Modern blouse for Megan

I started this blouse last year for Megan's birthday. I got it part of the way done and wasn't pleased with how it was fitting. So I threw it into pile set it as side to finish some other time. The months slowly ticked by and Megan's birthday came and went again this past March. At the time I new I wanted to go a head and finish it for her, but between work and drivers ed. I didn't have any spare time. All that was left was constructing and setting the sleeves, buttons/buttonholes, and hemming the bottom. So, at last, I finished it!!

I used Simplicity 2501. Its a very straight forward pattern. Very simple to use and I understood the instructions perfectly. A nice accomplishment for someone such as myself. I usually just make up my own... :S :P I love the stand up collar and ties.

The only thing I don't really like about the pattern is the fact that it has bust darts (not sure what the technical name for them is? :-/). I can never seem to get them to lay right. The fabric is a plaid-like homespun that's been laying around for years. It was actually very nice to work with and is very soft, un-like some other homespuns. Thankfully I was able to find 9 matching buttons in our button collection. lol I was surprised to see how many we'd used since I last dug threw them.

As you can see it still doesn't fit to greatly, but maybe someday she'll grow into it. ;)

The back also has 2 darts, but they actually turned out pretty nicely so the don't really show. :)

I love the sleeves. There like cute little puff ones, but only have 2 box pleats on top and 1 on the bottom instead of a bunch of gathers.
Thanks so much for visiting. I've been spending alot of time in the sewing room and I'll have some things to show you soon. So don't be a stranger. ;)

Love,
Brooke

Past Patterns #707 Chemise

Awhile back my sister Michelle decided she wanted a new 1860's chemise. She generally prefers things to be quite frilly and such, so we decided to use Past Patterns 707 (the one on the left).

For the fabric I used a white cotton. It was already starched so it was pretty nice to work with. The chemise itself was quite complicated, coming from someone who mainly makes simple raglan style chemises anyway. :D It used many techniques I hadn't done before.

It features scalloped edges on the sleeve hem and the top edge of the yoke. We left off the embroidery for durability's sake. 

The yoke is topstitched thru all layers to be attached. It actually wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. I just recommend to pin it quite a bit. ;) Then you whip stitch the yoke facing down to the inside.

The front closes with 3 original china bottons. The yoke was the hardest part to construct by far. I scalloped the edges then took the facing and ironed all the edges under. Then stitched it the the yoke by hand on 3 edges. There's only one layer of fabric to sew it to. So I took one thread of the fabric for every stitch in attempt to make them invisible. It proved to be quite tedious, but the end product was well worth it. :)

For the first time using this pattern it took me quite awhile to complete the chemise. But I think after doing the first one. I'd be able to make another much quicker.  The chemise its self cost about $2.00 to make. The fabric is a repurposed sheet and the buttons were from a lot off of eBay.

Best wishes,
Brooke