If you've been paying attention to the theme choices the past few months, you'll have noticed we've been slowly building up your fall wardrobe. First dresses, jackets and trousers, and now blouses!
A good blouse can really make your outfit, but there are so many blouse patterns to choose from in the indie sewing world. We wanted to narrow it down to options with long sleeves (for the cooler weather) and some upscale details (for versatility). And we wanted them in gorgeous autumn colors to get you through the season and beyond!
These requirements led us to three fantastic patterns that will get you from work to the weekend, from mid-autumn strolls to Thanksgiving dinner. And for colors, we're exploring berry reds, dark blues, and golden yellow. Doesn't that just put you in a Fall mood??
So, without further ado, let's dig in!
Sew Essential Box: The Blouse from The Avid Seamstress
The Avid Seamstress is so good at creating simple, essential wardrobe pieces. In fact, the idea is in the very names they use. The Blazer. The Sheath. The Coat. And the pattern we've fallen for: The Blouse.
A classic design, this blouse features a button front, stand collar, and a loose, no-dart fit. The sleeves are slightly oversized and finished with an elastic cuff, making it ideal for beginners who are hesitant about sleeve plackets. The whole look is elegant and effortless, the blouse to tuck into jeans for a weekend errand or pair with a pencil skirt for an important work meeting. This blouse can do it all!
The simplicity of the blouse makes for an ideal canvas to show off your fabric, so we picked three that we thought would sing. That meant a bold color, a classic hue, and a playful neutral. So here they are!
- Red Clay Isla Meadow Rayon Lawn - There's a lovely prairie feel to this rayon lawn, one of our favorite substrates. The directional print features white, peach, gold, and orange flowers alongside foliage and hashmarks for a print that is all together unique and unexpected. The deep red background ties the whole thing together and gives the fabric a wintery feel, like cranberry sauce or Christmas holly. The fabric itself has a smooth, tightly woven hand and soft drape that will match this blouse perfectly. A great addition to your fall wardrobe!
- Nova Cotton Poplin - Sometimes you just want a crisp cotton blouse. It's a wardrobe staple and can be paired with jeans, skirts, and dress pants alike. This cotton poplin checks all our boxes - crisp drape, dry hand, deep color, and light weight - and we love it paired with the simple stand collar and button front of The Blouse. A gorgeous fabric!
- Ivory Laurel Leaf Rayon Challis - We really do love a rayon challis, especially ones with botanical prints. This cream and black challis evokes fall with laurel leaves and reaching branches, like a sepia toned line drawing. The fabric itself is light and soft, with a semi fluid drape that will accentuate the gathered sleeves and loose fit of this blouse. In colors that will pair with just about everything, you may have just met your new favorite blouse!
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Sew Select Box: Wren Blouse from Chalk and Notch
We're getting a little bold with our choice for the Sew Select Box because the Wren Blouse not only is a fabulous top, but it also comes with a dress version. And we're giving you enough fabric to make whichever one you choose!
Choosing may be difficult though as both options feature a button front and gorgeous statement sleeves that will transform your blouse into your favorite new make. Choose between puffed short sleeves, finished with an elastic hem, or a voluminous long sleeve that evokes a bishop sleeve with a wrist-defining cuff. No matter which you choose, we think you'll have the perfect blouse for your holiday party or a night out on the town.
Fabric-wise, we embraced color and pattern for this one. Gold, berry, and black are rich and saturated options, so your blouse will look lush and sophisticated. Let's take a look!
- Goldenrod Cotton Gingham - If you're feeling a little country-core, gingham is always a great option, and this golden version is delightful. The color is slightly muted since the base is undyed cotton, and that quality gives the fabric a lovely rustic feel. Contrast that with the silky hand of the fabric, like that of a cotton lawn, and you have a sweet, but not saccharine fabric that is just what your fall wardrobe needs!
- Mulberry Corsage Rayon Lawn - If you're looking to go a little zoological with your blouse, this is the fabric for you. A combination of delicate roses, slithering snakes, and a stray beetle, this print is a bit baroque, but perhaps all the more fun for it. The deep purple red of the fabric grounds the print with its richness, and the silky rayon keeps the blouse wearable and soft. A statement blouse if there ever was one!
- Black and Gray Twig Rayon Challis - Not quite a basic, this printed rayon challis is abstract and subtle. The gray twigs float on the black background creating a print that's not quite a floral, but that evokes barren winter days and the renewal that can follow. The fabric itself is silky and soft, eminently light and drapey. Whether you make the dress of the blouse, it will show off the sleeves and shaping with style!
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Sew Indulgent Box: Regalia Blouse from Sew House Seven
There's a fabulous interplay going on with the Regalia Blouse, a contrast between a roomy bodice and tailored sleeves and collar, a contradiction between the high front neck and a keyhole opening in the back. It has vintage, almost Victorian vibes, but it feels fully modern and chic.
With multiple variations, you can customize the blouse to get the look you want. Choose between short or long sleeves, a long hem or a cropped style, a waist tie for definition or a untied, free-flowing look. Each variation still features a band collar, fitted yoke, and puffed shoulders (we're even providing tulle to really accentuate the look if you want). A wardrobe-maker in itself, we think you'll want/need this blouse in your closet!
Because of the vintage styling of this blouse, we were drawn to classic patterns (floral, dots, and gingham) as well as silky, drapey options that would show off the gathers of the blouse. We also found a wonderful double gauze that will allow to you color block if you so choose. So dig in!
- Steel Blue Floral Viscose Satin - The steel blue of this fabric is icy and cool, a muted tone well suited for the colder fall and winter weather. Pair that with the tone on tone vintage floral pattern, and you have one stunning fabric. A combination of viscose and rayon, it is designed to feel and look like silk, but without the dry clean only upkeep (because who needs that?) Paired with the Victorian feel of the Regalia, and you have a perfect match!
- Ochre Dotted Viscose Dobby - At first glance, this fabric looks like hammered silk. The small dots, created in the dobby weave, create a tone-on-tone speckled look that is extremely subtle but will makes the blouse look shimmery and complex. Silky soft from the viscose content, your Regalia will feel amazing to wear, from a chic party to a Saturday morning stroll.
- Dahlia Gingham Double Gauze - A true double gauze, this fabric has two opposite faces, one with a 1/2" check, the other with a 1/4" gingham print. This offers an amazing opportunity to mix and match complementary patterns, (perhaps on the yoke or collar of the blouse?). The gauze itself is light and soft, making it ideal for fall weather which can change day to day. In a lovely berry red, this top will get so much wear!
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While our new boxes explore office-friendly blouses, our Tried and True boxes are going more rustic. We're reviving the Chore Coats from a few winters ago, and they are ready to help you dress for work of a different kind. Designed for making, creating, and exploring, these boxes will help you create the utilitarian jacket of your dreams. Exciting stuff!
Until next time. . .
Happy sewing!
-Mary
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