Silver Lining blouse
Ok, so this post has nothing to do with an actual lining – but it felt right as a name for this next project, and it’s a pretty good song too! (Silver Lining, by Hurts) The fabric is a Liberty print cotton voile with what looks like draped fabric printed in shades of grey on white. I loved it when I saw it in the shop, and loved it even more when I noticed it was only £6.99/m! Naturally I hadn’t a clue what it was to become, so I played it safe and got 2m. I am so glad I did, because when I finally made a pattern I had just about enough. Here’s the sketch again:
- Blouse with oversized polo placket
The pintucks were substituted with twin needle tucks as the voile was so soft, the last thing I wanted was wobbly tuck lines! I have made the yoke a double layer, I just think it looks better that way. The remainder of the bust dart was incorporated into gathers, and the bodice front was widened 3cm to allow for some draping and fullness. I also made the back a little wider, basically cutting up the back dart and opening up 3cm there as well. Originally I had added more width at the centre back, but when I did the toile it was too full, and I didn’t like it. The yoke at the back also has twin needle tucks.
Silver Lining - blouse
But it’s the sleeves that really catch the attention! That big poofy bit was cool to make! I had fun with that. First, I drew a line 5cm above the elbow line, then another 5cm below the halfway point between the elbow and the wrist. That was to be the extent of the poof. To keep that poof, however, you need a stay on the inside. So I traced that bit of the pattern, adding balance points and grainlines, then divided it into 9 sections, adding 2.5cm between each piece. This made a very wide section, perfect for lots of poof! Then I added 8cm at the lower edge for “blousing. Once it was toiled, I realised the blousing was hiding the cuff completely, so I chopped 3cm off, and now it works quite well.
The three sleeve sections, the top, the "poof", and the stay to hold the poof in place!
I really like this blouse, and am definitely going to use the pattern again to make more!
Poofy sleeve
Pictures are a little dark, I got daughter no 2 to take them after the sewing class today, we were way too busy to do it earlier! It is amazing how busy a class with 6 people in it can be! Here’s a peak at the class today:
Working hard today! And yes, that's me on the right at the back.
Yup, we're Burdastyle fans too!
So it is half term this week, Daughter no 1 will be galivanting with friends, except for Thursday when we head into Birmingham for another University interview and possibly a little fabric shopping at the Fancy silk store then straight home!! Yeah, right!! Daughter no 2 needs to start work on her prom dress, so guess what I’ll be doing.. playing with paper again! Yay! 
