Project: McCalls 3941

Did you see Zoe's fabulous 1950's Rizzo blouse that she made recently? I adored it so much, I thought the fabric choice, style and colours looked amazing on her and I gushed all over her post. What followed was a lovely email conversation that resulted in an innocuous looking envelope turning up on my doorstep. Yes, I too have a 1950's Rizzo Blouse! I just couldn't wait to show you all what I've been up to this week (other than a three day visit from my Dad).

My fabric isn't as great as Zoe's, if I could've convinced her to send me some of that too I would have done. Instead, I raided my Mum's fabric stash. Years ago she had her own quilting shop and has various different quilting cottons stored away in the loft since. This is just one of those fabrics, a crisp white cotton with a coral print. I'm not a fan of coral, at least on me, but I really liked this print for this shirt.

As usual, I waded right in without thinking ahead. I wanted to send this back to Zoe as soon as possible, otherwise I'd end up realising six months had passed and I still had it. But it occurred to me as I went to package it back up after tracing it last weekend, that it might be wiser to actually make the thing while I still had the instructions. Not that I pay much attention to them, but the Law of Sod said that if I didn't have them I'd need them so I rushed ahead.

This was actually quite an easy pattern to put together, helped remarkably by Zoe including her re-drafted pattern pieces. It turns out that Zoe and I have the same height waist, her changes fit me perfectly (thanks Zo!). Zoe also lowered the armholes, another issue I also tend to have (my armpits just love eating the armholes of every top I wear), and - for me - they're perfect. Of course, I don't have any white buttons so I can't finish it, but I'm rather pleased with its almost finished looks.

I finally learned how to make tucks properly. Of course, it involved a phonecall and then a video Skype conference with my Mother in order for me to understand exactly what I was supposed to be doing. I kept coming up with ways that didn't allow me to see the sewing line or created a pleat instead. But now I can say that I have that particular skill cracked!

I still have a little bit of handstitching left, to secure the collar and armhole facings properly. And of course there's the buttons, but otherwise this shirt is D.O.N.E. I've even hemmed it already. Seeing as it's me, I've done it all the easy way and although I've finished all the seams I didn't trim the seam allowance because my cutting skills on a flat piece of fabric are shocking at best but you add in the 3D effect of a garment and it's just best that I don't go near the thing with scissors once it's in the sewing stage.

I've been dying to get back in to sewing, my poor Mum's had to listen to me whinge about not having enough time to get some proper sewing done for several weeks now. It was great to have a project where I didn't have to unpick a single seam, where it went together remarkably easily (for me - the armhole facings took me about half an hour to figure out which side went where) and was a great confidence boost after a series of wadders. All in all, this is something I'll make again no doubt. Thanks Zo!

Thanks for stopping by,