Delta Top/Dress for the girls

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Hello,

Hope you are all well.

Somehow the girls are back in school and I am trying to get into the new season. I do like Autumn very much indeed however, I have the feeling Summer went by too fast and I am not ready to say goodbye just yet.

Before going on holiday, I still managed to make a couple of things for the girls to wear so, while I am already sewing a dress for Autumn, I want to share those Summer makes before it is too late.

My daughters are 13 years old at the moment and I must confess that it has not been an easy task to find age and style appropriate clothes or patterns. Children’s clothes are not quite their style anymore and grown-up ones are a bit too much or doesn’t even fit. For that reason, I was very pleased when Style Arc released a line especially for teens.

I really like the style! Fabric and pattern worked very well together.

I was very pleased when Style Arc started making patterns for 8 to 16 years old and the first one we tried was the Delta Teens Top/Dress. As the name correctly points out, there is a top and a dress option, the sleeve can be short or 3/4, with or without elastic.

M opted for the cropped top version, with short sleeves (with elastic). She is a size 8 for all measurements except for height and I made a size 10 as I thought she could grow into it and as it has elastics anyway it should be fine. I think it worked out well.

I adjusted the neckline elastic to be used as off shoulder nonetheless, it can be used on the shoulders as well.

As for the fabric, I used a light weight dobby (plumetis) cotton from Minerva that we both quite like. It worked very well for this project and was perfect for the warm summer weather.

Good thing about this pattern is that with the option it is easy to please different styles and F does have a very different style from her sister! She also asked me to make her something, however, she preferred the dress version, again with a short sleeve but no elastic for her.

Her measurements put her in a size 12 except for height, which is a size 14. For the same reason as for M, I opted for the 14. She has some room to grow but the elastic makes the dress perfectly wearable.

I used a similar fabric, light weight dobby (plumetis) cotton that I had in my stash for a few years already. It was about time I put it to good use!

With one single pattern we got two different outfits to fit two different styles. The girls were involved on the process and chose the pattern/options and the fabrics as I wanted to make sure it was made to their personal taste.

I still made the girls a couple more garments but I will share those another time.

Happy sewing!

Maria x

A Vintage Blouse with Puffy Sleeves

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Hello,

I don’t know about you but lately, I haven’t been feeling like sewing much. Hopefully, my mood will change soon.

Nonetheless, I really wanted to share this blouse I made a few weeks ago, as not only I really like how it turned out but, also found it quite interesting to make.

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The pattern is a vintage one, Style 4752, from 1974, found on eBay. I was looking for a pattern similar to this one when I come across this one and really liked it. My initial idea was a peter pan collar and I first thought about changing the pattern however, the bow won in the end and I do not regret it. I can always make another version, right?

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Besides the short sleeve version, this pattern also includes a long sleeve option and a skirt with two lengths, available in size 10. Actually, my husband said this blouse would look better with a skirt so, I might have to make one…

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I did not make any changes or adjustments to the pattern and I absolutely love the fit. The French dart improves the fit so much! I didn’t quite finish it how it is mentioned in the Complete Guide to Sewing (my most used sewing book) and “had to” finish with the overlocker. How do you finish French darts?

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This was my first time making a bow tie collar and the instructions did not mentioned interfacing the standing part, so I didn’t. However, I now think I should have. Next time I will know! That is the beauty of sewing, there is always something new to learn.

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The fabric used is a lightweight dobby cotton from Ratucos, bought a couple of years ago. I wanted the pattern to “shine” and, for that reason, a plain fabric would, in my opinion, work better. I like how it turned out.

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Of course, my favourite feature is the sleeve. No surprise here! I really like how puffy it is. The bow tie also looks cute and I am happy I decide not to change it.

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Have a lovely weekend.

 

Maria x

Puff Sleeves Blouse for M

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Hello,

 

Well, three posts in a week! This is a first!

I am really happy to share this make with you. As you might have realised already, I am not very adventurous when it comes to make changes to patterns. I am always afraid to ruin the fit and I end up waiting for a pattern similar to what I am looking for.

Not this time. M did like my Norma Blouse and it is more and more difficult to make things that she like to wear, so I took this opportunity to make something for her.

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What M liked the most were the sleeves (can’t blame her) so, that was my main point. Now, I do not know any children’s pattern with that kind of sleeves however, I was determined to achieve it. I had an idea where to start and that was the Maria Blouse from Suco by Susana.

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Now, the Maria Blouse already has a puff sleeve option so, that was my starting point. I made the shirt option in size 9 for height with size 7 for width based on her measurements and omitted the collar as per her request. I finished the neckline with bias binding, the same way as the instructions, except there was no collar.

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For the sleeves, I kept the puff sleeve head without changes, as it already had the volume I wanted and I didn’t want to mess the armhole fit. Next, I added the length desired. No complex math involved here as I just measured on M where I wanted the cuff.

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In order to have the desired volume at the cuff, I kept the sleeve similar to the Norma blouse one, only slightly smaller. Sorry, my pattern making knowledge is close to zero luckily it worked, I think. I am happy enough with how it turned out and so is M.

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As for the fabric, I used the same as for my blouse, a dobby cotton (plumeti) from Ratucos.

You didn’t think I was going to waste an opportunity to take photos with M twining, did you? We are not going to wear the blouses at the same time to go out, but it was good fun to take the photos and, in a few years, I will enjoy looking back at those.

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I am pretty pleased with how this bloused turned out but, most of all, I am pleased that I stepped out of my comfort zone to make it, even if was something simple. Small steps.

 

Have a lovely weekend.

 

Maria x

Norma Blouse

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Hello,

 

I guess the warm weather is really having a good effect on me as my sewing plans are turning to life!

Today I am sharing a blouse recently released by Fibre Mood in their Edition 9. I don’t believe it is necessary to tell you what attracted me in this pattern, right? Just look at those sleeves!

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The pattern itself doesn’t bring any more options however, it is easily adjustable and I have seen some modifications that included turning it into a dress so, it is a good starting point.

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The instructions mention the pattern is available from size 4 up to 30 however, when printing, the sizes are 32 up to 58. I supposed that being a size 6 by the instructions, I would be a size 34 and that is the size I printed and made. Also, it is possible to print with layers and we can print with or without the seam allowances.

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As previously mentioned, I made a size 34 (or 6) without any changes. I am happy with the fit however I noticed the blouse has no bust darts so, I am not sure how the fit will be for bigger sizes. Nonetheless, all the versions I have seen are lovely.

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Regarding the fabric, I used a dobby white cotton or plumeti if you prefer. It is a light weight fabric and in my opinion, it worked pretty well. I got the fabric fromRatucos quite a few time ago, but they usually have a lovely selection of this fabric.

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I made this blouse with the intention of using it with high waist jeans and for that, it has the right length however, depending on what it will be used with, I might add a couple of centimetres in future ones I make.

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Overall, it is a lovely pattern and I will use this blouse a lot, of that I am sure.

 

Hope you are having a nice week.

 

Maria x