Sunday, February 10, 2008

BWOF Project of the Month: January

Ready for sunshine...BWOF 01-2008-108

It's 40 degrees out and my down coat is still in heavy rotation, but I've got spring on my mind!


Fabric

Scrumptious swiss dot voile from Gorgeous Fabrics

Construction/alterations

After my whole debacle of trying to figure out the mysterious hidden button placket, I didn't even use it! I agreed with Colette's suggestion that a smoother placket would look better.

With Ann's Threads article on grainline in mind, I took advatage of the linear pattern of the swiss dots and cut the pattern pieces on the bias.

Topstitching the seams really helped to define the various grainlines.

Too much: a black topstitching thread was just too heavy for the delicate fabric
Not enough: black all-purpose thread hardly showed up
Just right: two strands of black all-purpose thread (with white thread in the bobbin) gave the perfect stitch definition

Omitted the neck bow-tie, obviously.

I measured my bicep circumference before cutting out the armbands, I have a little over 1" ease in the sleeve bands on this blouse. I learned this the hard way that it's no fun to wear a blouse with sleeves that you've always got to tug down because they keep getting stuck high on your arms...




Conclusion

I love the 3-piece bib front - it provides shaping that you just don't get on a single-piece front with bust dart.

Now if I could only find the time to sew all the other blouses from this issue...

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

this looks fantastic, wow, perfect!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic blouse, great fit too.
Els

cidell said...

So cute! I love the swiss dot. This fabric stops the shirt from being too cuetsy!

Adrienne said...

Gorgeous!r

Erica Bunker said...

I love this top. I looked at it in the magazine and I was debating on making it. I don't know why it didn't click with me that this is just a shoulder princess seam because I was concerned about how to do an FBA. I just had a "DUH" moment. Yours looks fabulous and I love the fabric!

Lori said...

Very cute blouse, love your fabric. I just finished the long sleeve version of this blouse (need buttons) and left off the hidden placket, I couldn't figure it out either.

Leslie said...

Christina I love what you've done with the fabric grain orientation!! Really takes it up a notch. I finally broke down and bought this issue at Stonemountain this weekend, but I skipped right over this blouse because of the bow. Great job!

Stephanie said...

It looks great! I love all the details you put into the top: the topstitching and playing with grains. It looks like a lot of effort but well worth it.

loopylulu said...

I love the way you cut the fabric and I totally agree that the topstitching helps define the cutting even more. I didn't even know there was topstitching thread. See the things I learn everyday =)

Juliane said...

This is a great blouse and it definitely looks great on you. I love the seaming and topstitching details, they are just perfect. Congratulations!

Lisette M said...

Just love it!You made a beautiful blouse.

Sew-4-Fun said...

What a lovely blouse! The fit, the style, black topstitching, your fabric choice and how you used it. All perfect! I hope you get to wear it soon.

Kelly said...

fantastic! this is so cute! I am inspired by you everytime I stop by your blog! -kb

yaiAnn said...

It looks fabulous! I hope I have time to fit that in with the rest of my Brazil SWAP pieces!

Sigrid said...

So special with this fabric. Indeed time for spring, so sunny looking this blouse is. And I fully agree on your last line.

Vicki said...

You have done a lovely job with this. Very pretty!

LauraLo said...

Ooooh perfection! I love this blouse, it looks absolutely great on you and the fabric is gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Christina! What a stunning blouse, and very clever of you to cut the pattern pieces on the bias - it does so much to the fit of the blouse- just perfect on you. the topstitching is a great idea and I love the little black buttons too. Thankyou for the link to Threads - it's a great article. I look forward to each and every post:-)

Anonymous said...

That shirt is fabulous! You really made that fabric work for you, too. I didn't even remember it as being directional, but it's so subtle and it just WORKS.

(also I can't wait to hear what you're picking from February's issue - I'm in LOVE with it!!)

Elaray said...

What a really cute blouse. Love the fabric and I love the way you used it to it's best advantage.

Melissa said...

I adore the blouse Christina - looking so forward to seeing it in person in Cali next month! :-)

Anonymous said...

oh yer good...! excellent!

Anonymous said...

Looks wonderful. And I have to agree that there's a shape to this that is very feminine. The fabric is darling, too.

Anonymous said...

Simply stunning! I love it!

Katrin said...

Super cute!
Funny, I am planning this blouse next, too!

Katrin

Lashell said...

Great top, I really love the fabric you used.

Liz R. said...

wow! i'm totally impressed. i followed the link to the pattern (i think). where did you buy the pattern?

lizandrobreese@yahoo.com

doracouture su misura said...

This blouses is very nice,i'm planning it's.Thank you

Beth said...

The blouse is gorgeous! Topstitching and bias are perfect!

Cennetta said...

Very well done, Christina. Too cute.

Tany said...

Outstanding job, Christina! Just perfect!

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

A really cute top! And I understand about wanting spring to come! :)

Anonymous said...

Great top. Love the topstitching details and the use of black thread. Makes it really pop. Even my teen DD loved it.

Johanna Lu said...

Wow! To me this as the ultimate blouse, it has everything that I love ; swiss cotton, an intricate and fitted cut and puff sleeves. You have done an amazing job!

Anonymous said...

Looks wonderful!!

ifthisistuesday.wordpress.com said...

What a great blouse! I love what you did with the fabric--good call there--& it looks terrific on you.

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog and you are so talented!!! That blouse look great on you. May I ask a stupid question: What does BWOF mean?

Christina said...

Rachel - Perfectly valid question! BWOF stands for Burda World of Fashion, it's the magazine where the pattern is from (you can click on the link below the first photo).

Berry said...

Great version of the blouse. I love it.

Marji said...

Very pretty. I really like the subtlety of the change of grain line that the dots bring to the blouse. Not in-your-face change, but pretty and subtle.

Gorgeous Things said...

Late to the party, but may I say, "WOW!" That is one fabulous shirt. It looks fantastic on you, and you did a great job with the grain!

Anonymous said...

Hi Christina,

I have a question about the buttonband on this shirt. The pattern says NOT to have seam allowance on the lengthwise edge of the front band. So that means BOTH sides do not have 5/8" seams? Mine seems to be coming out weirdly shallow on the front and narrow on th wrong side. Hope you can help.

Thanks

monique

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