Hello! I’ve made a new blouse 🙂
Yes, it is currently winter here in Perth. I am braving the freezing depths of winter to take these photos.
Haha, not really! Actually I am wearing my new blouse responsibly and weather-appropriately here, in warm and sunny Italy! I made the blouse before we left on our recent hiking holiday and took it away with us so I could enjoy it in the warm weather 🙂
This is the Origami Blouse from the book Twinkle Sews, by Wenlan Chia. My lovely sewing neighbour Megan kindly lent her book to me. Thank you so much, Megan!
The fabric is a lovely creamy coloured silk/linen; bought as a remnant from Fabulous Fabrics. I only had about 80cm and with some experimenting to find the most economical pattern arrangement just managed to squeak out the pieces with barely any scraps left at all. And added 2cm in length to the blouse … I cut it that little bit longer just because I had enough length and thought I would get a nice deep hem. However when trying it on I detected a certain, um shall we say, lamb-ness? to the style, at odds with the general muttonness of my person… Anyway, I decided any and all extra length that could be got definitely should be got at all costs; and stitched the skinniest of skinny hems that I could!
For that same reason I did not gather up the lower edge of the sleeves with elastic, but just left them straight and ungathered. The resulting lack of sleeve puffiness raises the maturity level just a touch, I reckon 🙂
The origami thingies on the front are rather interesting, and although they look complex are simpler than they look. Having said that, I still found them quite fiddly to make and mine are not particularly neat, although I tried! Fabric is not like paper at all, it’s springy and thick, especially when seams come into the equation, and true origami perfection is a pretty tall order. I ended up abandoning all aspirations to razor sharp points and perfectly angled edges and just tried to accept the imperfection. I think I wrangled them to look passable. I can almost imagine they are like a flutter of little creamy butterflies, alighting onto my shirt for a little butterfly gathering.
I’m not too terribly distressed at their imperfection, as when I’m wearing the top they are sneakily tucked away behind that black velvet tie anyway, mwahaha…
Verdict: I think it turned out, not too cutesy cute, but nice and just mildly cute, and rather fresh and romantic and just slightly poetic.
My thoughts on Twinkle Sews, the book…
This is a nice book; it contains patterns for 25 garments; 7 skirts, 13 tops and 5 dresses. The designs include some that are easy and plain, others that are both interesting and unique, with some very innovative ideas in many of the pieces. If you’re interested in something a bit different, basics with a twist, then this book contains some promising projects.
The fabrics chosen for the sample garments and the styling of them is sometimes a little questionable and I didn’t always find them visually appealing. But disregarding fabrics and prints and just paying careful attention to the lines and shapes of the pieces, I reckon there are some real gems in there. Check out Megan’s lovely shibori dress from the book.
The patterns come in sizes 0-16 (US) and are all on a CD included with the book. The pattern pieces are all whole pieces, meaning, no half pieces to be placed on the fold. This has advantages; it’s easier to lay the full-size pieces on a flat unfolded piece of fabric to obtain the most economical layout: also disadvantages; the most obvious being that you have to do a heckuvva lot more taping!
The early chapters are aimed at a beginner seamster, with some nice and encouraging chat about the joys of fabric and making clothes for yourself; and extensive, clear and helpful explanations of basic sewing terms as well as for all the techniques used in the projects.
Details:
Blouse; the origami blouse from Twinkle Sews, by Wenlan Chia, creamy linen-silk with black velvet ribbon
Shorts; Burda 7723, green cotton gingham, details here and my review of this pattern here
Thongs (above); Havaiana
Hat (Craig’s); Billabong
Socks (below); hand-knitted by me, details here
Hiking boots (below); Mountain Designs
Lovely, floaty blouse! And the contrast black ribbon is a great touch! That's quite a unique look with the origami "fiddly bits" at the collar 😉
Now, that's a luxury hiking blouse: silk! I imagine that it is an airy, floaty blouse very fine in the hot weather of Italy. The origami at the neckline is a very interesting detail. We have been near Siena at Uopini from 1.-6.6.15, too!
Have a nice time wherever you are now, SaSa
This Blouse is onderful! I´ve got that book too but I am not able to print it…damn!
Greetings from Germany,
Jenny
This looks so fresh and lovely. I like that the origami isn't perfect, especially now that I'm also picturing butterflies! I'm so pleased you enjoyed the book x
Lovely as is Italy
Lovely blouse! 🙂 I hope you have a great vacation! 🙂
Italy?! Yahoo! If I make clothes for Italy, maybe magically I'll end up there too. Heh. This top is gorgeous. I loved your description of it being slightly too "lamby." I'm glad we got to see the neckline details, which explains the title of the piece. And hand-knit socks? Marvellous. If you're still there, live it up! If you're home, well, live it up there too!
It's a lovely blouse.
I have to say I admire you for putting up with instructions aimed at beginners. On the rare occasions I use commercial patterns, I tend to be quite impatient with all but the most to-the-point instructions.
Of course, beginner-friendly instructions are a good thing but as an experienced seamstress, you're really just looking for how the complicated stuff is supposed to be sewn…
Anyway, have a great holiday!
I really, really like this look…it's fresh and pretty, and it has a hint of vintage feel that I love! I hope you are having a lovely holiday. May I email you after your return to ask specific questions about your hiking holiday in Italy? It sounds like just what I want to do!
Thank you Sue! and of course you may! We had a fantastic time and I'm happy to recommend our itinerary to anyone. We went on two self-guided tours; to Tuscany and Amalfi, and went through Sherpa Expeditions. Please do ask me anything! My email address is in my side bar, top right; click on the envelope icon 🙂
just wonderful ! KISS
Your blouse is adorable. It looks so cute and comfy.
That's gorgeous! Is it worth getting the book?
And I love the gingham shorts.
The trim details of that blouse are adorable! Glad your vacation was fun. I've ben watching on IG and the pics are amazing.
The details on your blouse are lovely and the gingham shorts are perfect.
What a lovely blouse! Looks like just the thing to wear for a trip to Italy – airy but very chic. I'd love to travel the south of Italy, since I've only been to the more northern parts so far.
Even the names "Tuskany" and "Amalfi" smell of hills with cypresses and seaside and lemons to me! 🙂 I hope you enjoyed every minute 😉
Adorable! It looks like a lot of work to me, but it must be a pleasure to wear it! Oh, Italy! I know you'll be having a great time there!!
Pretty blouse. I'm also sewing out of season for Portugal! Enjoy fabric shopping in Italy – Rome is best. Fratelli Bassetti Tessuti on Via Vittorio Emanuael II, 73 is a magical place, but allow at least 2 hours. Leave husband behind.
I really like the origami detail. The black bow makes a nice contrast.
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