With the overlocker still threaded with Pink I had a quick ‘rummage’ in my fabrics to find some more fabric that would need the same colour stitching. I uncovered this Micro Satin that I bought a couple of months ago from C&H fabrics in Winchester. This fabric print fits right into my colour theme and 1.5 metres for £8.25 represents a real bargain.

As the fabric is so wonderfully soft (and slippery!) I thought it would be great made up as a Pussy Bow Blouse with long full sleeves into a cuff. I retrieved my personal drafted pattern and combined it with the long sleeves used on a recent shirtwaister dress.

Fortunately there was sufficient fabric to cut out the blouse in the desired length with shaped hemline and also to have the full sleeves with gathered sleeve heads and gathered into a button cuff.

I used French Seams throughout (so did not need to use the pink threaded overlocker after all!) and machined 5 buttonholes down the front. The buttons on the cuffs are slightly different to those at the front but I think it is OK. The pussy bow tie is maybe a little narrower than I would have liked but it still makes a statement. Making the continuous lap placket in the sleeves was ‘fun’ due to the slippery nature of the fabric but I am delighted with the finished result.

The blouse will coordinate very well with my several pairs of trousers and I am now inspired to make a plain Teal skirt as well. First though I have some Pink floral modal jersey cut out to make an Audrey top (Sew Over It) and I am really looking forward to making that.

completed 2nd April 2020