I haven't made sleeves like this before

From Summer 09

About a month ago a made a muslin for Simplicity 2697, but didn't get any farther with it.  I tried it on again this weekend and made a few more tweaks to it.  This blouse is put together differently than I would have thought, so in that respect, it is somewhat of a challenge.  I was really drawn to the full sleeves, so I am making the collared neckline with the full,   unbanded sleeves.

The pattern has a series of darts across the hemline and the directions have you cut triangles in the center of the darts. The fabric I'm using is a poly/silk blend and it really ravels (I don't know what's up with the ravelly fabric lately) Anyway, I am using french seams on the blouse and did not want to leave raw edges on the sleeves. I had read once about making darts like a french seam and actually tried it on a blouse once, although I don't remember which one. So, I decided to do the darts on this sleeve in the same way. It takes twice as long, since you sew each dart twice, but it gives a nice finish

The pattern has you sew the underarm seam and then sew on bias tape around the hem. It made a lot more sense to me to sew the bias tape on flat, then sew the underarm seam, turn up the bias tape and stitch it down











I think this will be a cute blouse when it is finished, but I think it will take me a couple of more days of sewing to finish it.