Good Morning, Sunshine!

I bought this fabric years ago. It was my very first voile purchase, back when spending over $8 a yard was obscene to me. $14 a yard was just INSANE to even think about, but I did it because the feel of this fabric was so much nicer than any quilting cotton I had ever touched. (I’m over that now, quality fabric is SO WORTH IT) I only bought one yard, and kind of thought I could make something for Millie with it. This was before I started sewing for myself. But then I got super selfish and decided that if I was going to spend that kind of money on fabric, I wasn’t going to sew something that would quickly be grown out of.. So I have hoarded it ever since.

I recently have realized HOW MUCH fabric I have laying around, and decided I really don’t want to buy any more until I at least pare my stash down a little bit. Problem is, I have TONS of cuts that are just one yard, and since I mainly sew dresses, I was at a loss as to what to make!

In steps the Datura Blouse by Deer and Doe! YAY something awesome that only takes one yard! This is opening a huge door of opportunity with my unused mass of textiles! Sleeveless blouses! DUH!

There are a couple different versions of the top yoke, but this cut out triangle version is the one that caught my eye the most. I’ve seen these around for a while now, but recently decided that I NEEDED one, lol!

I knew I had to to an FBA (full bust adjustment) even though it is a loose style. Since the top is split up with an upper part and a lower part, I taped them together where the seam allowances would have them be sewn, so I could work with it as one bodice, knowing the yoke would also have to be adjusted. After that, I just did the FBA like I always do, but then redrew the lines to make them straight again when I separated the top and bottom.

This top was pretty straight forward to put together. I used a blue cotton batiste as the lining for the yoke, I was pretty stoked to have had some that matched the blue of the main fabric so well! There really is a good thing about having lots of stuff laying around ;) It was a little tricky getting the bias tape around the triangle corners. You have to make up for the pull of wearing it a tiny bit so it doesn’t droop. I had to figure out how far away to space the triangle points, which was a little nail-biting, but I’m happy to say it all worked out perfectly!

The only thing I did differently was I added some fusible interfacing to the button plackets. I did NOT think this fabric could handle buttons and buttonholes without some sort of help! And I’m glad I did, even with the interfacing, the button holes wanted to pinch a little!

The buttons I used were some awesome delicate abalone shell ones I bought at M&J Trimmings ages ago and also hoarded because they were too pretty to put on a Millie dress (I know, I’m horrible and selfish lol) I didn’t get a detail shot of them, but they are oh so pretty. There is a beautiful etched design all around them. Too bad I can’t see them since they are on my back, HA!

Anywho, loose fitting blouses are a totally new thing for me to embrace. I’m usually really afraid that my big boobs will make the fabric droop out and make me look much bigger in the middle than I am, but I think flowy fabric can work for me with this look. Does it? You can be honest with me..  :) Either way, I’m excited to finally find a way to cut into my unused pile of 1 yard cuts!

By the way, these pics were taken at 7am during the sunrise.. Waking up early has it’s perks!