From the Vaults: The Coral Polka-Dot Blouse

Do you remember my Quest for the Perfect Sloper? That time when I tried to make myself a perfect set of slopers I could use again and again to make wonderful patterns with? Well, for some reason I have only used the bodice pattern once so far and that was last summer. I think I just haven't been making tops or dresses recently. Strange. Well, here, finally are the long promised photos of the first blouse I drafted using my...well...almost perfect sloper.

The blouse is a little on the tight side these days, but better days will come. (Reminder to self!). I drafted it by converting the bust dart into gathers that come out of a shoulder yoke. The sleeves also have a gathered sleeve head. I added black piping around the edges and made self-cover black fabric buttons to match. I also made bound buttonholes using all sorts of different tutorials around the web to improve my method, but still they kind of ended up looking as if a gerbil had chewed a hole in the fabric. Luckily they disappear almost completely behind the big buttons and the busy fabric. I still like my blouse very much and am in love with the color. I already bought some more farbic in a similar color for a dress. Yeah!

So, now the sun only has to start shining again, my body going back into fit and trim summer mode and the blouse will be let out for an airing once again....ahhh, summer!