Your basic blouse

You would think that a basic blouse/shirt, would be easy to find. I'm taking the build a better blouse class and we need a blouse pattern with button front, long sleeves and cuffs, collar and band, darts or princess seams. There are a number of changes we are doing to the pattern, mainly on the collar and cuffs. I have a lot of blouse patterns, but most of them do not have a band with the collar. Some do not have a collar at all. I do not want to go out and buy another pattern.










Originally, I was going to use the blouse pattern that I've made before from the Sew U book. As I got everything out to check all the pieces, I remembered that seam allowances were kind of mixed up. She has some seams with 1/2" some with 3/8" and some with 1/4" Some of those changes could have been mine, but I can't remember. I can't seem to find the information in the book. I didn't mark the seamlines on all the pattern pieces, so I'm not sure. I would probably have to reread the whole book, or retrace all the pattern pieces. The original pattern pieces do not show the seam allowances either, so I guess I'd be back to reading the whole book again. Not going to do that. I decided to make the above BWOF blouse instead. It is from the March 2007 issue. It meets all the requirements for the class and the PR wardrobe contest. I haven't decided what I'm going to make it out of yet, because I want it to work with both wardrobe plans. I may go ahead and make it out of a plain white broadcloth, or I also have some B&W striped shirting, but I'm not sure I'll have enough. BWOF patterns always call for wide fabric, and most cotton fabrics in my area are sold in 45" widths. I also have a poly/silk blend that I may use.

I traced the pattern this morning and am going to try to make a basic (AKA not wearable) muslin later today just to check the fit. I hope I like this pattern because it would be a good basic shirt pattern that could handle a lot of changes.










I finally got my February BWOF in the mail this week, and there are A LOT of things I like: Here are some of the line drawings of my favorites.















































There are quite a few others, too. I even like the coat that everyone says looks like a bathrobe. It really is cute, but the flowers in the girls hair make it look like she's wearing curlers. But look at the lines of the coat. Check out all that topstitching on the hem and sleeves. I think this pattern has a lot of potential. It also would take a lot of altering - it is for petites and I'm 5'6. I was checking out the BWOF size charts and I would have to alter the bust to shoulder, waist to bust, back waist, shoulder to elbow, and waist to hem. I probably wouldn't have to alter the sleeves since I have short arms. Maybe ...