6 years ago
Sewing is an ever-evolving experiment.
Occasionally, you will make a garment that is an instant favorite and it does not stay on the hanger for very long before you reach for it yet again. Somehow the fabric, pattern, and construction all flow together wonderfully. Then there are times when the individual elements seem so well matched but when they all meet something isn’t right.
Honestly, I’ve just experienced the latter example. Don’t worry though, this story has a happy ending. Spoiler: I had two ruffles too many.
The Fabric
This story begins with the fabric, a cheerful floral cotton from Minerva. The Rico Woven Cotton has a blocky floral pattern and a color palette of blush peach, navy, warm white, and little pops of ruby pink. It looks so pretty and feels crisp and airy; perfect for the spring and summer (or most days here in California). After receiving the fabric from Minerva, I was so excited to get started. You know that new fabric feeling? Of course you do!
The Pattern
I chose to pair the fabric with Butterick 6518 View D. It is a peasant blouse with ruffles around the yoke and gathered bell sleeves. It isn’t my usual style, but I saw a gorgeous version of it and really wanted to try it. In a review of the pattern it stated that the yoke was wide, which I can confirm that to be true. Muslin or tissue fit this piece especially. For being described as a very loose-fitting top I would say that it isn’t very loose around the hips (and my hips lean toward the narrow side). I would add width to the back pieces, so they gather into the back yoke and increase the bottom hip width if a true loose fit is what you are wanting.
Changes I Made
Personally, I like a close-fitting waist, so I chose to make an elastic casing at the waistline. Then, after setting in one of the sleeves, I decided to shorten the gathered bell portion of the sleeve by 3 inches or about 7.5 cm. The final change happened after the entire blouse was finished.
Fixing the Major Issue
The blouse was finished! I tried it on and realized that something was not quite right. I kept fussing with the ruffles on the shoulders… smoothing them down, covering them up, flipping them inward; you get the idea. My husband suggested that I take it apart and fix it. Um, what? After all that work?! “No, you don’t understand. I can’t just take it apart.”
Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, I listened to my husband and he was right. I got out my seam ripper and undid the serged armscye seams. I removed the shoulder ruffles, tucked the yolk ruffle between the shirt and sleeve, and basted the sleeve back on. Immediately the fixed side felt completely different. It changed the shirt. I didn’t have to rip apart every piece of the shirt to make a huge change. It now feels so much more me!
The Joy of Sewing
Sometimes making one small change can make a huge difference. That is the pleasure of sewing your own clothing. You make the plans and if they don’t go as you hope you know exactly how to fix it. Add a waistline if you would like to. Keep a chest ruffle and get rid of a shoulder ruffle. Create according to what you like. Most importantly, use a gorgeous fabric!
Here are a few other blouses that I would love to see this fabric used for: McCall’s 8040, Vogue 9315, McCall’s 7900. For the top I made, Butterick 6518, I would also search through Minerva’s selection of crepes. What pattern would you make with this floral fabric?
A big thank you to Minerva for making this experience possible by offering an incredibly beautiful variety of fabrics and gifting this fabric to me. If you would like to see this fabric in action and how this blouse came together, you can check out my sewing tutorial on YouTube on the channel Paige Handmade. (link to video https://youtu.be/a3O3YSI-aGo)
“Go get creative and make something you love!” -Paige
#minervamakes #minervamakers #isew #memade #memades #sewing #sewist #sewists #sewinginspo #sewinginspiration #sew #sewcialist #sewingproject #sewingprojects #sewingideas #sewingprojectideas #sewingpatterninspo #lovesewing #ilovesewing #sewsewsew #sewersgonnasew #makersgonnamake #sewaholic #sewaholics #shareyoursewing #sewinglove #handmadewardrobe #handemadeclothes #isewmyclothes #diyclothes #dressmaking #fabricinspo #seamstress #memadeeveryday #imakemyclothes #imakemyownclothes #fashion #fashioninspo #memadewardrobe #memadefashion #diyfashion #diywardrobe #fashionsewing #butterick6518 #b6518 #6518 #butterickpatterns #sewingtops #sewingwithbroadcloth #broadclothsewingprojects #florals #flowers #rico #ricofabrics #summersewing #sewingforsummer #sewingtops #sewingsummertops
Occasionally, you will make a garment that is an instant favorite and it does not stay on the hanger for very long before you reach for it yet again. Somehow the fabric, pattern, and construction all flow together wonderfully. Then there are times when the individual elements seem so well matched but when they all meet something isn’t right.
