Pink Parfum Silk Chiffon Blouse

So this is my first make from the pile of fabric I got at the Sew Expo in Puyallup this year. The fabric is a silk chiffon, lovely but fiddly to work with. Usually. Fortunately for me, this project went on without a hitch. It was just a tad ravelly, but I pressed on rather quickly after cutting before it has the opportunity to go batty on me. 

I started over the weekend (i think) and done with the sleeves (which was the last thing I inserted, after already hemming it) by noon.

I used my TNT/go to bodice pattern, and then used pattern McCall's M6648 for the collar part. 

 

And I kinda "drafted" my own sleeves based on my other projects. I made a pleat on the top part of the sleeves instead perhaps gathering it to fit the armsyce, and it doesn't look good. Obviously, mix and match, trial and error style of designing is not working here. The sleeves looks silly with the pleat, because it is already a roomy type sleeve. It seems messy in the pics because I didn't iron the sleeves after sewing it in. Coz I will take the seam ripper to it and try a different way... Not looking forward to unpicking all those french seams...

I lined it with lining fabric that feels silky but most definitely a synthetic (I didn't check the label when purchasing it at Joann's). Nahh, it's not those shiny bemberg rayon ones, they don't have it in this pink color when I was there last... 

I didn't line the sleeves.

Did you spot the mistake among my neat insides (albeit not too thin french seams)?

Because I wanted a neat inside finish, I had the bust darts sandwiched between the main blouse and the lining. Ugghh! If you look closely (in real life) you might be able to detect the lining's bust darts, although the prints kinda camouflaging it on the outside... I hope. (tiny phew) But hey, I'm telling you about it here, so you're bound to look at me closely... Well, just look at the french seams okay. I may or may not take the seam ripper to amend this. Most definitely not tonight. 

Probably not even this week. Who knows. This is supposed to be my mother's day blouse. I planned to wear it with a white jeans, which I didn't have... but me and the Bean went to the thrift store today for a lil bit of last hurrah stashing before SarahLiz's 2013 Style the Stash Sew-a-long commences in June. She did say it's okay, LOL... But I was good. Just picked up a white jeans for me, 2 summer shirts for hubby, and one boucle looking fabric that I am going to practice my jacket sewing with, just as planned for the sew-a-long... I hope it has enough yardage...

Oh... have I told you that I didn't like how this blouse looks on me? All the hard work... and lovely cute fabric. I looked quite mumsy in it. I know it's mother's day blouse, and I am a mommy, but still... You know I like roomy blouse, but the part I don't like is the upper part, around the shoulder and neck. I am convinced that the style with the collar and the (roomy sleeves perhaps) makes me look like a top heavy triangle... I will wear it this weekend, and since it's Me-Made-May, I'll post the proof on Monday. :(

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[Note: Sleeves are now fixed. ]