Burda 8/2005 #119

About one year ago I showed you fabric and the pattern I planned to use for a white blouse. It's done!



On more than a dozen occasions, I would think, I'll work on that blouse today, but something always got in the way. I guess I just wasn't ready, who knows? I finished it last week and am just know getting to this post.

I loved the collar/neck treatment of this blouse since the magazine arrived. At first, I thought it might be difficult, but when I got into it, it wasn't hard at all.

I used interfacing for the collar, front band, and cuff from Pam at Fashion Sewing Supply and it worked so well with this fabric.

I cut a size 42, but probably could have cut a 40. A year or so ago, the size 42 fit almost without any alteration, but I've may have lost some inches from exercise, as my weight is about the same as a year ago. Anyhow, I did take in the side seams about .25", took an additional .25" at the shoulder seam and cut about .25" off the shoulder as the sleeve seemed to be a tad "dropped" at the shoulder (which was not as the pattern intended). I also had to cut about 2" off the length of the sleeve. I'm sure I'll use this pattern again so I was careful to mark all the changes on the current traced pattern.

As far as the instructions...........well, you know. For the collar, the instructions (if I read them correctly) called for clipping the seam and folding the seam allowance into the collar. I decided instead to simply serge the seam and then topstitch it toward the body of the blouse.

See?





I think it looks nice this way, and it seamed easier to me. Afterall, when we make something, WE ARE THE DESIGNERS, right?

I'm still taken with this pattern and have a red silk dupioni that I may use for #2 in the near future. I've washed the silk once, but I may distress it a bit more before I cut.

In the meantime, I've sewn two knit dresses for my Sis. She has one that I sent home with her today so that she can try on and see how it fits, before I serge the sideseams. Also, she needs to mark the hem. I finished a second knit dress this afternoon for her (well, finished to that same point) for her to try on. I'll probably take it to her tomorrow. For the first, I used a vintage pattern, the second a Simplicity that has been in the stash for about a year. I will blog the details about them soon.

On the exercise front, I think we (Sis and I) have decided to transfer our Curves membership to a center about 13 miles from us. There is one about 10 miles away, but it is not as big and roomy. We visited the one that's just a bit further and we liked it better, so we'll give it a try. The one that is closing that we have been going to for about 3.5 years is only about 5 miles from home -- it was so convenient........sigh............