Clearing the sewing decks

Ooohhh, it's been a while since I first started on my Lisette Continental Blouse back in June.
















I'm trying to sort out my craft space, and one of my goals is to finish off all of those WIPs/alterations/refashions that are hanging around. The Continental Blouse was at the top of my list - I love the fabric and we're just coming into the right season for wearing a long-sleeved top. And my wardrobe definitely needs some new items!

Although I'm only a little way into my clothes making journey compared to many I'm finding myself to be much more critical with the fit of my self-made clothes and honest about whether or not I will actually wear it once finished. If I can I will often check out finished items that other people have made and read through their comments and thoughts on the pattern construction and fit.

Before starting this top I'd read a few different reviews from people who had had made their size and had a brilliant fit whereas others commented that the next time they would probably go down a size. I also found this which actually meant I'd need to go up a couple of sizes which seemed crazy given the amount of ease there is in the pattern.


In the end I decided on a size 10, and I got pretty much most of it done in that first weekend and then everything ground to a halt: I made a couple of mistakes on the seam allowance, had some other commitments and to be honest I wasn't too happy with the fit and lost a bit of momentum.















I'm a bit of a naughty sewer and my finished top-to-be was also my muslin (gasp!) so once I tried it on I noticed a couple of things about the fit: around the hips it was fine but very swingy around my top half, the bust darts were a bit high up, the sleeves were very big and it felt quite snug under the arm. So I set to with the seam ripper and ended up making quite a few adjustments;

✿ Lowering the armstyce by 1/4" from the edge to the first marker
✿ Lowered the bust dart by 3/4" (I know that I've had 3 children but still, even in my teens I'm not sure that I was ever that....errr......pert!!!)
✿ Taking a 1/4" off the side seam from the underarm down to the waist
✿ Taking a 1/4" off the sleeve seam
✿ I also added a couple of inches to the length of the tunic and the sleeves

And this is how it ended up looking
 

So details
Pattern::: Lisette Continental Blouse 2059, size 10
Fabric::: 2m of Swallows Grey by Katie Kandles (Cotton, £3.49pm)
Mods::: all detailed above

I am so pleased with it and glad I took the extra time to make all the adjustments: I feel really happy wearing it and can see myself getting lots of use from it over the coming autumn/winter (I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and knowing that there are still things that I could have done to make it fit better would just niggle me and it would have sat in the wardrobe unworn!)

Having figured out how to fit it properly I can see myself making more of these, maybe some plain with some detail on it (I've got an idea!) or out of a softer more fluid fabric. The only other amendments that I think I would make would be to cut a size 8 for the top middle section of the back - it has a very slight gape on this top - nothing horrendous but having it the next size down would just give an even better fit I think.

Now on to the next thing to clear my sewing decks, rather than starting the Lisette Portfolio Tunic which I'm desperate to try out!!!!

S x

Todays sky ● overcast





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