Peasant Blouse

It's been hot lately. I've adapted to my beach environment and go melty when it's in the 80s...and heaven forbid, 90s. I love sewing, but I don't often sew clothes for myself- that would involve measuring and fitting. I prefer Halloween costumes for the kids. Like I've said it's been hot. And I printed out the pattern for MellySew's peasant blouse over a year ago. Then I found some great voile flowered fabric at my local fabric store (cheap!).

So, I taped together the pattern. And cut out the pieces. And was disappointed that the back and the front were on top of each other (but it was a free pattern, so I got over it). Then, I realized that there were no sizes on the pattern. Hmmm. I usually wear an XL and I'm taller than the average bear. Things that say one size don't always fit me. I check the blog and there's no size, but it warns that since it's free you get the size that fits the writer. Ok.

Turns out I have a blouse that's a similar style. I measure the blouse and measure the pattern. The pattern is much smaller than my blouse. Good to know before cutting the pattern. I added 2 inches to the middle of the blouse where the fold line is, cut the sleeves down the middle and added 2 inches, and added about 3 inches to the bottom of the pattern (see tall above, no one wants to flash their belly button on accident).

Got it cut out and sewn. Make an elastic casing and threaded 1/8 inch elastic around the top. Went to try it on. It cut into my arm pits. Badly. Oops. I'd added to the width of the blouse, but not the depth in the arm area. The good news is that this takes away fabric rather than adding it, so I could fix my new blouse. I cut the bottom curve of the arm deeper on both the sleeve and shirt, then sewed that area back up. Much better!

After wearing this blouse for a  time or two, I feel like I'm channeling my mother in law. She had a very similar blouse she used to wear in hot weather, but I didn't really remember that until I had made my own.

I recently wore this top on a trip to an amusement park. It was nice and cool, but I forgot to put sunscreen on my neck and inside shoulders...because they're usually covered with a t-shirt. Oops. The neckline also got pulled around with my backpack. I'm not sure I'd wear it to an amusement park again, but it'll be great for almost anywhere else.

Line as Design

I'm currently thinking about concepts to pull together a portfolio to use for the 2016 Art CSET. My first thoughts go to line- line as texture, line as shading, line to show movement. Stay tuned for examples?