It's All About The Sleeves - Simplicity 8644 Blouse

Friends, pockets are out.
Over-sized sleeves big enough to carry your whole family is where fashion is at at the moment.

And I'm not mad at it.

The Pattern

Meet Simplicity 8644 in View A.
A wrap around blouse, this pattern comes in four different sleeve options (view A being the most EXTRA) and two different bodice lengths.

The Fabric

I used a light-weight, gingham print cotton from Spotlight, and cut the waistband and ties on the bias for a subtle contrast.

Pattern Details

The hero of this pattern is clearly the sleeves.
These full sleeves are shaped with soft pleats to create structure and volume, and elastic at the wrist for a flouncy sleeve hem.

There are small gathers under the bust and at the centre back of the bodice to add shape.

Completing this blouse are dropped shoulders and a cross-over V shaped neck which closes at the front with ties.

Worn With

I paired this blouse with my me-made Ash Jeans by Megan Nielsen Patterns.
You can read check out all the details on how I made my first ever pair of jeans, over at this blog post.

Take Note

I was a bit cheeky and decided to skip the toile stage and get straight into making the real thing. I figured with dropped shoulders and a wrap closure, most fitting issues would be camouflaged.

That being said I didn't realise just how short this blouse would be; it basically sits just under the bust. This may sit longer on someone with a smaller bust, but in any case it's worth considering adding length to the bodice if you'd prefer it a little longer than under the bust.

Conclusion

Yes, these sleeves are about 80% 'extra', but I LOVE the drama it adds. It feels like a modern, edgy (and more fleshy) take on a romantic, Victorian style blouse.

I'll probably look at this in five years time and think 'oh that's so 2019', but that's what makes fashion fun and exciting and right now it's all I want to wear.

The Little Red Dress Project - Rita Blouse By Charm Patterns DRESS HACK

The festive season is upon us again and for us seamstresses that is usually a trigger for LET'S MAKE EVERYTHING IN RED!

The wonderful and talented Renata from The Twilight Stitcher hosts an annual 'Little Red Dress Project' challenge, and this year I decided to take part!
Christmas in Australia is HOT, so it looks like I now have my Christmas day outfit sorted.

Patterns

I used the Rita Blouse by Charm Patterns and redrafted it into a dress (see below for more details).
The pattern comes in different cup sizes, from B to DD and I cut the size 6 with the D cup.

Fabric

This dress is made in a bright red, cotton seersucker from Spotlight.

Changes

I traced the pattern to the waistline markings on the blouse and then cut it out.
I used my own drafted skirt block and converted the darts on the skirt to princess seams, making sure to line up the princess seams with those of the bodice.  I then taped the bodice and skirt pattern pieces  together to make a dress pattern.

I added a flounce to the hem of the skirt for a little extra fun.

To maximise the ease of getting into the dress, I made the side zipper go all the way up to underarm seam, rather than 3-4cm below. Because this dress is quite fitted in the bodice, that little extra room helps bigger boobs squeeze into the dress.
I usually avoid side zippers for this reason, but the elastic casing along the front and back neckline meant no centre back zipper.

Loves

I love the shoulder/sleaves style of this pattern, which can be worn up on the shoulders, or off the shoulders.

I have been looking for an off-the-shoulder dress pattern for a while, but most of them are free-flowing and loose under the bust and I wanted a more fitted look. I'm bigger on the hips and bust and when the curve of my waist is hidden in loose clothing it can make me look a little frumpy.

I love that this pattern comes with different cup sizes from B - DD. I have made this in both the C and the D cup size. To be honest, the DD would also be a good fit, but I liked how the D cup made the neckline a little lower.

Conclusion

I love how fun this blouse is as a dress! The cotton is cool and comfortable and perfect for summer, so I predict a few more versions of this dress in other colours for this warmer season.

I fell in love with this blouse pattern recently when I made it in THREE different colours! I knew it would make a lovely, fun dress with a little bit of tweaking and I'm happy with how it turned out!

Thank you Renata for hosting another wonderful challenge; I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else has made!

Check out my instagram below to see this as a BLOUSE and with movement! Blog post coming soon.

View this post on Instagram

Feeling a little bit ‘Anita’ from West Side Story for #sewphotohop Day 30 - WHAT’S NEXT ON MY LIST The #ritablouse by @gertie18 ❤️❤️ I finished this red top a few days ago in a cotton seersucker and I plan to immediately back it up with one in white and one in blue. Swipe to see the blouse untucked. Wearing it here with my me-made linen skirt (which I didn’t realise wasn’t zipped all the way up 😩😬) A great vintage-style pattern with: ❌ sleeves that can be worn on or off the shoulders ❌ side invisible zipper ❌ different pattern pieces for bust cups B-DD! (Yass!) - - - #sew #sewing #vintage

A post shared by Julia Bobbin (@juliabobbin) on Oct 2, 2018 at 1:04am PDT