My first attempt.....

I've been wanting to have a go at making the summer blouse from Weekend Sewing for a little while now. It caught my eye a few months ago when I first borrowed this book from the library.

Now I have my own copy of the book and so I thought it was a good time to give this pattern a go.

I found a vintage bedsheet in the op shop that I set aside for my 'first attempt' (I like to try these things out first with fabric that isn't REALLY PRECIOUS as I have very limited experience in making clothes and I didn't want to cut into fabric that was VERY SPECIAL without checking that I could do it first), so I pulled out the pattern I had traced from the original library book and set about cutting out the pattern pieces.....

only to discover that the original pattern differed from the pattern provided in my own copy of the book....

how did that happen?

It was about two inches shorter in the body and a bit more flared.....

I, of course, didn't realise this until all the pieces were cut out.....

Glad I used a not-too-precious bedsheet for my first attempt? You bet'cha!

I added an extra piece of blue linen at the bottom edge to make it longer and I just went with the more flared option!

This is how it turned out.....


OK, I haven't finished the neckline yet, but you get the idea!

I like it! I like it a lot (apart from the grotty old hanger that it's on ..... I must get myself a few nice hangers!!)

I will definitely re-trace the pattern from my book, which is longer and so will save me having to add an extra piece at the bottom hemline - though I do quite like the blue linen at the bottom - and is also less flared in the body.

So now I feel more confident about cutting into my PRECIOUS STASH..... right in time for some warmer weather.....