Sure-fit Designs Really DOES Fit! -- 2 New Blouses

Honestly.  I cannot rave enough about Sure-fit Designs (SFD).  (Note to Glenda: I can't get the "TM" to work in Blogger.  Sorry.)

Not only is it fun to draw out the patterns, the fit is amazing even if you don't know all the tweaking your body requires.  By "tweaking" -- in my case -- I mean:

Forward Shoulders
High Round Back
One Hip Higher
One Shoulder Higher
Sway Back

Even if I did NOT do all those extra adjustments in the paper pattern, the fit would be way better than any commercial pattern provides. 

I have spent two months trying to perfect the fit of Louise Cutting's patterns.  I am having to make 3 or 4 muslins before I am happy with the fit.  And, YES, I am VERY picky about the fit.  What bugs me the MOST about most of the garments I used to make -- before SFD -- is the blouses would always pull to the back.  I would pull the blouse forward over and over and over and over  -- allllllllllllll daaaaay loooooong -- until my neck was red and sore.  This happens worse than ever with Louise's patterns. 

So, after much frustration, and leaving Muslin #3 at my other house, I pulled out my TNT (Tried And True) SFD patterns. 

First:  I decided to make my SFD "Shawl Collar Blouse".  I made it entirely in just one day.  At first, I thought I hated it because it didn't look good on me.  AND, I had clipped the collar seam a bit too deep and made a hole in the collar.  I ALMOST threw the whole thing away because of that.  Instead, I patched the hole as best I could.  Then I took it downstairs and threw it in the washing machine and let it just sit for two days.  I thought I might give it to Phylly because she isn't nearly as picky as I am.  It had a big enough boob dart in it for Dolly, so I knew it would fit her.  Even though she is shorter than I am, we have the same measurements.

Yesterday, I realized I had enough fabric left to make a sleeveless blouse.  I pulled out my SFD pattern that I call the "Yoke Blouse" that has a gathered yoke at the top of the front.  I made it entirely yesterday.  When I finished it and tried it on, I thought it looked really good on me.  How could the exact same print I hated two days earlier suddenly look good????  Who knows.  Anyway, I took the Yoke Blouse and threw it in the washer with the Shawl Collar Blouse. 

This morning, I retrieved both blouses from the dryer and brought them upstairs for a final press and try-on for pictures. 

This is the SFD Shawl Collar Blouse:

Here is the front of the blouse. 

Can you see the tear in the collar?  I doubt it.  It looked like a gigantic flaw to me the other day when I made it.

Here is the back.  No mistakes here.  GREAT fit!  I did narrow the bottom of the sleeves as I saw Peggy Sagers do in her latest video.  Not so flag-like now.

And my WONDERFUL husband happened to show up just as I set up the tripod.  You can see how well-trained he is now.  He and Phylly both just automatically pose for me.  WHY, OH, WHY can't I get my kids to operate like that???

I think this blouse is even prettier with his arm around it!

And here is a side view.

The front is down where it belongs.  I didn't have to keep adding to the length to get it to be the same as the back.

Notice that there is no bust dart on the side.  Look up at the first picture, and you will see it.

It starts at the shoulder seam and comes down.  LOVE THAT!  Glenda shows how to do all of this in the book that comes with the Dress Kit -- or is it the Shirt Kit. 

Get them both! 

So that is the Shawl Collar blouse that I was going to throw away or give to Phylly.  NOW, I love it!  I must admit, however, that happens a lot when I make something.  It ALWAYS looks better several days later.



And, now for the other blouse made out of the same fabric. 

This is the sleeveless SFD Yoke Blouse:

I did make the second blouse a little longer than the first one.  It started out longer than this, but I just could not stand it.  Sorry.  I know there is at least one lady out there that thinks my blouses are all too short.  I think I like mine short enough that I can easily get my hands in and out of the pockets.  Whenever I am out, I leave my purse in the trunk of my car, and I load up all my pockets.  One has my tiny credit card wallet -- one has my cell phone -- one has my keys -- one has Kleenex.  NO WONDER my pants won't stay up!

I almost forgot to show you this one.  It shows where I cut the collar on the first blouse, and then fixed it.  Would this bother you???  Would you see it if you were talking to me at the fabric store?

I KNOW what you think, Phylly! 

I want to know what NORMAL people think? 

Okay.  I better quit before I get myself in trouble.  This sewing room looks like a tornado went through it dragging a thread factory behind it.  Jerry is working, of course, in his office just below me, so I have to be kind of quiet.

Hope you all are well and having a MARVELOUS weekend.  I am LOVING the sunshine, but missing Phylly.  I don't understand why Jerry doesn't think it would be great fun to come up here and sew with me all day long.  Phylly LOVES to do it, and so do I.  Men!

Hugs, Joy