Hello! I’m wearing a new blouse.
It is the Tao, by Tamanegi-Kobo. I’ve seen lots of lovely Tamanegi-Kobo designs made by Yoshimi, and then during me-made May saw even more worn by Japanese ladies, including the adorable and very talented designer Miho. And since I loooove Japanese designs I just had to try one out!
On a crazy spontaneous whim I added a funny little swoosh-shaped welt pocket. I had finished sewing the blouse, tried it on and just thought; hmmm, pocket… I had some scraps left over, the bobbin still had some of the pale grey thread wound on. I had recently pinned this dinky little welt pocket. Snap decision. I just decided to go for it. I think it turned out quite cute!
The Tao really is a very lovely style, loose and artistic, comfortable and still very feminine and flattering. I’m still getting used to pdf patterns, I don’t mind them as long as there aren’t hundreds of pages to tape together. The Tao is 24 pages, which is do-able. The collar is a petite little thing, stylistically matching the boxy cropped feel of the blouse, and I think it looks equally sweet buttoned right up. Normally I don’t button my blouses right up to the collar stand, ‘cos I’m a laid-back Aussie beach bum, but I like this one both ways.
I made the blouse out of, believe it or not, a stark, optic white linen/silk mix from Fabulous Fabris, the leftover piece from after I had cut out the collars, cuffs and button bands for the boys’ Christmas shirts. But since I’ve made two white shirts in hot succession recently, this one was always going to get a dye-job. I stitched it up using a pale grey/brown thread, and once I’d finished sewing it and prior to chickening out, quickly gave it a light wash in a very weak dye solution of Brown iDye. Giving it this subtle and rather delicate shade of pale pinky/cocoa brown. I think this is a colour quite flattering to my skin tone. 🙂
Details:
Top; Tamanegi-Kobo Tao, white linen/silk mix dyed with a teeny amount of Brown iDye
Shorts; Burda 7723, white linen, details and my review of this pattern here
My review for this blouse pattern is below….
Pattern
Description:
blouse; with two collar variations, wrist cuffs and a continuous
sleeve vent, cut-on sleeves and a long wrist-to-wrist yoke.
Sizing:
it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you had finished
sewing it?
the instructions easy to follow?
could not follow the Japanese written instructions, but the illustrations are quite
clear and helpful. The seam allowances
are clearly marked.
notches that you need for piecing and pleating points can be seen clearly and
easily, but I did think the Japanese character markings looked a little
chaotic, repeated for each of the sizes and heaped on top of each other. There
are two collar pieces: one the under- and the other the upper collar; if you’ve
made a collared shirt before and so know that the under-collar is supposed to
be a touch smaller then you should have no trouble working out which piece is
which.
did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
looks so pretty in the photographs on the website, and I like the loose
artistic shape. The style is really
pretty and a very nice feminine alternative to the traditional style of
button-front shirt; and easier too, in fact, since you don’t have to insert the
sleeves! The prim little collar looks
sweet, both unbuttoned and also when buttoned up all the way to the top.
a pdf pattern, which I am slooowly getting used to, old-fashioned thing that I
am 😉
Used:
mix
alterations or any design changes you made:
a little asymmetrical swoosh-shaped welt pocket
😉
you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
and yes 🙂
Oh, I
love it! I’ve used Japanese pattern
books before and this is the first time I’ve made a “regular” Japanese
pattern. I’ve made it in a summer-weight
linen/silk mix but I think it would be equally appropriate and just as
cute in a soft comfy flannelette for winter.
I agree; that colour does suit your skin tone. It looks lovely and I bet it feels fantastic. I have been thinking of you with the terrible fires – knowing (presuming because of beach photo frequency) you are close to the beach and not the hills, I figured you were fine.
thank you Summer Flies; yes the fires have been terribly devastating, and many people still cannot return to their homes The firemen here are amazing, they saved so many homes.
Really pretty shirt! Love the color and the welt pocket is fabulous!
it's beautiful! I love this blouse. I still can't work with a pdf pattern ….. I admire what you are capable of doing ! KISES
It's adorable and looks very comfortable:)
Love the little pocket. And the shirt looks 'easy, breezy' to wear!
