I’ve been thinking of sewing this blouse for about a year. Paola, an ex-colleague and friend of my mom, gave me some fabrics her mother had hoarded over years, mainly over 70’s-80’s-90’s (I already sewed a dress with one of these vintage fabrics, see my Leini Dress).
It was love at first sight with this silk fabric, probably from 70’s!
I had got about 70 cm (black edge included), so I had to make something very simple, with very few cuts.
Hence I got the idea for a blouse made by two pieces only, front and back bodice, with drop shoulder sleeves and V-neckline. Drop shoulder sleeves and V-neckline bring me back to a white t-shirt my mom was used to wear over 70’s and ’80 and that she gave me afterwards…I loved it so much that I completely wore it out!
I designed the pattern on my own starting from a basic bodice without bust dart and adding 1 cm ease allowance. Then I drafted sleeves and neckline.
Before cutting the silk fabric I made a test garment in a polyester fabric I had in my stash that had the same drape. So I have two brand new blouses to wear this summer! 🙂
The sleeves are finished sewing a rolled hem up with serger and I used french seams for the inside. I finished the neckline with bias tape and topstitched it. I turned the hem up twice and topstitched it.
I tried to line the stripes up as better as I could, pinning a lot in some strategic points (practically I pinned all the stripes).
I’m very satisfied with this blouse! I’m more and more convinced that the right fabric choice is essential in making a beautiful garment and even the simpler garment can be unique and peculiar with the right mix of model and fabric.
And I’ve learned that if you have a printed silk (above all if vintage), you have to soak it in water plus white vinegar for some hours, otherwise the colours lose their brilliance and the fabric risk to stain (as it happened in this case, even if slightly thankfully). Water and white vinegar fix colours and makes them brighter.
We took these pictures in Como, in a beautiful May evening, during a stroll and before a happy hour by the lakeside at sunset.
21 comments
Gorgeous top! The cut works so well with the fabric!
Thank you so much Lindsay!
Wwhat a lovely blouse, perfect for summer! I love the colour scheme. Great tip with the fabric treatment! And that view, sigh, I want to go back to Italy right now.
Thank you Jenny! Yes, Como and lake Como are lovely, above all in spring and summer! My boyfriend works in Como, so from time to time I join him for an evening stroll…
Mi piace molto, avevo anch’io un top con quella forma, tempo fa, l’ho portato tantissimo.
Buona giornata
Grazie Sabrina! Sì è comodissimo questo modello, l’ho già indossato molto e penso che sarà uno dei top che indosserò di più questa estate 🙂
Buona giornata anche a te!
Carina! (… insert wolf-whistle here) … quel tessuto è favoloso!
Grazie Sasha!! Anch’io lo adoro!
What a beautiful top, simple yet elegant and the stripe matching is perfect. I was at lake Como a couple of weeks ago myself and took the ferry up to Bellagio, it is a stunning place. I also used your tips for fabric shopping around Milan, they were really useful, so I’d like to thank you for that.
Thank you Sam! I’m so happy you’ve found my post about fabric shops in Milan useful…I’m sure you bought beautiful Italian fabrics.
You’re right… Bellagio, Como and lake Como are stunning!
lovely top, and a great backdrop in your photos. thanks for the tip about the vinegar.
Thank you Beth!
An extra suggestion: when you buy a silk fabric or a printed silk fabric, ask always to shopkeeper if it can be handwashed or it has to be dry-cleaned before soaking it in water…Silk is so delicate that is better to be sure.
Such a pretty top, really lovely. Thanks for the tip. Great photos too 🙂
Thank you Juls! As I said to Beth, when you buy a silk fabric or a printed silk fabric, ask always to shopkeeper if it can be handwashed or it has to be dry-cleaned …Silk is so delicate that is better to be sure you can soak it in water 😉
See you soon! Martina
So beautiful. And I agree – a simple pattern allows amazing fabric to shine!
Thank you!! Yes, I completely agree!
Wow che bello! A dire il vero mi piacciono tutte le cose che fai!Ti stanno tutte benissimo e sembrano anche meglio dei vestiti comprati!
Purtroppo in italia non mi sembra che sia cosi’ diffusa la mania di cucire i propri vestiti. Io ora vivo a Londra e qui è pieno di posti e persone che si dedicano a questa passione, ma mi fa sempre piacere vedere ragazze brave come te !!! complimenti e continua cosi’!
Un abbraccio
Silvia
p.s. di dove sei?
Grazie mille Silvia! 🙂 è vero, purtroppo qui il cucirsi i propri vestiti non è un’abitudine molto diffusa ultimamente, ma si sa che in Italia le “mode” arrivano sempre con qualche anno in ritardo. Magari posso sembrare un’illusa, ma sono convinta che prima o poi anche qui si diffonderà questa pratica, è solo questione di tempo! Ho visto già un crescente interesse in giro, quindi sono speranzosa 😉
Io sono di Milano, anche è se da qualche tempo che vivo fuori città…
Un abbraccio anche a te e a presto!
Beautiful top. You did such a great job in drafting the pattern. And Lake Como! I have fond memories of visits there in the 1980s while living in Switzerland. Would love to go back. Is silk still manufactured there?
Thank you so much Peggy!! Yes, silk is still manufactured there, but not so much as in the 1980s…unfortunately some fabric manufacturers have closed since then and I know that only few of them still produce in Como area.
This is my favourite type of silk top – simple, drapey – it must FEEL like heaven to wear! You will end up wearing this one out too I have no doubt.