Blouses and more blouses

I had a blouse making marathon on the long weekend.

We have been focusing on the main pieces of each garment until now but the blouse is a pretty important component of the overall assembly.

Four are needed and I initially wanted to use an authentic 1890s pattern. However, as I soon found without significant adjustment, these blouses are completely shaped for a corseted woman’s body (with tiny waist and significant chest), small shoulders and arms. This is not me, nor the other women who will be wearing these garments at the event on 13th June.

Also the puff on the sleeves on some of the period patterns is somewhat extreme.

So, to be practical given time and our focus on the cycling skirts, I chose to adapt a contemporary pattern – KwikSew 3668. I extended the Mandarin Collar and put in reduced 1890s sleeves and cuffs.

Worked out ok.

One more to go…….