From the Spring 2007 runway, Stella McCartney's puffy sleeve revival!
Alice Roi's version:
Boho girl, Jan Brady!
From 1971:
From 1971:
Pattern Description
"Misses' set of blouses: The blouse with back zipper has set-in sleeves gathered to armhle and bias bound high round neckline with bow above keyhole opening."
I sewed the view/version with the short puffed up sleeves. I originally intended to make one of the long sleeved versions, but I did not have enough material.
Sizes
Size 12, bust 34. Surprisingly it was not tight, because I am a 36.
Fabric Used
For my wearable muslin, I used a woven cotton from the quilting section of Joann's.
Features of the Pattern, and Procedures Used
* Single sized pattern, printed on tissue paper thicker than what is used today!
* When pattern originally came out, it had the "New narrow shoulder look, the shoulder length of the pattern is shoreter and the head of the sleeve is higher."
* Directions and illustrations were sufficient.
* Top was self-interfaced at the keyhole area.
* With the front facing pinned to the front of the blouse, right sides, together, I stitched along the dotted lines on the facing. Then I cut 1/4" from the stitching and turned the facing to the inside and voila, the instant keyhole opening. It was simpler than I imagined!
* I used bias tape for the neckline and the front ties.
* I found a slit about 3/8" below the neckline, which I carelessly snipped while I was cutting out the front of the blouse, silly me! So I ended up lowering the neckline by that amount, as I was finishing the neckline with the bias tape. It ended up being to my advantage, otherwise the neckline would have been a little to high for me!
* Instead of slipstitching as instructed, I machine stitched the edge of the bias tape to form narrow ties.
* The view I sewed did not include the elastic waistline. I used the steps from the other views to create one.
* Back zipper. I sewed one on as instructed. I really did not need one because I was able to put the blouse over my head. But wait, with the keyhole opening, was a zipper really necessary?
* Short puff sleeves are gathered at the top with elastic casings.
* The short puff sleeve blouse had no elastic gathering at the waist. I sewed two elastic casings (from the wrong side of the blouse), in the same way for the other views to give the blouse some shape. Otherwise it would look like a hospital gown, with ties in the front! I thought the bias tape type of elastic casing was an unusual feature of the blouse.
Elastic Casing From Bias Tape
* I sewed a 1/2" hem at the bottom.
Conclusion
This pattern was easy to sew, but not that quick to sew. I think this style would have worked for me when I was in high school 25 years ago, when the frilly, ruffled, Valley Girl look was in! Perhaps it was the pink and white fabric coupled with the ruffled style and elasticized waist (did not work for me as you can see) that made me look silly, like an older woman trying to relive her youth (i.e. Betsey Johnson?). Also with my dark coloring, I am better suited for non pastels. I looked at the blouse and said to myself, this looks like one my little girl's dresses made many sizes larger!
It was fun to sew, but something I will not wear out of the house. I would wear a jeans jacket over it if I go out. The frilly look is not for me anymore. I normally wear blazers, slacks, and basic shirts. If I go "retro", then I will stay with shirts with the big collar and aline dresses!
Butterick's New Blouse 4988 looks tempting to create!
Another Vintage Pattern for Boho/peasant Tops
Butterick's 4988 looks like a possibility!
http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/butterick/shop.cgi?s.item.B4988=x&TI=10001&page=2
More Boho/peasant tops
http://cgi.ebay.com/70s-Vintage-Pattern-Boho-PEASANT-Blouse-Top-B34-B36_W0QQitemZ6279376080QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4161QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
