Sunday, February 6, 2011

Elegant minimalism

The style manuals all suggest that no woman's wardrobe is complete without a crisp white blouse. Unfortunately, the traditional white collared shirt looks rather dowdy on me. So I took out my pattern drafting manual and came up with this white linen shirt/jacket.
I am quite proud of my efforts - although this rather rumpled photo does it no justice. We've had a week of heatwave and I am simply too lethargic to pose it in or iron it properly! I feel like I have been living in a blast furnace.
The tie front extends from the side seam and joins to a separate piece on the lower front, giving the impression of a peplum. It teams beautifully with my recent black linen trousers, so I feel I have some coherence to my work.



I've also completed my January jacket for the jacket a month quota. This design is very clever in the way the lining is turned through a gap in the centre back, then hand stitched.
At first I was very hestitant about the cape sleeved bolero. I don't normally wear anything cropped and it felt it little costumey. But it works with my sheath dress in the same fabric for a dressy occasion, and with black tshirt and trousers for a more casual look. It is not my favourite items, but it may get the occasional outing.
I nearly finished another summer tshirt using Butterick 5283 version C and I've cut a muslin for my February jacket Vogue 1093. The Donna Karan designed jacket will be made in mustard coloured linen. I adore the pattern, but can see why it is ranked difficult by Vogue - the pattern markings look like ancient hierogythics. Hope I can pull it off.
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24 comments:

  1. JacquieFebruary 6, 2011 at 4:08 AM

    Wow! Your shirt is lovely Gail! It looks special - the tie is terrific and that is gorgeous linen. I'm eager to see your Donna Karan jacket - I have that pattern too and also haven't ever made it up. Hope your heatwave is over - how many weeks to winter? Bring it on.

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 6, 2011 at 4:51 AM

    Your self-designed shirt is fabulous. The next time you don it (preferably with those black pants, sounds lovely!), snap a shot. I bet it's stunning on.

    I really like your little bolero. Though not an every day piece, I could see it over a long black knit tee, with jeans and heels. It's great!

    Good luck with the DKNY jacket. Yikes!

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  3. gwensewsFebruary 6, 2011 at 5:03 AM

    I love a white blouse. This one, with it's ties at the waist makes a very feminine garment. Nice jacket, too. Are you posting it on Stitchers Guild?

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  4. CarolynFebruary 6, 2011 at 5:10 AM

    Two gorgeous garments... and I really love the bolero. I too would like to see a picture of them being worn!

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  5. LoriFebruary 6, 2011 at 5:11 AM

    Fantastic white blouse and I really like your cape, too.

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  6. SewingadictaFebruary 6, 2011 at 5:58 AM

    This is the perfect blouse! The tie is perfect! Linen is perfect for this model, great!

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  7. JoanneMFebruary 6, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    Nothing beats gorgeous white linen. Well done Gail. Cape is cute too!

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  8. RebeccaFebruary 6, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    That is one great blouse! Nice job with the pattern drafting.

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  9. Ann Made StudioFebruary 6, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    Wonderful looking blouse and cape!

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  10. BCN - UNIQUE designer patternsFebruary 6, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    I love this blouse, especially the fabric is fabulous.!!

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  11. EugeniaFebruary 6, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Despite the heat you have turned out two beautiful garments! I love the blouse - I am so impressed that you have designed it yourself to be exactly how you want it. Your bolero is gorgeous - that print gives it a real wow factor!

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  12. Lisette MFebruary 6, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    The blouse is beautiful! I am so impressed that you drafted it. The capelet looks perfect in that fabric raising the design to edgy, love it!

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  13. kbencoFebruary 6, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    What a gorgeous blouse. It looks as if you could wear it with 'everything' just like the boring wardrobe staple, yet it is smart and interesting. How clever.
    The capelet/bolero looks great too. It is nice to have a more dressy jacket. I hope we have some cool weather soon so that you can model these.

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  14. CarolFebruary 6, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    I've been eyeing off a BWOF blouse with a tie like that - very nice. I love your jacket. I made a red one, but I want more. It's very useful.

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  15. SharonFebruary 6, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Very pretty blouse and will be a good staple in your wardrobe. Your cape/bolero looks very smart and would love to see it with the dress.

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  16. DharmaFebruary 6, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Love the shirt-a classic. I recently saw the same design in a Macy's advertisment. I cut it out for inspiration. I think the bolero will be a great transition jacket.

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  17. memFebruary 6, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    I really love that shirt .Well done I have been getting into pattern making too . Could you post a picture of your draft as I would love to see how you incororated the ties? I have just finished a jacket which I drafted . You can see it on my blog . regards Mem from Rainy Melbourne !!!

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  18. IreneFebruary 6, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    LOVE the shirt! So elegant. The bolero looks very interesting - somewhat a statement piece - and we all need a few of those in the closet.

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  19. Gay McDonellFebruary 6, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    Yes - the blouse is really lovely - a very flattering neck line - good for you! Cute cape - and how good was that southerly yesterday??? WOO HOO!!!

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  20. AudreyFebruary 7, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    Wow, you drafted the pattern for this lovely blouse yourself. I imagine it is very flattering and chic worn over black pants with the waist cinched in with the ties. I have to smile at your blast furnace reference. I worked in a steel mill one summer during college. I was studying manufacturing engineering and the pay was outstanding. When you work in the blast furnace or surrounding area, you actually have to wear a lot of clothing to protect you from the heat. My job was to put ID tags on the huge ingots of steel that had just been de-molded and they were still very hot. I had to wear long johns ( underwear), with a long sleeve t-shirt and jeans over them, a heat resistant, ankle length coat made with asbestos and a hard hat with a heat resistant shield. I lost a lot of weight that summer because I was so hot and sweaty, I couldn’t eat. Looking forward to seeing your version of Vogue 1093, I have this in my pattern stash.

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  21. GabrielleFebruary 8, 2011 at 3:32 AM

    I love your linen shirt - and am really impressed that you drafted it yourself! I would love to see your bolero with your dress one day too...

    The heat was so oppressive wasn't it, it made me nearly glad to go to work!

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  22. SheryllFebruary 12, 2011 at 1:23 AM

    I'm with you on the white shirt thing - I find it hard to make them work on me, maybe I need to try something a bit more interesting like you have!
    Love the bolero - sometimes you find these things work with a lot more than you expect!

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  23. Anne-MarieFebruary 13, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    Did I read correctly, one jacket a month ??!! Oh my my, I have to run and hide in a closet. It takes me months to finish one jacket. Well I have to confess that jackets so often end up as UFO's. I have to read your blog more often, I might catch your speedy past and finish my jackets. As for the cape and the white short, both are great. Your version of the simple white shirt is awesome. As for the heat... Do I ever prefer -21 to 41oC! I would melt.

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  24. CennettaFebruary 18, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    Both look great. I like the idea of making non-traditional white blouse. This one is really cute.

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