Gerties 40s style blouse

Over the last year or I began to hear a lot about 'Gertie' Who is Gretchen Hirsch. She has a flair with vintage sewing and dressmaking. A while back I treated myself to her latest book, then had to have more. Love this woman's sense of style and patterns.  Before making a dress I decided to give her 40's style blouse a go.  I know I want to make a sleeveless version to but to start with I gave it a go with sleeves.  The sleeves have a lovely cuff detail, even though they are short sleeves.

Started by the usual trace the pattern off and cut it out. The next evening I cut the fabric out. I used a navy and white big checked gingham. Hoping I won't look like I am wearing a tablecloth.

First day of sewing went fairly smoothly. I did all the interfacing beforehand etc.  I had a few stages I had to use my seam ripper. That was however my error from not reading the instructions properly. When I did reread them they made perfect sense.

By the end of day 1 of sewing I had the shoulders and sides sewn, The sleeves with their cuffs attached and sewn into place. I had to do that more than once as guess which lady forgot to turn the machine back to normal stitch length after using basting stitches? All answers on a postcard please. And I put the collar together and had the first part pinned into place ready to sew the next time.

All I had to go was to finish the collar, add the front facings, do button holes, add buttons and hem the shirt.

Then a migraine struck me yesterday, I was really itching to finish off this shirt but with pain and meds I had to wait. So after a rather slow morning and having to drive my son to school, I had a coffee or 3 and spent an hour setting up and finishing the blouse. 

And ta dah

I didn't try to pattern match as didn't have enough fabric but I like it and it doesn't look school uniform or tablecloth like to me :o)

I left out the lower darts as didn't want it that fitted and added on the 3 inches as recommended for the sleeveless variation. The arms are a 'touch' tight on me but I do have big arms so next one I will make an adjustment.

I look a bit crinkled in these photos sorry I should of checked the way shirt was hanging and straightened it.  But all round I am pretty impressed with this pattern and it's outcome. I mostly followed the instructions word for word and it worked as it said it would.  Always a good start.  My biggest trouble with this was finding 5 buttons for it as hadn't bought any. I did however find some small clear ones.

So now I have become acquainted with Gretchen Hirsch AKA Gertie I look forward to making a few more variations on this pattern and making more of her clothes.

For now I am off out for an appointment and going to give this blouse it's first outing.  

Take care
Jules x 

Jelly roll play time

I love looking at the Jelly Rolls when I am in fabric shops.  For those who don't know, they are 2.5 inch strips of fabric that usually have different shades or a little assortment of a fabric collection that are then stacked up and rolled into a little bundle giving it a swirly Jelly or Swiss roll kind of appearance. I didn't take a photo before undoing mine to play with.  These little bundles of colours or designs are always appealing to me.  Very popular with quilters particularly I believe. When I was last in the fabric shop (longer ago than most people who know me will believe!) I purchased 2 different packs of Jelly Rolls.  Wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them at the time but I couldn't resist. 

Yesterday I was out and about with my daughter and Gary and inspiration struck. I knew I wanted to make a new quilt but wanted something a little bit different.  When I got home and found some time to get to play I selected 3 strips from a jelly roll and created this.

I know the points don't all match up but I still like it.  And it was so easy to make.

I took 3 strips which were 2.5 inches by the width of fabric or 3 strips from a jelly roll. I sewed 3 together along the length and pressed them with the seams to one side , usually this is towards the darker side. Then with an equilateral triangle template or ruler I cut off the excess at on end and cut out a triangle.  Then flipping the top point to the bottom so the triangle looks like a V I aligned it with the just cut edge and carried on cutting out triangles like this until I couldn't cut anymore.  My triangle was a little small for this but I just carried on cutting in the same line with my rotary cutter after I finished along the side of the triangle.  If I didn't have this ruler I would of made a cardboard triangle and would of drawn my lines in chalk or air erasable pen and cut out with scissors instead

This gave me  4 of one design and 5 of the other, So I had a few left over and will probably randomly make up a few hexagons after I have done the main ones

I alternated the triangles and sewed them together in 3's until I had half hexagons

Here's what the back looks like after pressing. Exciting stuff right??

Then sewed the 2 halves into a whole hexagon.

Fairly quick and easy to do I thought. And not bad without a pattern or idea to work from.

I really need a new ironing board cover.  I managed to slice a few bits of the cover with my rotary  cutter because I was using a small self healing mat instead of a bigger one. 

Since I made this I started sewing on a project I cut the fabric out for last night.  A 40s style blouse.  Pattern from Gretchen Hirsch book Gertie Sews Vintage Casual. I am making it in a large gingham check in navy and white fabric. I was going to make a sleeveless version but decided to do the pattern as is first of all. I added 3 inches to the front and back before I decided this so it is already not as suggested.  

It is coming along nicely so far.  I have had a few ripping moments with my good friend the stitch ripper.  But that came down to not reading the instructions properly or not checking the right sides were together when sewing etc. I am pretty impressed with the little cuffs on the short sleeves that came out so well.  Looking forward to finishing this one and wearing it in the summer. Hopefully one more session and it should be done.  Will keep you all updated and hopefully some photos of progress soon 

For now take care and stay crafty

Jules x