Simplicity 3364: Blue Springtime Blouse

Here's a gem of blouse. Made from vintage fabric and a 1940 pattern.

Instead of my usual 1940 McCall pattern, I broke out and tried a McCall competitor from the same year. Enter Simplicity 3365 also from the year 1940. It's a very interesting design. If you look closely the short sleeve blouse has these interesting tucks on the sleeve which give a great puffed shape. There's an overlapped seam onto gathers with a button down front bodice.

I've had this vintage fabric in my stash for quite some time. It's a cold rayon and absolutely gorgeous. I don't remember where I got it from but I do remember wanting to make it into a dress and I was preparing to cut out, I noticed that there were several stains on the fabric and right in the middle! So I turned to thinking about using the non-damaged parts of the fabric to make a blouse!

And I'm so glad I did! It's such a pretty blue and I love the pattern and feel of the crepe fabric.

It goes absolutely perfectly with my 1940 McCall suit make--which is probably one of my favourite makes in my wardrobe.  So now I can say this entire outfit is made from patterns from the year 1940!

Overall, the blouse itself was straightforward to make. The sleeves were a bit interesting as I had never done tucks before like that on the sleeves. And I must say they are a bit tricky to iron.

I wish I had taken more progress photos to show you but I was just so enamoured by the fabric and the pattern that I totally forgot!

I found some small buttons that are blue on the outside and white in the middle as I really struggled with buttons that wouldn't distract from the print. Hopefully I found some that blend in well! I like them!

It's funny because I would say that I make 80% dresses and then 20% other things--as I tend to not wear a lot of separates. But I forget how nice making blouses and skirts can be! Maybe I should try making some more for a more mix n' match wardrobe! What about you? What do you mostly sew?

Ph: top by Sally Sparrow Photography, bottom by Tigz Rice
MUAH: top by Bethany Jane Davies and bottom by Miss Honey Bare
shoes: Bait Footwear

1950s Spanish Rose Outfit

ooohhh...So excited for this ensemble. Living out my Spanish Rose and Carmen vibes and being the closest possible representation of my favourite emoji 💃🏻

I used McCall's pattern 8947. It's an absolutely delicious pattern for all the details it includes.  The pattern has options for a skirt, halter top, shorts and bolero.

I made the bolero, halter top and skirt.  I found this absolutely AMAZING Mexican/Spanish print. It's a bright red with gorgeous flowers and horizontal stripes.  I almost always start with the fabric before I pick the pattern and this fabric told me it wanted to be made into a fabulous circle skirt--that's when I matched it up to the McCall's pattern.

I made the skirt first about 8 years ago. I wore it quite a bit always with a fab red petticoat.  The photo above is from the Day of the Dead two years ago where I thought this skirt was perfect for that!

It took me ages to finish the halter top. I don't know why it sat in my unfinished projects pile for so long. I think it was because I had cut out the fabric in a light blue to match the small amount of light blue in the skirt fabric. And then I had a moment of indecision. What right blue the right colour? Would it clash? And there it sat until I picked it back up recently.

Sewing the halter top was very straight forward. It has some amazing waist dart shaping and a pointed bottom--so it looks like a waistcoat. I also really love that the halter top has an area for the contrast fabric around the collar (it's not a proper collar but more like a trim).  I also used some great vintage buttons I had in my stash on the blouse.

The flatlay photo really shows the shape of the bolero --which I am absolutely in love with. It's brilliantly drafted.  It's one pattern piece and it covers the shoulders and buttons at the neck. It goes perfectly with the shape of the halter. I just love this pattern piece so much.

I was saving up this outfit for a special location. I had a work trip to Mexico and thought that would be the perfect chance--but I didn't actually have any free time to take photos on that trip. So a couple of months later I had the opportunity to go to Spain for a long weekend and it was just perfect. 

This outfit really suits the Spanish Old Town and makes me feel like a Spanish Rose :).

I accessorised with some great hair flowers that I got from Auntie Beanie. They match perfectly.

And of course, I have matching stockings in red from What Kati Did. I do love my colour seamed stockings :) And decided to do yellow shoes with the outfit (so much colour going on! lol) and just love how it looks with these ones that I got from Bait Footwear.

These amazing photos from Spain were taken by Heather (@thatphotofilmgirl on instagram) and my hair was styled by my lovely friend Eva (@evka.allen).

This outfit can also have great Carmen vibes like in the photo above from Veronika Marx!  Most of all, it's fun to twirl with that massive skirt and petticoat!!  I got the petticoat from Vivian of Holloway.

I'm so glad I stuck with the colour combo--I now love it and can't imagine it any other way!  I also really love the pattern and could see having some fun with it in gingham and other fabrics.

What about you? Do you like the Spanish/Mexican fabric prints/styles?