Burda 7942 ...(and mine is white)

Last week I posted I was going to make this blouse from Burda Magazine.


Reason I chose a blouse with a collar is that I want to practice for making a winter coat or a suit or blazer. Those require very nicely done collars with lapels. Do it wrong and the whole blazer is ruined or just looks "cheap" or "off". Another reason I chose a blouse is that they intimidate me. I look much dressier and sharper in a blouse, but never dared making them. In the store they do not appeal to me and they are either too small somewhere or designed for a cup C -which I do not have-. Fashion also tends to give weird prints, weird colors and weird details preference nowadays and a simple, white blouse is hard to find. And the last reason I never tried a blouse before is because I am scared of the buttons, or rather, making the buttonholes. I am really afraid I will not line them up correctly, or make them the wrong length, or that they will just look very crap cause I did not do it well enough and they will drag the whole thing down.

So, my own critique on the whole thing up to this stage is:
The collar does not lay flat on the right side and the problem is on the inner workings of it (no I will not correct it anymore in this stage). The instructions for the collar were very unclear and summarized in like 2 lines. So, I had to get out a sewing book to get a faint idea of what they intended to do with it. Biggest mistake in construction there is the angle of the attachment and not grading(snipping) the seams in the correct way. I think it worked out ok in the end.
I love the sleeve detail :-)

So, I just need to hem it and make the buttons. It looks really nice as it is, so I was thinking maybe snaps would be a better idea? I like the clean line across the front. Any suggestions?

To tackle a blouse

The reason I re-sign every time on wardrobe refashion is because it really prevents me from buying all those great clothes in those great sales. It also pushes me to start sewing my own clothing. A skill I really want to learn, but it requires time and effort. Both I am unwilling to sacrifice of course, cause there is always something else to do. However, if you are down to your last [insert clothing item here] , then you *are* highly motivated to actually start learning how to make one for yourself!
Right now, I am starting a simple blouse with short sleeves. Princess lines with a little gathering down the front and a nice collar on it. Burda 7942 . Oh, and mine will be white.
I don't know why I've never sewn a blouse before. I guess I was just scared of them - or to be more precise, scared of the collar and the buttonholes! I have now tackled the collar and although I guess I could have done better, I think it is OK-looking. The buttonholes I still have to do. Pictures of the finished project will probably be posted next week, as I will be leaving town this weekend for a nice big family birthday bash!