Monday, April 5, 2010

Mini Wardrobe - McCall's Made-for-you ruffled blouse

Almost finished! I have arranged to get buttons covered professionally so buttons & buttonholes are all that is left to do! I should get them back at the end of next week, so I will review this blouse properly then when I can get 'proper' photographs. In the meantime you can see it sans buttons...

I love this top and can see more variations in my future.

The main changes made were to make the collar and collar band slightly smaller. I have a short neck and feel that collars swallow me up so decided to try this with this shirt. I also trimmed the armhole from nothing at the notches to just under an inch at the top of the shoulder. This showed up as a necessary alteration on the muslin I made and on this top. I think I trimmed a little too much off at the top of the shoulder but I sewed it with a small seam there and I think I can get away with it with these voluminous sleeves.

One more matching up stripes picture of the back collar.

Now onto the pants. I am having a slight mental block with the pants as I am currently doing a challenge at the gym to lose body fat (I am mainly doing it to get myself back into good eating and exercise routines) but I am a little concerned that the pants may be loose by the time I finish. I am not sure if my body shape will change much, but I really want to finish this wardrobe challenge as well.

The options are to make a skirt which may be more easily alterable (if necessary) but I think the pants make for the better mini-wardrobe option. I am thinking of just making them very fitting and see how I go.

I am not that overly convinced my body shape will change much but it is hard to know. The McCall's top was firm over my hips when I made the muslin but already felt loose enough that I didn't need to add to the seams as I first thought I would.

These two challenges are both fun and good for me but are really at odds with each other!!

12 comments:

  1. What a lovely blouse. I really like the colour. Cute ruffles!

    I really should get to the gym more often too. Not so much for my shape, but for my overall health.

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  2. Your blouse looks terrific. I have just spent every scarce spare minute over Easter making a trial version of this same blouse for my daughter, no professional buttons though! Hers was snug over the hips too, and she is a 15 yo ballet dancer, so maybe it is just the pattern. Kudos to you if there is no snugness anymore!

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  3. lovely blouse. Impressed with the stripes on the collar matching the stripes on the shirt back :-)

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  4. Fabulous! The color is wonderful and your stripes are awesome. I really must jump on the bandwagon for this top.

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  5. Fantastic blouse! I love the fabric, and the pattern is great. I really like the ruffles, and have been wanting to make a ruffle-front blouse for myself! Excellent work!

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  6. That came out so well! I am impressed with your stripe matching.

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  7. It looks great! can't wait to see it on you!

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  8. Oh, lovely! It turned out very well, even though there are a few things you pointed out in the previous post you can't even see them now!

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  9. Yes, I can see how this will become a staple. I love this top and I think I will have to buy this pattern now.

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  10. Wonderful blouse and your stripe matching is perfect.

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  11. Very nice!!! My goodness! I don't think I would have ever thought to match the stripes on the collar and back like that!!

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Love to hear what you think...