I agree, the color is great on you! I'm particularly smitten with the way this blouse drapes across the back and shoulders – it's subtle, but still softly architectural – very interesting! And your swoosh-y welt pocket was a brilliant addition!
Great shirt with a special 'Carolyn' detail!
That is a beautiful shirt and oh yes, the pocket is sooooo cute. I would like to try dying something. Sometime. Never have. How you ever ended up with that beautiful color by using brown dye…wow!!!
What a lovely fabric and perfect summer top. I bet this feels so cool and breezy!
There are three things I love about your new blouse: the fabric, the colour and your 'swoosh' welt pocket. That pocket absolutely makes it! Must admit everything else about it leave me luke warm, except that it will be very practical for your weather. My cousin there in Perth reports 111 F weather. Me, I'd be in that water with an umbrella in one hand and an iced drink in the other. Does the 'swoosh' feel like a breeze perhaps? :->
This shirt is beautiful Carolyn – just the thing for the heat – air can get in and circulate around the arms. The welt is gorgeous and the colour is spot on and very flattering to your colouring.
I've been thinking of you in all the heat (and Adelaide too) – very sad about the fires.
Looks good! I like your little welt pocket.
Your dog looks lovely too!
Fantastic shirt. I laws inspired by so many things in this post. I will also have to check out those patterns. Great post.
thank you so much Donna 🙂
That little welt pocket really dresses this up. the color and the style are both perfect for the weather.
Love the whole look.
So sad about those wild fires, please do be careful and alert.
Your shirt is lovely! As for tamanegi's pdf patterns, they are layered ie you can let all the lines you won't need disappear before printing. That helps
It's always nice to discover a new line of patterns – I too have admired Yoshimi's clothes. They look so clean and modern. Your shirt is perfect. I must say I especially like the colour – those subtle colours really do suit you. I've never seen a pocket shaped like that before, either. It's very cute. Reminds me of how I used to draw a seagull when I was a child!
very pretty! i love the relaxed shape, and the curved welt pocket is genius! beautiful job.
Very feminine blouse and love the welt pocket, just perfect.
I love your blouse and seagull shaped pocket! Thanks for introducing a new Japanese pattern line, there is some really cute pieces in there.
Perfect in every respect – the colour, the style, the pocket. Serious envy here!
Cute! I really like that pocket. And silk/linen sounds so luxurious!
That is a beautiful blouse and you are very creative with your pocket treatments.
It looks the perfect beach blouse.
Aaaah ….that pocket details – very cute!
That's a really nice blouse. It looks so comfy and I love subtle colour and the little "swoosh" pocket you added – very cute!
What a lovely colour. And the pocket is such a cute detail !
Love the shirt but your link to the adorable swoop-welt pocket is not working. Could you please post the link again? Thanks
I love your shirt, the fabric must feel divine and the pocket detail is too adorable!
I totally love the color, could you do a tutorial on this. I know how to dye something dark, but this hint of color pleases me very much
thank you Anna! to get this pale wash of colour I didn't do anything unusual, but just used a very small quantity of dye 🙂
Love the welt pocket! Very nice little detail!
Beautiful shirt and you have really put your stamp of individuality on it with that gorgeous welt pocket.
Wow! the pocket detail is awesome! Love your shirt with that relaxed but very femenine fit!!!!!!!
Amazing pocket!! You are so creative!
Lovely Tao! Tamanegi's pattern pdf files are layered ie you can click away all the seam/cutting lines you won't need before printing. Try it out!
I find the design so pretty, loose and elegant! But what really catch the eye is you unusual pocket. You are so creative and it always turn out so pretty. I´ll have to check out the designer asap!!
Oooh, snazzy little welt pocket! Great blouse, you did such a terrific job of sewing it. Looks so professional and well fitting.
The welt pocket is masterful – hope that you will be generous in providing a tutorial at some stage.
Ooh, the fabric sounds lovely and I really like your pink/cocoa-y dye. 🙂 And the swoosh welt pocket! A beautiful blouse.
Beautiful blouse! Also nice to see some summer clothes suitable for this Perth heat! That would be great at keeping off the sun and still staying cool!
thank you Kat 🙂
I love this. Everything – the colour, shape, but most of all, the pocket. I have never seen a pocket like this. It really adds to the design.