Espritpatch

  That wasn't necessarily in my plans for this month but then I came across this challenge on Instagram #SewAprilBlouse23. Blouses/Shirts have been on my wish list for a while but I never really got around sewing one, so I guess this challenge was the perfect push. There were a few patterns that I really liked and shortlisted. I am Hesat was the first one I went for, hoping I'll have time for others!  For the fabric, I raided my stash and pulled out 2 fabrics that I washed. I eventually settled on this beautiful Cobra Corsage lawn fabric that I had been sitting in my cupboard for 5 years! Too pretty to be cut? Well I decided that it's actually too pretty to be hidden in a drawer! The blouse is quite simple since it only has 4 pieces: front,  back and 2 sleeves and the construction is reasonably simple. I lengthen a little body and sleeves but I can't relever by how much 🫢 I hadn't really tried the rolled hem on the overlocker before, so I practiced onto a scrap and...

  I know, summer is over,  although temperatures adding midday have been so mild recently that we could wonder! In any case I'm ready for summer weather with my new blouse! I cut it early September as part of a double challenge. The Charlie pattern was offered for free by the designer,  la Robe du Chat , new to me but a nice find! With a challenge to sew the pattern by mid September, which I failed! There was also the IG #magamsewalong challenge to make a shirt in September.  I started quite well really until I reached the step where the collar had to be attached to the blouse.  My first collar as well... so I set everything aside for later.... or for never!  Anyway we had a day off work for world mental health day early October so I decided to use some of it for me and to sew.  I picked up my blouse again. In the meantime, la Robe du Chat released an add-on to the pattern so I decided to add some short puffy sleeves which I hadn't initially planned...

  Finally, after 1 year in this house, I've finally sewn one garment, from start to finish. Granted it's taken me 3 months but it's now wearable. I'm so happy that I've got (part of) my sew-jo back. 🙂 Back in June I selected a summer blouse pattern, the Boxy Top by Pattern Runway for Peppermint Magazine from a few years back and a piece of fabric from the anple stash I moved over a year ago. I printed and cut the pattern, washed and ironed the fabric then cut the pieces.  They all sat there for a while and then I started sewing some pieces, which lead to using my overlocker for the first time since we moved.... and then I got stuck at the point of having to add the interfacing (a step I really don't enjoy... not sure why!) Finally earlier this month, I picked it up again and decided it was time to finish it before the summer was over... it didn't take so long to finish really and I'm glad it's now hanging in my wardrobe! One modification I made was...