Q & A on Peasant Blouses/Dresses
Hello!
I am getting a lot of private email questions on how to make peasant blouses. I love to hear from you—but I am falling so far behind on replying! Please accept my apology for not writing everyone back. Maybe using the "comment" section to post questions would work best--then everyone can see the answers. Anyway, I'll answer the questions here and hopefully I'll cover everything.
Q-What type of fabric?
A-Cotton works great. 100% cotton for quilts works fine. If you use 100% cotton, it will have a slightly soft crumbly look (nice) to the fabric after it is washed (not the freshly-ironed look of synthetic blends), but it is very cool to wear. It helps to wash and dry 100% cotton before cutting it out, as it does shrink. You can also use polyester/cotton blend. Also rayon (which is nice and cool but wrinkles a lot). I wouldn't go with 100% polyester or nylon or any other synthetic since it is hot to wear and that defeats the purpose of a peasant blouse.
Q-What pattern did you use?
A- We just are using a very old pattern I had in my "sewing stash" since the '70's! I had sewn it as a teenager myself. Patterns are basically the same over the years—the human form doesn't really change even though fashion does. Since retro is back, I guess this '70's pattern is back too.
A great place to find cheap patterns is at thrift shops. Don't get distracted by the old fashioned drawings on the front, but just look at the shape of the clothes, you can get some wonderful patterns for almost nothing.
I looked through McCalls Easy Stitch 'n Save patterns, which cost about $2.99 and found this one: McCalls 5451. It has elastic around a high waist too, but your could leave that off. If the neck is too low, just add 2" more to the pattern all around the neck edge and the top of the sleeve (which is also a neck edge). It will work out fine. I think every pattern company has some version of the easy peasant blouse.
Q-What pattern did you use for the little girls' dresses?
A-Simplicity 5695
Q-How long does it take to sew a peasant blouse?
A-For a beginner, a couple of hours. Once you get the hang of it, about an hour, start to finish.
Q-How long does it take for a peasant-type dress, like you made for your granddaughters?
A-About the same as a peasant blouse.
Q-Are these in style?
A-I just went on a shopping trip, and peasant blouses were in every store, high priced, as well as lower priced. I was amazed at all the peasant blouses and dresses out there! This is the rage!
Q-I don't know how to sew. Can I do this?
A-It is pretty easy to follow the guidesheet enclosed with the pattern. This is definitely one of the easier sewing projects. Give it a try!
Best success sewing! I'd love to see a photo of your finished projects! And permission to post them?!
Thanks!
Diane
I am getting a lot of private email questions on how to make peasant blouses. I love to hear from you—but I am falling so far behind on replying! Please accept my apology for not writing everyone back. Maybe using the "comment" section to post questions would work best--then everyone can see the answers. Anyway, I'll answer the questions here and hopefully I'll cover everything.
Q-What type of fabric?
A-Cotton works great. 100% cotton for quilts works fine. If you use 100% cotton, it will have a slightly soft crumbly look (nice) to the fabric after it is washed (not the freshly-ironed look of synthetic blends), but it is very cool to wear. It helps to wash and dry 100% cotton before cutting it out, as it does shrink. You can also use polyester/cotton blend. Also rayon (which is nice and cool but wrinkles a lot). I wouldn't go with 100% polyester or nylon or any other synthetic since it is hot to wear and that defeats the purpose of a peasant blouse.
Q-What pattern did you use?
A- We just are using a very old pattern I had in my "sewing stash" since the '70's! I had sewn it as a teenager myself. Patterns are basically the same over the years—the human form doesn't really change even though fashion does. Since retro is back, I guess this '70's pattern is back too.
A great place to find cheap patterns is at thrift shops. Don't get distracted by the old fashioned drawings on the front, but just look at the shape of the clothes, you can get some wonderful patterns for almost nothing.
I looked through McCalls Easy Stitch 'n Save patterns, which cost about $2.99 and found this one: McCalls 5451. It has elastic around a high waist too, but your could leave that off. If the neck is too low, just add 2" more to the pattern all around the neck edge and the top of the sleeve (which is also a neck edge). It will work out fine. I think every pattern company has some version of the easy peasant blouse.
Q-What pattern did you use for the little girls' dresses?
A-Simplicity 5695
Q-How long does it take to sew a peasant blouse?
A-For a beginner, a couple of hours. Once you get the hang of it, about an hour, start to finish.
Q-How long does it take for a peasant-type dress, like you made for your granddaughters?
A-About the same as a peasant blouse.
Q-Are these in style?
A-I just went on a shopping trip, and peasant blouses were in every store, high priced, as well as lower priced. I was amazed at all the peasant blouses and dresses out there! This is the rage!
Q-I don't know how to sew. Can I do this?
A-It is pretty easy to follow the guidesheet enclosed with the pattern. This is definitely one of the easier sewing projects. Give it a try!
Best success sewing! I'd love to see a photo of your finished projects! And permission to post them?!
Thanks!
Diane
posted by Diane Hopkins @ Wednesday, July 08, 2009
1 Comments:
At August 6, 2009 at 8:22 PM ,
Unknown said...
Hi Diane! Can you share the pattern number/name from the 70's pattern that you're using? I found many vintage patterns on esty and wanted to see if it was available. Thanks!
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