Two garments, same fabric

I have sewed a simple blouse with flounced sleeves for my mom’s birthday. I drafted the pattern on my own after having taken her measurements.

I used this beautiful vintage silk crepe de chine. I sewed the blouse up making french seams, except for the armhole, finished with serger. I pin-hemmed the blouse and the sleeves. I use this technique a lot for fluid fabric, such as silk and chiffon.

It’s very simple to make. You have to turn and press the hem, about 1 cm. Stitch along the hem at 1 or 2 mm from the edge. Cut the seam allowance/hem close to the stitching you have just done. Turn the little hem again and stitch along the existing stitching. You will see two stitching on the wrong side and only one stitching on the right side. I really like the “pin hem” finishing because it’s very easy to make and it’s very neat.

I haven’t managed to try the blouse on my mom to test the fit. I have to change the darts’ position in the next garment, because they are a little bit high.

After making this blouse, I had a remnant of this fabric, about 50 cm, and I decided to make a very simple gathered skirt in order to not waste even a cm of this beautiful fabric.
I sewed selvedges together with a french seam. Then I sewed the waist and inserted the elastic. I hemmed the skirt using the same technique of the hem of the blouse. In a hour I made a brand new summer skirt!

Here we are wearing our brand new silk garments in a very hot weather (about 40 degrees in Milan today!)