Caught the Sewing Bug

Louisa, the seamstress

Louisa just finished sewing her 9th peasant blouse! She even made one for her sister Emily for her July 5th birthday. Making peasant blouses has enabled Louisa to become very comfy with the sewing machine, and she is learning shortcuts too. She has made several sleeve variations and can slap the pattern on the fabric, weight it (rather than pin it) with whatever is handy (cup, trivet, can, notepad) and cut it out in no time at all. This is so fun to see her go . . . to see her sew!

I'm now having a creatively fun time sewing little summer dresses for my granddaughters. We found an easy pattern (Simplicity 5695) that has the same elastic neck and sleeves as a peasant blouse. This is quick to make and takes so little yardage that I am able to use the fabric I have on hand.

First I made Rachel Lily a "kitty-cat dress" with a head scarf and little purse. The dress pattern can be varied with a bottom ruffle, so I made that one for Rebekah. I left the elastic out of the sleeve to create a cool "fly-away" sleeve. Next, I am going to make another variation for Abbie.

Sewing is so artistic! It really is a satisfying to be able to create something useful at such a low cost.


Rachel Lily's kitty-cat dress











Rebekah's dress with cool "fly-away" sleeves

Peasant Blouse Mania

Louisa (13) has been sewing peasant blouses like crazy!

I love to sew! I want to teach my girls to love it, too, so we started with very simple projects when they were younger: pillowcases, a straight skirt with an elastic waist, and the like.

Now we are making peasant blouses which are super-easy, fun, and in fashion too! A peasant blouse has just 3 pattern pieces (front, back, and sleeve) and requires no facings, zipper, buttons, gathers, set-in sleeves or any other fancy sewing. It is feminine, cool and breezy—just perfect for summer.

Once Louisa got the hang of it, she started producing peasant blouses in an hour and with lots of enthusiasm! She is getting quite at-ease at the sewing machine too—just what I wanted. Since I have a too-big stash of fabric, and plenty of elastic and thread, these aren't costing us a penny, but they are greatly expanding Louisa's wardrobe. How fun!

Ammon calls them "pleasant blouses". And they really are!

Louisa (13) and Emily (19) sewed matching peasant blouses
(with different sleeve variations).