In my head the outfit was to be a simple pair of elastic waist pants and a boxy top. The fate of the pants you know about in the Simplicity pants of mehness, the boxy top is an entirely other story and a much nicer one at that.
I wanted a simple boxy top and immediately thought one of my Japanese pattern books would have just the thing. In taking them off the shelf I came across The Betty Blouse. A free pattern with Simply Sewing magazine and it was just what I needed. Loose, extended sleeve and just the sweetest detail of front pin tucking.
I measured up the pattern pieces chose a size and decided to grade out the hips just a little to give myself more room.
In looking for fabric it was deja vu as I was looking deep into the stash but got distracted with a recent addition of this Lisette lawn. I’d picked it up at a half price sale at the fabric cave.
Within moments I had the pattern onto the fabric and was cutting out with reckless abandon…and reckless it was. My fabric wasn’t quite long enough. Some shifting around and I could make the top but it would just be shorter than planned.
Pintucks, side seam, neck binding, sleeve hem and body hem made it an incredibly fast make that when finished looks like it takes far more time than it did. The pintuck detail elevates it from boring basic to interesting basic.
Cutting it shorter due to lack of fabric would normally be an issue but here is where I’m grateful to be a short sewer as it’s actually an ok length on me. Here I am wearing it with a scarf to cover up the drainage pump I had for a bit after surgery.
Pattern: The Betty Blouse
Fabric: Lisette Lawn from The Fabric Cave
Alterations: shortened to fit onto available Fabric, graded out at hips a little. Would make again
Dianne
Looks great! I printed the free pattern a while back but haven’t got around to trying it yet, really must give it a go soon!
Susan Goodwin
it’s really sweet, you should give it a go!