The blouse!
My lovely husband gifted me the Breaking the Pattern Book by Named for my birthday in January. (Definitely a keeper, right?!) As I flipped through it with a giant grin plastered across my face I knew the Sade Blouse was the project I wanted to make first.
It reminded me of a top I’d borrowed from a friend when I lived in Japan last time as a university student. I wore it to a little French restaurant and the slits in the sleeves had me feeling the best combination of sexy and sophisticated!
And this blouse, in this print, has me feeling the same way but with an added splash of fun!
See.. it has me feeling like this!
And as happy as this!
The fabric!
This Dogulee print by Mannine had been sitting in my stash for two years! It was the first indie designer fabric that I ever bought. A friend had tipped me off to an indie fabric fair here in Tokyo so I strapped my 8 month old into the carrier, left my eldest with his dad for the day and dove into the world of Japanese indie textiles.
As I wandered the stalls the Dogulee print caught my attention instantly. I’d never seen a design like it. I got talking to the designer, Manri Kishimoto, and I heard about the research she puts into her the concepts for her design lines, and how she uses that as a launch point for her creativity to take over, she draws the quirky characters and their back stories take shape.
I walked away from her stall but was drawn back and purchased this piece of her art. And I’m so glad I did because it worked its way, not just into my stash, but into my soul. It was what lead me to start my online fabric store. I saw what a unique piece it was and wanted to support artists like Manri to share their work with sewists all over the world. Mannine was the first design house that I signed.
Working with this fabric for this blouse was the perfect match. It has a subtle sheen and is lovely and drapey – check out those sleeves! The wrong side is slightly textured so it wasn’t slippery to work with, bonus!
Dogulee in grey isn’t in print anymore. I now stock this vibrant red. And the dress I have in this fabric – another fave! Throw it on and I’m instantly ready, feeling put together with a dash of playfulness.
The details!
The peek-a-boo sleeves are the hero of this garment. So simple and just the right amount of fun!
But the back of this garment has definitely not been neglected, the vent at the back adds interest and movement.
The original pattern calls for ties at the sleeves and bottom hem. I swapped the sleeve ties out for elastic as I thought here was enough going on between the print and the other details. I also left off the bottom tie as it would have brought the top up just a little too high on me.
I’ll be making it again, longer next time and will add a tie on the bottom for sure!
Party in the back!
The result..
I love it. Dress it up with heels to a little french restaurant or throw it on with jeans and it will take me anywhere! Let’s go!!
Let’s connect! Sign up to my newsletter and receive a 15% discount off your first purchase:
