem. I'm guessing it's because there's a big old difference between my waist and hips? I vaguely remember doing this for my a-line draft too when I originally made it.

Here's the skirt on me (sorry, its a headless day!) It's not a straight skirt like it appears here, (and it really was on straight too.)


See, it's a-line! (I just have worse posture in this one, ha!)


I added the drawstring using the elastic/drawstring combo method I learned several years ago in a New Look pattern. You make 2 buttonholes in the CF, and then do your casing as usual (but you don't leave an opening for threading the elastic through.) Make 2 tubes for your drawstring ties and stitch these to a length of elastic. I measure the elastic by stretching it across my back from one side to the other. It's not an exact science. ;)

Thread through your button holes, then stitch in the ditch through the elastic at the side seams to secure it and keep it from moving around.

I also added white linen pockets with a self fabric flap, turned back on the diagonal (these are featured on the tablecloth skirt in the SWS book). The button is just decorative.


Last thought...isn't this fabric cute too?? I know I keep saying that but I've had really great luck finding cool fabrics lately. This is from Hancock's and is SO 1970's retro it is just one step away from our old family room curtains.

And I love it.

Simplicity 3835: Built by Wendy

Another day, another Built By Wendy top! This time I tried 3835, the peasant top version.

I love this one! I cut out the 18 and did an FBA using Nancy Zieman's pin & rotate method (I'm sure there's another name for it.) I was a little worried about the armhole depth since that was a problem on the last one, so I pin-fit before cutting out. No problem with the armhole this time!

It's a simple pattern to put together, elastic casing on armholes & neckline (note the super cute red & pink dotty print, another "Everything but the Kitchen Sink" print by RJR):

I did a simple turned up hem. I made a little tube to tie into a bow at the center front, like a drawstring (totally fake.)


I only have it pinned now, because I want to make one of these also, which would add another cute detail to pin on.

Rosette Tutorial on Plumtickled

Or this one by my old ebay pal Meg:

Fabric Flower Tutorial on Boutique Nutmeg

And here's me in yet another not terribly good picture. (My hair, for one thing, isn't that red in real life! It's more the color it was in Sunday's photo!) I'm also way blown out by the sunset. Still...I think you can see what a cute top this is! It's very cute on, like a semi-fitted peasant top. The neckline is just perfect.


All in all, I'm very impressed with the Built by Wendy pattern line. I'm going to have to try one of the button front items, a jacket or her cute top. I do have the Sew U book that includes basic patterns, but they only go to a size 12 (who's brilliant idea was that anyway??)

I also hung laundry out on the line today, including more quilting cottons for future project.


And I made zucchini bread from my dad's neverending stash of fresh zucchini (a loaf for me and a loaf for my dad & mom!) I used Paula Deen's recipe on Food Network. It was YUMMY. (this obviously isn't a foodie blog, because we always eat the food before I remember to snap a pic! HA!)

Simplicity 3692: Built By Wendy

A new summer top...


I was inspired by this summery, cotton top by All Buttoned Up. I was wanting to use a woven too, so her cute variation was like permission! Be sure to visit her blog, she has lots of cute projects and a wry sense of humor I really enjoy. Here's her top (from last summer):


Now just up front I'll admit I wasn't looking for high fashion. I was looking for the easy, simple lines of the Built By Wendy line of clothes and patterns, and I went into this knowing this wasn't going to be super flattering for us chestier types. I'm OK with that. I just want to use some of my pretty 100% cotton prints and there's just so many skirts I can wear in this lifetime!

Now on to the pattern details! There is plenty of ease in this pattern, even though its for a knit. I started out cutting a yoke size 18 just to be safe, but ended up taking out about 5/8" from the front yoke. It was pretty gape-y. I can't imagine how big it would be in a knit, so just be aware.

The neckline was also a lot higher than I expected, and higher than I like. I can live with it, but I've already altered my pattern. Lastly, the armholes are way high and tight. I haven't fixed those yet. I'm going to sit and pick out my armhole bindings tonight while watching tv, then lower those suckers. Once that is fixed, I think I'll lose the bit of pulling under the arm that I get now when wearing the top, because it fits great everywhere except there.

Here's the little tucks I added (in the corner of the squared neckline on each side) to take up the excess neckline. You can't even see them in real life really. Isn't this a cute print?? I LOVE IT. It's from the RJR line of fabrics and is called "Everything but the Kitchen Sink". I think it's so feedsack-ish and reminds me of my Grandma Edna's housedresses. Of course since I was using a sweet calico, I had to add rickrack. Right?


I bound the armholes with a grey cotton fat quarter I had lying around. Lying around because....who needs a grey FQ?? I've got plenty left over to fix the bindings later.


And here's me in my barefoot, cuffed denim glory. I'm sure I'll wear this lots after I fix the armholes. It's too hot and humid to wear much of anything besides cotton!!

Sew What Skirts: Wraparound

Hey! I sewed something! And...I immediately wore it! Here's the wraparound skirt from the (really cool) book, Sew What Skirts. I used a fabulous Jennifer Paganelli fabric.


This is really a great little book. No pattern is included, instead you use your measurements to draft the perfect-fitting skirt pattern--a-line, straight, and gathered to start...then there are lots of adaptations, like this wraparound version. The instructions are very easy to understand and the drafting was easy too. Both skirts I've made using my draft of the a-line skirt pattern have fit perfectly!

For this cute little wraparound number, you do a buttonhole in one of the sideseams to thread your "tie" through. (A word about the ties in a sec.) Note that I cut through my buttonhole when I was cutting it. Drat it. (I wore it anyway. I'll have to go back and fray check it tonight!)


For this skirt, the sides of the warp and the hem is just a simple turn up & stitch.


And the waistband is part of the ties. The instructions tell you to cut (I ripped of course, because I like to!!) two 3" pieces, selvedge to selvedge. That sounds like plenty. But...for a hippy girl like me, that didn't leave me enough left over to tie! Whoops. I didn't even notice until I already had the waistband/tie section attached. Here's the waistband topstitched to the skirt front & back/side pieces (I topstitched rather than stitch in the ditch as the book instructs. I have better luck with this method.)


And here's how I fixed the too-short ties (they have to be long enough to do front, back, plus 12", plus enough to "tie" while wrapped around you. ) I ripped one more selvedge to selvedge pice and sewed it up in a tube. Cut in half. Then I turned under one end, and "tucked" the too-short tie into the end of one of the tubes. Then I just top stitched. Repeat for the other side. Here's a bit blurry picture of one:


Now, it's not pretty nor perfect...but as far as ties go, they're "tied" all the time. And wrapped around you, so who's going to notice? Plus, they saved my skirt! See...here's me wearing it today to go out to lunch and a movie with my "girls"!



ps...We saw the Proposal. Super cute, I highly recommend it!