Honestly, I’ve just experienced the latter example. Don’t worry though, this story has a happy ending. Spoiler: I had two ruffles too many.
The Fabric
This story begins with the fabric, a cheerful floral cotton from Minerva. The Rico Woven Cotton has a blocky floral pattern and a color palette of blush peach, navy, warm white, and little pops of ruby pink. It looks so pretty and feels crisp and airy; perfect for the spring and summer (or most days here in California). After receiving the fabric from Minerva, I was so excited to get started. You know that new fabric feeling? Of course you do!
The Pattern
I chose to pair the fabric with Butterick 6518 View D. It is a peasant blouse with ruffles around the yoke and gathered bell sleeves. It isn’t my usual style, but I saw a gorgeous version of it and really wanted to try it. In a review of the pattern it stated that the yoke was wide, which I can confirm that to be true. Muslin or tissue fit this piece especially. For being described as a very loose-fitting top I would say that it isn’t very loose around the hips (and my hips lean toward the narrow side). I would add width to the back pieces, so they gather into the back yoke and increase the bottom hip width if a true loose fit is what you are wanting.
Changes I Made
Personally, I like a close-fitting waist, so I chose to make an elastic casing at the waistline. Then, after setting in one of the sleeves, I decided to shorten the gathered bell portion of the sleeve by 3 inches or about 7.5 cm. The final change happened after the entire blouse was finished.
Fixing the Major Issue
The blouse was finished! I tried it on and realized that something was not quite right. I kept fussing with the ruffles on the shoulders… smoothing them down, covering them up, flipping them inward; you get the idea. My husband suggested that I take it apart and fix it. Um, what? After all that work?! “No, you don’t understand. I can’t just take it apart.”
Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, I listened to my husband and he was right. I got out my seam ripper and undid the serged armscye seams. I removed the shoulder ruffles, tucked the yolk ruffle between the shirt and sleeve, and basted the sleeve back on. Immediately the fixed side felt completely different. It changed the shirt. I didn’t have to rip apart every piece of the shirt to make a huge change. It now feels so much more me!
The Joy of Sewing
Sometimes making one small change can make a huge difference. That is the pleasure of sewing your own clothing. You make the plans and if they don’t go as you hope you know exactly how to fix it. Add a waistline if you would like to. Keep a chest ruffle and get rid of a shoulder ruffle. Create according to what you like. Most importantly, use a gorgeous fabric!
Here are a few other blouses that I would love to see this fabric used for: McCall’s 8040, Vogue 9315, McCall’s 7900. For the top I made, Butterick 6518, I would also search through Minerva’s selection of crepes. What pattern would you make with this floral fabric?
A big thank you to Minerva for making this experience possible by offering an incredibly beautiful variety of fabrics and gifting this fabric to me. If you would like to see this fabric in action and how this blouse came together, you can check out my sewing tutorial on YouTube on the channel Paige Handmade. (link to video https://youtu.be/a3O3YSI-aGo)
“Go get creative and make something you love!” -Paige
#minervamakes #minervamakers #isew #memade #memades #sewing #sewist #sewists #sewinginspo #sewinginspiration #sew #sewcialist #sewingproject #sewingprojects #sewingideas #sewingprojectideas #sewingpatterninspo #lovesewing #ilovesewing #sewsewsew #sewersgonnasew #makersgonnamake #sewaholic #sewaholics #shareyoursewing #sewinglove #handmadewardrobe #handemadeclothes #isewmyclothes #diyclothes #dressmaking #fabricinspo #seamstress #memadeeveryday #imakemyclothes #imakemyownclothes #fashion #fashioninspo #memadewardrobe #memadefashion #diyfashion #diywardrobe #fashionsewing #butterick6518 #b6518 #6518 #butterickpatterns #sewingtops #sewingwithbroadcloth #broadclothsewingprojects #florals #flowers #rico #ricofabrics #summersewing #sewingforsummer #sewingtops #sewingsummertops