Today, we're thrilled to welcome Lori from our Advisors Circle to share her latest sewing project. Lori dropped by with some fantastic tutorials including her Maritime tops, the Weekend Getaway Blouse with pleats, and the Terrace Dress featuring a shirt tail hem. But today, she's here to talk to us about her latest creation—the Rush Hour Blouse she made for herself.
The combination of a peplum blouse with princess seams sounded amazing to me, so I decided to give it a shot with a few tweaks. This top is designed to be high-waisted, and while I'm definitely not, I had a similar ready-to-wear top with a drop waist and peplum that I absolutely loved. That's why the Rush Hour Blouse seemed like the perfect pattern to experiment with this design. Plus, the fun peplum with its front overlap was a big draw for me.
One of the best things about this pattern is that it caters to multiple cup sizes—A/B, C, and D. I used the A/B pattern pieces and opted for a size 12, but next time, I’ll probably go with a size 10 or even an 8. I did take in the side seams of this size 12 to better fit my body shape. My primary change was adding three inches to the length to achieve the look I was going for.
For the fabric, I chose a stretch woven for the bodice. It turned out to be quite challenging to work with—it was hard to press, prone to wrinkling instantly, and overall just a bit of a hassle. Unfortunately, you might notice some wrinkles in the bodice due to this. For the peplum, I paired it with a navy blue printed knit fabric. The knit was an ITY-type material and was a dream to sew with. However, it was lightweight and I wanted a finished look without worrying about hemming. My solution? Binding it with the troublesome fabric. Surprisingly, sewing the binding wasn't as difficult as I anticipated, and the final result was exactly what I envisioned. Adding the binding also gave the peplum some much-needed weight, allowing it to drape beautifully.
I decided against using a lining since the fabric was so stretchy, and I was concerned about how well it would hold up. Liesl’s instructions were incredibly detailed and helpful, making the process smoother than expected.
Princess seams offer numerous fitting opportunities, and I realized I should have adjusted these seams a bit more in the back for a better fit. Next time, I'll make sure to do that. I did insert an invisible zipper, but because of the stretchy nature of the fabric, it wasn’t strictly necessary for my version. If you’re working with a stable fabric, though, adding a zipper is always a good idea.
I’m definitely planning to make this blouse again, tweaking the sizing and trying it out in a more stable fabric. Whether you decide to follow Liesl’s original pattern or customize it to suit your style, you’ll end up with a blouse you’ll adore!
**Related Posts:** This experience has been both challenging and rewarding. Sewing can sometimes throw unexpected obstacles your way, but overcoming them feels incredibly satisfying. I encourage everyone to dive into projects like this one—you never know what you’ll learn along the way!
**Related Posts:** This experience has been both challenging and rewarding. Sewing can sometimes throw unexpected obstacles your way, but overcoming them feels incredibly satisfying. I encourage everyone to dive into projects like this one—you never know what you’ll learn along the way!
Ladies Skirts,Ladies Printed Skirts,Ladies Chiffon Skirts,Ladies Denim Skirt
SHAOXING NEWTEX IMP.&EXP. CO., LTD , https://www.newtexgarment.com