Sew Along #6 - Class Picnic Blouse + Shorts - Lesson #4: Finishing your Blouse!!!

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.

 Did you read that?!?!?  Today we are going to FINISH this blouse.  That means that by the end of today's lesson you will have a completed garment to put on your darling girl and show off to the world.  Are you excited???  I'm excited, because I can't wait to see all of your finished blouses!
Let's get going...

Preparing the Sleeves for Hemming

1. Plug in that iron!
   
2. Take your slide ruler and fold your sleeve edge 1/2 inch to the wrong side.
   
   
   
   
3. Press well.
   
4. Now fold that folded edge up 1.5 inches.
   
5. Press well.
   
6. Repeat for the other side.

*If you want to adjust the length of your sleeve, or embellish the sleeve, this is the time to do it.

Sewing the Side Seams

1. Lay your blouse inside out on your work space so it looks like a blouse.
   
   
2. Pin the side seam and sleeve seam from the bottom edge to the end of the sleeve (unfold your pressed hem so you sew the entire length). *Make sure to align the sleeve seems so they match.
   
   
3. Sew with 1/2 inch seam allowance from top to bottom then finish the seam allowance with a serger or zig zag stitch so that the ends will not fray. (*Stop finishing 1/2 inch from the edges to reduce bulk in the hem.)
   
   
   
   
4. Repeat on the other side.

Hemming

1. Refold your sleeve hem. (Press again for a crisp edge.)
   
   
   
   
2. Edge stitch along the inside of the sleeve.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Repeat on the other side.
   
   
   
   
4. Press the bottom hem the same way you did the sleeves.  Press 1/2 inch up towards the wrong side.
   
   
   
   Then 1.5 inches up.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Edge stitch along the inside of the hem. (You could also do a blind hem stitch on your machine or a hand sewn blind hem.)
   

So close to the finish line now....

Finishing the Neckline 

1. Take your 1/4 inch elastic and cut the length described in the instructions. (found on Instructions: Page 8, right hand column) 
   
   
   
   
2. Pin a safety pin through one end.
   
   
   
3. Thread the pin through the shoulder casing. (Make sure to pin the free end to the garment so that it can not pull through.)
   
   
   
4. Place the garment on your child to adjust the fit of the elastic, then pin in place.
   
5. Stitch down each end of the casing 1/8 from the edge.
   
6. Trim the edges of your elastic. (To make them invisible, follow the tip in the instructions!)

VOILA!!!  Done!  You made the Blouse.  GO do a happy dance, and then come back Monday so we can get started on the super amazing shorts!!!  And don't forget to add your images to the Facebook Album so that you can be entered to win a PRIZE: 2 yards of Kensington Fabric!
Suzanne