Sew Along #6 - Class Picnic Blouse + Shorts - Lesson #3

The Class Picnic Blouse + Shorts by Oliver+S

* If you need to see more detail in any of the pictures please click on them to enlarge.

Welcome back, are you still 'oohing' and 'ahhhing' over your perfectly finished yoke???  Well, take a break for a few minutes because we are going to make this thing look a lot closer to an actual blouse today!  We have broken this pattern into smaller pieces so that you can really take the time to work for precision - I promise, it is totally worth it ;o)

Attaching the Sleeves

1. Lay the Front of your blouse on your work station (the front yoke is slightly shorter than the back!)
   
   
   
2. Take one of your sleeves and mark 1/2 inch down from the top on both curves (1 notch marks front, and 2 notches marks back)
   
   
   
   
3. Line the mark up with the top of your yoke (RST) and pin the curve in place (the curve will become your arm hole). You can see that the top of your sleeve extends 1/2 inch above your yoke.
   
   
   
4. Sew with a 1/2 inch seam allowance
   
   
   
5. Repeat with the other sleeve
   
6. Trim your seam allowance on both sleeves to 3/8 and finish the edges (you can serge or finish the raw edge with a zig zag stitch so that the edges wont fray)
   
   
   
   
7. Press the seam allowance towards the sleeve
   
   
   
   
8. Lay your blouse out right side up
   
9. Lay your back yoke right side down and pin the sleeves to the curve starting at the marking.
   

   

   *make sure your sleeve is extending 1/2 inch past the finished edge of the yoke!

10. Repeat steps 4-7 on the back.

Starting to look a little more like a shirt, right!

Finishing the Neckline

1. Lay out your bias cut neck trim pieces (yep, those little rectangles that you cut on the diagonal)
   
   
   
   
2. Press one long edge up a 1/2 inch (this is a great place to use your little ruler)
   
   
   
   
3. Trim that pressed 1/2 inch to 1/4
   
   
   
   
4. Pin the unfolded edge to the top of your sleeve RST *Make sure you have at least 1/2 inch of overhand on each side!!!

   

   
   you can see that I have left 1/2 inch overhang on the right side and all the remaining overhang on the left- this means I will only have to trim one side.
   
   

5. Stitch your trim in place from edge to edge making sure you stay in line with the finished edge of the yoke.
   
   
   
   
6. Trim your seam allowance to 1/4 and press towards the trim
   
   
   
7. Understitch your seam by edgestitching your seam allowance to the bias trim
   
   
   
8. Trim your bias so it extends only 1/2 inch past your yoke edges.
   
   
   
9. Turn the edges in toward the wrong side so it is flush along the sleeve seams.
   
   
   
10. Turn the bias to the inside and press a crisp top edge, pin in place
    
    
    
11. Stitch along the inside folded edge (this will create the casing for your elastic to run through - but we'll do the elastic tomorrow!)
    
    
    
12. REPEAT ON THE OTHER SIDE

That is it for today - see you are doing great!!!  Have any questions about today's section???  Leave a comment here, or in the Facebook group and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!  And don't forget to upload today's accomplishments to the album to be eligible for an awesome PRIZE: Your choice of two short sleeved ruffled tees - what a great staple for any little girl!!!

Suzanne