It's a good job my office is so warm as I've just finished sewing a short-sleeved lightweight cotton blouse. The reason it took so long is that it's a self-drafted pattern and I'm a perfectionist. The design includes a gathered yoke line on front and back, button down front, pussy bow neckline and gathered sleeve hem. It took a lot of refining and redrawing, and even when I'd finished this version I could still see parts I wanted to change further. But having worn the blouse all day today it's really grown on me and I feel very comfortable in it. Perhaps I was just staring at it too long and imagining problems that weren't there. Does that ever happen to you?
The bow is the perfect length - it's long enough to look like a serious bow, yet not so long that there's a danger it'd dangle in my dinner. I'm also pleased with how it's constructed and am feeling rather smug about the neatness of the finish. Which makes a change!
Hurrah for finished projects!
[Soundtrack: 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall' by Bob Dylan]
I love your blouse. The bow is just right. Funny to see you in polka dots this week, I just finished a blog hop of quilt blocks using dots!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely blouse! It doesn't look "handmade" at all, very professional
ReplyDeleteOh that is just gorgeous - well done for self-drafting - it looks totally pro! Really like the ruching thing going on in the arms as well - lovely touch. Hurrah indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joanne - tutorial for that sleeve detail coming up...
DeleteThat's gorgeous - I love pussy bow blouses, but I think my favourite part of this is the back yoke - for some reason it's a detail that really appeals to me!
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I very nearly omitted that photo from the post but I'm glad I left it in now. Back details appeal to me too.
DeleteThis may be my favourite of your creations yet, félicitations
ReplyDeleteOh wow, really? Thank you!
DeleteIt's so gorgeous, Tilly! You've done a fabulous job on it, and yes it is all too easy to imagine things that could be better. It's the artist part of being a sewist - a painting is only finished when it is declared finished after all :)
ReplyDeleteYou have a great eye for what suits you in style, colour and pattern :)
Thanks, MrsC! Walking away and coming back to a "work" definitely helps ease the perfectionist tendencies.
DeleteThis is absolutely beautiful! You must have the patience of a saint to have kept refining your pattern so many times. You should be well pleased with yourself! What is it that you're not happy with? It looks perfect to me :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't think the placing of the neckline was decisive enough - ie. it should either be low or high, not in between - and similarly with the side seams I thought they should either be really loose or really fitted rather than in between. But having worn it all day I realise I made sensible, comfortable choices going in between!
DeleteGorgeous! I love the arm detail!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I am drafting my set of pattern blocks at the moment and I don't know if I will ever get to the point where I am completely happy with the fit! However, when I look at your blouse I think it looks perfect! I am sure the faults you see are a result of perfectionism more than reality! It's all great inspiration for me to get started on some real designs now.
ReplyDeleteThis must have been well worth the wait for you Tilly, it's absolutely beautiful! And not only can you be proud of making it, you drafted it down to the very last detail as well. Very impressive and excellently done! You look cute as a button in it!
ReplyDeleteIt's really great! Well done! I'm definitely inspired to make a mid-length sleeve pussy bow shirt, but I'll be using an existing pattern : )
ReplyDeleteCute blouse. I notice you always have "soundtrack . . . " at the end of your posts. What's that in connection with are we supposed to hear music when we click into your post lol. Keep meaning to ask you.
ReplyDeleteIt's just what I've been listening to either while sewing or writing the blog post. You can Spotify it if you like!
DeleteOhh love the sleeve and back details xx You look fabulous in it as well - bonus
ReplyDeleteIt looks like it was well worth the perseverance, Tilly, you are right to be very proud of this! It's so you :) Oh and your new haircut is lookng great as well! Hope you're feeling better xx
ReplyDeleteAw thanks!
DeleteI love every single thing about this blouse Tilly! x
ReplyDeletesuch a lovely blouse! can't believe you drafted it yourself - great job!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. I'm in awe of your self-drafting skills! Sx
ReplyDeleteGorgeous blouse - you are right to feel smug!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeletePretty! I love the bit of gathering on the sleeves.
ReplyDeleteI love the soft gathers on the front and back yokes! Well done on your self drafted pattern- it's a ripper!
ReplyDeletegorgeous :)
ReplyDeleteLovely blouse, the ruched sleeves are a great up to date touch!
ReplyDeleteLovely! All kind of awesome!
ReplyDeleteThat is totally the perfect bow---length, width, and all!
ReplyDeleteOh, it's just perfect and adorable!
ReplyDeleteWow Tilly, that looks absolutely fantastic! Bows + gathers + polka dots = to die for :-) You've done a fantastic job, congrats!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful, Tilly! I love the gathering on the sleeves & of course, the polka dots :)
ReplyDeletesooo cute!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adorable as always!!!
ReplyDeleteall my favourite ingredients! Polka dots, brown polka dots, pussy bow, gathered yokes.... your blouse is so cute. So awesome that it's self drafted. I wish I had your skillz
ReplyDeleteLINDO
ReplyDeleteIt looks super cute! Great job.
ReplyDeleteLove it!! Brown is my favorite color! love the polka dots, love the tie collar! Hermosa! =)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous gorgeous gorgeous, I'd love some tops as lovely as this - Need to get my sewing machine going again!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing well do you!
ReplyDeletePS - also very jealous of how nice your hair looks, mine is the same length and will. not. behave!
*well done you!
ReplyDeleteThat's really great, I like it a lot. Only problem is, now I want to fast forward to your skill level! As a beginner, it's very inspiring that not too many years ago you were one too! Some day....
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! This looks great on you! Nice job!
ReplyDeleteWell done Tilly, it's perfect !!! Should I say "as always" ???
ReplyDeleteLoverly....I so adore bow blouses and this is super cute but awesome in that you drafted it yourself. The gathered sleeves look really interesting and I can only imagine the puzzles they created when you were designing them! Fab make :-)
ReplyDeleteNo puzzles at all - just a regular sleeve! Tutorial coming up...
DeleteI am a bit of a lurker in regard to your blog which I love following... but just have to change that by commenting on how much I love this blouse. Totally perfect- I want one myself!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you, lurker!
DeleteTilly, great! And I love the haircut, too.
ReplyDeleteBonjour et Felicitations
ReplyDeleteavec la blouse modèle ,vous avez réussi à adapter cette jolie bouse c'est charmant le travail sur les manches est bien pensé J'aime ,J'aime ,c'est extra Continuez à si bien travailler
Marie-laure
France Charentes -maritimes
Tilly - You inspire me. I'm totally, completely and utterly new to sewing, everything is still confusing and foreign but the beautiful things you create and the high level at which you work give me the determination to keep going.
ReplyDeleteYour blouse, short sleeved or not, is lovely :)
It is really really lovely, Tilly! Well done!!! I finally have a sewing machine so will start the Violet soon. It's all exciting! Pati xx
ReplyDeleteThose sleeves are to die for!
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty. The sleeves are just lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'm always so inspired by your drafting skills. You see something you'd like to make, and you just make it! So far I'm still in the modifying patterns phase. One day... Until then, thanks for bringing us along on your journeys.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, LOVE this one! Well-drafted!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about seeing invisible problems :) I too, am a perfectionist in my sewing! Great job on the blouse, that looks so great!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this blouse! Any chance you might consider posting a pattern for it? It's gorgeous!
ReplyDelete