I have always worn separates; blouses, pants, sweaters and jackets. When I was working in the corporate world, I sewed a lot of silk blouses. This summer I sewed three shirts/blouses , and thinking about them, I had to smile at how they reflect the clothing needs and activities of my current lifestyle.
All three blouses are sewn from BurdaStyle magazine patterns. The first one is an old pattern that I traced many years ago but never made. From the April 2004 issue , shirt 121. The unique feature of this blouse is that it has detachable sleeves.
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| Burda 04 2004 121 blouse with detachable sleeves |
Why did I make a detachable sleeve blouse? So, I would have a versatile garment to pack for vacation trips. I wear it with sleeves as an over blouse. An extra layer in cool weather, or as protection from the sun or biting bugs. And without the sleeves in hot weather.
Any blouse pattern or jacket can be adapted for removable sleeves using the method of this pattern . Add a facing to the bodice sleeve opening for a clean finish and support. In this model it is sewn to the outside. Add a flange, in same shape as the bodice sleeve facing, to the sleeve armhole edge. Sew buttons on the flange and matching buttonholes around the faced bodice armhole opening. And voila a detachable sleeve.
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| Detachable Sleeve |
These show up occasionally in fashion and in recent BurdaStyle magazine Jacket 111 | 04/18
This blouse pattern, from 2004, was oversized by today’s fit styles. I removed about 1 inch in shoulder width and several inches in circumference and it is still big. The fabric was a cotton plaid shirting from my stash. It served its purpose well on a weeklong fishing vacation to Lake Murray in South Carolina. We didn’t catch much from the dock ( probably cause Sis and I were making too much noise) but pulled in enough perch for several nights’ dinner while out on the boat.
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| Burda 4 2004 121 |
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| Sisters |
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| Burda 9 2023 shirt 125 |
I recently gave a presentation to my ASG group on the “common fabrics recommended on the back of patterns”. When I was creating the sample packs containing all the fabric types, I could not find any cotton sateen in my stash. A perfect excuse for some fabric shopping. I found a cotton sateen printed with pink hearts, wine bottles and glasses at FabricMartFabrics.com. I loved the print, and it made the perfect shirt to wear to a recent Wine and Oyster festival. We live relatively close to Chesapeake Bay and several tidal rivers where oysters are raised. It is fun to sample the wines from local vineyards and eat oysters in many forms; raw, grilled, fried, or stewed. The blouse looked perfect accessorized by my “wine bra” (what the men in my family call a wine glass holder lanyard, sigh! I am surrounded by males).
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| roasted oysters with peppers and cheese |
Third blouse was Dress 110 | Burda Style 05/23. The dress top ends at the hip and has a flounce skirt. I liked the fitted style of the top, all the darts and a back yoke and shaped back seam. It was the same style as two RTW shirts I still wear frequently. I added a shirttail hem and made it as a blouse.
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| Burda 05 23 110 dress as shirt |
The fabric is a shirting cotton print of cocktails on a black background. also from FabricMartFabrics. I love a black based print. So easy to wear with black trousers or jeans, and a brightly colored sweater or accessories. A close look at the print revealed it is holiday themed. The drinks are accented with fir branches, candy cane stir sticks and the straws are topped with elf hats. So fun! I added a contrast stripe fabric for the inner collar band and yoke lining and red, flat piping at the yoke seams. It will be perfect to wear to my sister’s retirement party that will be held at her local VFW (Veterans for Foreign Wars) Post, so um.. super casual, and end of year holiday parties with my sewing buddies or the retiree social group.
Based on the themed print fabrics I am attracted to now, I am so afraid that when I get grandkids, I will be the one wearing a T shirt embroidered with "Bubba's Memaw" Guess I will wait and see.
