Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Sheerly Summer

My stashbusting efforts have now taken on new priority. With only seven months left before our wedding, I'm determined to "slim down" my fabric stash -- not your typical pre-wedding diet, I know! *wink* And we sold our house last Saturday. Just like that. It's been "for sale" on and off for several years, but two weeks ago a couple came to look at it, and a week later they made an offer! If it goes through, we'll be moving closer to town, and probably to a smaller home -- which means downsizing for all of us!

Anyway, I'm rambling now -- this is really a post about my most recent stashbust, using a piece of gorgeous embroidered cotton voile that I purchased at Denver Fabrics last summer. I LOVED Denver Fabrics (no longer affiliated with the website of the same name), and got some absolute steals there!



I'm in dire need of some new summer clothes, so I pulled out my trusty Simplicity 4499 (some of you who read my blog regularly are already laughing...) and got to work.



I used the oh-so-easy-to-sew pleated short sleeve from the pattern, since I wanted this to be quick and simple. Plus, I love that sleeve! It's so comfortable! I did cut off a few inches from the center front so that the blouse wouldn't overlap (it needs an undershirt anyway), and also improvised a simple tied belt from the scrap of fabric I had left over. Oh, and I borrowed anoher pattern's collar to improvise a mandarin collar -- I love mandarin collars, but hardly ever use them!



2009 just may turn out to be "The Summer of the Stashbust!"

5 comments:

  1. Very nice, Shannon! And thanks to you, that is my favorite blouse pattern now too. =)

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  2. Tee hee hee... The big 4499 comes out to play. When I bought the pattern, I also bought sheer navy material for it. Maybe that will be my next project after this inspiring new blouse!
    It's too bad the pattern is out of print- you could have made a deal with Simplicity for some commission!

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  3. I hope you keep blogging about your life and sewing projects even after you are married!

    www.xanga.com/happymom4

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  4. Busy year for you all!

    The blouse is simply lovely. I happen to have some of that same voile in green, black, and teal (local shop's end-of-season sale!), and I now want to make a nice summer blouse of one of the lengths! All of your projects are so inspirational!

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  5. Shannon, you really inspired me with all of your 4499 blouses! I got the pattern and I'm planning to try it out soon. As I'm currently 7 months pregnant I'll have to do a little guessing about how the shirt will fit post-baby, but I think if I just make the same alterations I usually do on every pattern it will fit fine.

    Your new blouse looks very pretty! :)

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