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The Pussy Bow Blouse Sewalong No. 1: Getting ready
The Pussy Bow Blouse is here!
This beaut of a blouse is the perfect pattern for an intermediate sewer wishing to work on new skills. With two style variations you can choose between a v-neck version or the lovely keyhole option. Pair it with your Ultimate Trousers or your favourite pencil skirt and you’re sure to wow!
The Pussy Bow Blouse is a level 6 pattern, which means it’s the perfect intermediate dressmaking project. Before tackling this we definitely recommend having made a couple of other garments first. We’ll be inserting sleeves, attaching cuffs, and assembling the tricky necktie. You will be working with finer fabrics for this project, such as silk, chiffon or lightweight rayon, which add another dimension of difficulty. Of course if you love the pattern and you want to make it, go for it! (But maybe make a test version in cheaper fabric first. We don’t want you to go ruining that special silk you’ve been saving)
So you’re raring to go? Here’s what you’re going to need…
– Pussy Bow Blouse pattern (available in paper and PDF formats)
– up to 2.3m of fabric (see below for recommendations and sizing chart)
– scraps of the same fabric to make the rouleaux loops
– matching thread
– two small buttons for the cuff
– a selection of sewing supplies (pins, tape measure, both fabric and paper scissors, needle and thread, rouleaux turner, ruler/patternmaster)
– sewing machine
– iron
The Pussy Bow Blouse pattern is designed for lightweight fabrics with drape, such as crepe de Chine, sandwashed silk, lightweight crepes and rayon. If you use anything too heavy the blouse won’t sit nicely, and you’ll have a heck of a time trying to get the ties to cooperate! We know it’s hard to tear yourself from all the amazing printed cottons, but believe us, they just won’t work. Check out our online shop for fabrics we recommend specifically for the Pussy Bow Blouse pattern.
If you’re nervous about using lighter weight fabrics, check back on 3rd December for some of our favourite tips and tricks on working with it.
How much fabric are you going to need? Let’s find out…
When you have chosen your fabric, brought it home (and had a bit of fun draping it around yourself), you’ll need to prewash it. We cannot stress enough how important this step is. There is nothing worse than spending hours making yourself a beautiful new blouse only for it to shrink after its first wash. You need to prewash the fabric in the same way you intend to wash your finished blouse, whether it be machine wash, hand wash or dry clean.
If you absolutely do not have time to pre-wash your fabric and just have to get cutting right away (we understand), you can give your fabric a really good steam press. This is what they do in the industry for ready-to-wear clothing. Just make sure you test your fabric can handle all the heat and steam on a scrap piece first. You don’t want shiny patches or a great big iron mark on it!
We’ll see you in No. 2 when we’ll be cracking out our tape measures, getting ourselves measured up and cutting out our patterns and fabric. Happy fabric shopping!