I originally designed the Rita Blouse pattern for woven fabrics, with a side zipper to get a fitted look in the midriff. But I’ve had lots of questions about sewing this design in a knit, since it would make such a comfy t-shirt style top with a vintage twist. You can’t always adapt woven patterns […]
Final post, everyone! All that’s left at this point is the hem. Just like you did for the casings, you’re going to guide stitch around the hem using a 1/4″ seam allowance, stitching through just a single layer. Next, turn up the hem along the guide stitching so that the stitching is just turned to […]
Hi everyone! At this point in the sew along, we have inserted the elastic into the neckline and sleeve casings but have not sewn it permanently yet. It is safety pinned in place so that you can test and adjust the fit if needed. After that, we will stitch the elastic in place permanently. I […]
Time to put in your sleeves and create those lovely elastic casings! First, sew the sleeves at the underarm seams, right sides together. Press the seam open. Now we’re going to sew the sleeves into the blouse. Keep in mind that on a sleeve pattern, a single notch always denotes the front of the sleeve, […]
It’s that time: zipper time! This is the part I’ve seen the most trepidation about in the sew-along group. It’s really not difficult, I promise! As mentioned in the supplies post, I do personally like to use an invisible zipper foot. However, many swear by using a regular zipper foot, and there are plenty […]
It’s finally time to really start sewing! We’re going to do steps 1-5, which will get us all the way to inserting the zipper. Seam Allowances First, please note that a 5/8″ seam allowance is included on all pattern pieces. The Princess Panels This blouse has midriff princess seams, meaning it’s broken up into six […]
It’s time to cut our fabric! I’m excited to be making my Rita from this tropical print rayon challis that is part of my new collection (coming out at Spotlight Stores next month!). Prepping to Cut First, a note on pre-washing: If you intend to wash your garment in the washing machine, it’s important to […]
Are you ready to get started on your Rita Blouse? One of the most important steps in making this blouse (or any pattern, for that matter) is analyzing your body measurements versus the Size Chart and the Finished Measurement Chart to make sure you choose a size you’ll be happy with. All the info you […]
Hi all! Are you ready to gather your supplies? Here’s what you’ll need. The Pattern First grab your pattern. Here’s a little video tour through the pattern envelope! If you ordered the PDF version, this info is all the first few pages of your file. (You can also find most of this information on the […]
Hello sewing friends, and welcome to my new blog! I’m thrilled that the very first thing I’ll be doing here is hosting a sew-along for my new Charm Patterns Rita Blouse. This is a perfectly vintage peasant blouse that pairs well with pants and skirts alike! I named it for Hollywood starlet Rita Moreno. She’s […]