Seamwork Natalie button-up blouse
2018-May-11, Friday 10:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chebeSeamwork's Natalie is a casual button-up blouse. It has short sleeves, a soft collar, bust darts, and it doesn't button all the way up to the neck. I am looking for a casual shirt pattern, and sadly this is not it. This pattern is very much a blouse, too feminine for what I'm after. Also, the light blue polycotton fabric I used really doesn't help, except to make it feel like a primary school uniform shirt. (Not my primary school mind, but one with hot weather options and possibly blazers. The kind you'd see in Australian tv shows.)
I did have fun making this though. The entire centre front and neckline is topstitched in one go. And I never had to fight the fabric. There is definitely a joy to sewing with stable non-stretch wovens. The shoulder and side seams need to be finished separately and pressed open, and the facings outer edges also need finishing. So instead of threading up the overlocker I tried out the overlock stitch on my sewing machine, with over-edge sewing foot. It's not as neat as the dedicated machine with blade, but it is very decent. I also figured out the automated buttonhole functionality (stitch with foot/plate)! It took some time, but now I want to put buttons on everything.
There are known fit issues with this pattern (a new version will be released soon) around the sleeves. I found them very snug, and that they would pull the entire shirt whenever you moved your arms. Aside from that I feel like I made it in a size too large (excess fabric at sides) but it is still snug over the bust. Perhaps I need to size down and add a full-bust adjustment? Also, my buttons are much lower into my cleavage than it appears they should be, so I probably need to shorten it through the shoulders. But I'd need to figure out a way to make this pattern feel less childish. I could use colour blocking for a kind of retro bowling shirt? Or maybe just a really drapey luxurious fabric?
I did have fun making this though. The entire centre front and neckline is topstitched in one go. And I never had to fight the fabric. There is definitely a joy to sewing with stable non-stretch wovens. The shoulder and side seams need to be finished separately and pressed open, and the facings outer edges also need finishing. So instead of threading up the overlocker I tried out the overlock stitch on my sewing machine, with over-edge sewing foot. It's not as neat as the dedicated machine with blade, but it is very decent. I also figured out the automated buttonhole functionality (stitch with foot/plate)! It took some time, but now I want to put buttons on everything.
Finished Natalie, front view
Photo by chebe
Finished Natalie, back view
Photo by chebe
Finished Natalie, front neckline stitching detail view
Photo by chebe
There are known fit issues with this pattern (a new version will be released soon) around the sleeves. I found them very snug, and that they would pull the entire shirt whenever you moved your arms. Aside from that I feel like I made it in a size too large (excess fabric at sides) but it is still snug over the bust. Perhaps I need to size down and add a full-bust adjustment? Also, my buttons are much lower into my cleavage than it appears they should be, so I probably need to shorten it through the shoulders. But I'd need to figure out a way to make this pattern feel less childish. I could use colour blocking for a kind of retro bowling shirt? Or maybe just a really drapey luxurious fabric?
Finished Natalie, modelled, front view
Photo by chebe
Finished Natalie, modelled, pulling, front view
Photo by chebe
