Garden Path - Blouse - Part III

Test Blouse, Part Two

I've finished the test blouse and am very happy with it. I'm not sure it will need any changes to fit me properly. I might adjust the shoulders just a little bit, as I have sloped shoulders, but I can do that on the final blouse with no problems. I was pretty sure this blouse would fit as is, since the pattern is the right size and it is a teen pattern. These patterns tend to be a bit smaller through the shoulders and neck to waist length, which are areas I always tend to alter in regular patterns anyway.

Since this was a test blouse, I tried some things that I probably will not do for the final version, just to see if I was sure I'd like them or not. That is the point of a test garment anyway. Let's take a look.

First, I stitched the side seams separately and then stitched the darts with both fabrics together, like you would for an underlining. This works fine for the test garment, but I will be stitching the darts independently for the final version.

The original pattern calls for armhole facings. I eliminated those and did an armhole binding instead. I'm pretty sure I will do this for the final version - in a color to match the lining. I think the lining will be white, but not sure at this point. The print's background is white, so that will probably be the color of choice.

This pattern has one of those great side zippers. I used an invisible zip for this one, but again not sure if I want to use an invisible or a hand pick a zipper for the final version. Whatever I do, it will be consistent with the skirt, but right now, I'm thinking I'll use invisible zippers.

I just did a narrow hem for this blouse, but this would never work for the final version. I'll probably do a binding like the armholes at the hem, so that I can clean finish the zipper area. I'm also considering treating it like a lining and fell stitching the outer fabric and lining together. There would be less bulk that way, and possibly a cleaner zipper finish.


I made a covered button for this blouse since I did not find a button I was happy with when button shopping yesterday. I will probably do the same for the final version - because of the print, nothing put there will really show up. On a solid colored blouse a fabulous button would look great - almost like a piece of jewelry. The wild flower print speaks for itself in this case and does not need any help.

I'd like to include one little trick here that I use all the time when covered buttons. If you've ever covered buttons you know that you cut out little circles of fabric stretch around the form and then snap in the back of the button. Some of the forms have little teeth for grabbing the fabric, some don't. Either way, it can be difficult to get that little circle of fabric around that form nicely. I use a running stitch by hand all the way around the edge of the circle of fabric and then gather the circle around the button form. Once I adjust the fabric to be as smooth as possible around the form, I snap on the back and clip off the remaining thread You can see in the photo below that I haven't clipped the thread yet.

Who knew that such a simple blouse could be so complicated with so many decisions? That's how it is though - thinking each step through, considering the options and then deciding if that option will give the desired finish.

Parting Shot: Hope. I have hope that I'll have a couple of irises this year. The rest of my irises have not sent out buds yet. That doesn't mean they won't in the next few weeks, but I'm beginning to wonder. I've never had a problem with them and they always bloom beautifully with lots of blooms. Maybe the weather is not quite warm enough yet and this one is an early bloomer.