1930s Sheer Blouse

Wow.  This sewing season is taking forever!  Between Colton's schooling, Cody's schooling (he is graduating in May?  What?  When did that happen!!??), various meetings and such, my sewing time has taken a big hit.  But that's ok, because I am now in the realm of all things vintage, which means the time needed for making a garment has dwindled to roughly a 6th of the time it would have taken to sew a complete Victorian garment!  Can I get a Huzzah???!!!

The next item in the 1930s Fall ensemble I wanted to work on was a blouse as I would need that in order to get the fit of the jacket right.  I had planned on using a really sweet vintage pattern that I won on eBay, but had misread the bust size.  Thinking it was a 38", I merrily sewed up my mock (thank heavens it was a mock and not my fashion fabric!!!) only to discover upon trying it on that it was seriously too tight.  Then I re-read the pattern envelope and saw that the bust was 36".  That is a significant size difference from my 40" size.  I have a HUGE rib cage and that can really effect how anything vintage fits me.  I have a feeling that the size of my ribs may also have an effect on vintage patterns.

I had a few days prior to the making of the mock of despair, been sent a gift of Wearing History patterns from Lauren, and in that gifting was a super adorable 1930s Tea at Two dress pattern.  I looked over this pattern and saw that the top and peplum part of the dress would make a PERFECT blouse pattern!  I didn't particularly want a collar on the blouse as the jacket has a collar and in my modern wardrobe, when I have to fight a collar on a blouse and a collar on a jacket it ends up being a pain in the neck.  hahahahahaha...did you get that?  Ahem...anyway, I ended up leaving off the collar that comes with the pattern for the dress and I am loving the way the blouse ended up!!!

I used a semi sheer silk fabric that I had in my stash...let me say a few things about the fabric.  I hated working with it.  I don't generally adore working with sheer, flimsy fabrics as they are hard for me to work with.  My fingers are calloused and have a hard time with the fine "hand" needed to work with these fabrics and this particular fabric was no exception.  I ended up flat felling and french seaming most of the seams, which did make for a nice clean finish.  

The pattern was a total and complete DREAM to work with!  The pieces went together perfectly, the instructions were awesome, and I had absolutely no problem with anything in the pattern!  Can't wait to make the dress in its entirety, with a totally different type of fabric of course!!!

  I did end up making regular button holes and not the bound ones that the pattern calls for, as I felt that attempting them would cause me to relegate the unfinished garment to the burn pile, so next time this pattern is made, I will attempt them!

Sheer, silk 1930s Tea at Two blouse!  I am going to have to find a slip that will be suitable for 1930s until I have the fabric, time and inclination to make one!   I love the look of this blouse with the sleeves and the vestee!

I did have to shorten the sleeves as they were entirely too long.  But, I have to do that on all of my sleeves.

I did make a seam in the back of the blouse as the fabric I was working with wasn't wide enough to support an "on the fold" cutting. 

The buckle I used was one found in the drawer of my Great-Grandma Cornelia's sewing machine cabinet. It is a cool rust red that matches the rust red in the plaid of the skirt perfectly!!

Vintage buttons found at a local antique shop.  Holy cow, I just now noticed that they are sewn on crooked!  hahahaha!!  Awesome!!

Here is the link to where you can check out the Mid 1930s Tea at Two dress pattern!!

Ok, I am off to work on the jacket for this outfit!!  Maybe I can complete it today?  We shall see!!

Have a most wonderfully blessed day my friends!!

g