It’s true. I’m a Sewaholic sewaholic.
Sewaholic Alma – view A
I’ve made Alma and I love it. This is a seriously easy, sweet little blouse.
I’m no slouch in the sewing production line, but even I was amazed at how quickly this came together. I cut out one night and started sewing and finished the next. And neither session was a marathon effort. This included me adding some small ‘SewBusyLizzy finishing touches’.
After making Thurlow and Minoru which were cutting and stitching epics, this blouse was a breeze. Not too many pieces and very simple to put together. No naughty words were used in the making of this blouse.
I love the fact there are no buttons. I can feel overwhelmed by detail and pattern so this pattern offers a great compromise when paired with a busy print.
The drunk monkey came out to play during my top stitching. So I gave him a biscuit and put him to sleep in the corner while I unpicked it and fixed it up.
I decided to try a new way to finish the edges of my iron-on interfacing. I read about it on the Slapdash Sewist – who credited Sunny Girl. I put the facing and interfacing pieces right side together. Made a tiny seam along the edge. Turned the pieces right side out and then ironed the interfacing to the facing. I’m in love with this tricky little technique and will be using it in the future.
Sewaholic Alma – neat front facing. So much nicer looking than any other method I’ve seen!
Sewaholic Alma – neat back facing
I made size 0 based on the finished measurements as I didn’t want it too ‘blousy’.
I used a 25cm zip. When I started to sew in the 30cm invisible zipper I realised there was going to be hardly any seam left at the bottom and I would need to chop off some zipper. So I stopped and used a smaller zip. A 25cm zip was perfect.
I French seamed the shoulders and the zipper-less side. I also hand stitched the armhole binding down.
Sewaholic Alma – French seams
When I tried it on I was a bit freaked out by the sleeves. I’m not particularly good at girly girly stuff (after all one of my all-time favorite prints is camouflage, yes really). On my scrawny arms they were a bit twee and not so squee for me. I decided to make a little inverted pleat at the centre edge of each sleeve. Me likely.
Sewaholic Alma – a little tuck in the cap sleeves
I like everything about this blouse… the pattern, the fabric and the finish. A little moment of joy 🙂
I feel there will be many more Almas to come. I love the long sleeve one…
Check out Sewaholic’s blog for links to the other great Almas by Marie, Karen, Debbie and Lauren.
Sewaholic Alma – view A
Fabric: cotton voile
Pattern : Sewaholic Alma from Sew Squirrel.
Coming up… a mad little t-shirt made from a brand new pattern…
Sew Busy Lizzy 
That looks stunning on you! I love the material and the shape just suits you perfectly! I love that trick with the interfacing, I’ve used it before as well and it leaves such a neat edge.
Thanks so much Suzy. I adore this fabric, it’s been sitting in the stash waiting for the perfect pattern. And I’ve got some more too! So it will appear again at some point 🙂
OMG, Lizzy, I wish we could hang out in real life, because man, I love everything you make! The print is great, and I love the fit! (Though reading your post did remind me that there is a zipper in this blouse – Probably good to be reminded of that before I actually start sewing mine!)
I’m fascinated that the sleeves don’t work for you, but I love them so much! I wonder if it’s a grading thing? Something about the ratio/proportion of fit on a size 0 instead of a size 14? We *are* are quite opposite ends of the pattern… Mind you, I haven’t tried it with the actual Alma armscye, so maybe that will change things! I did find that it was a bit hard to make it work well with the Peony armscye today. (Really, I should stop being lazy and trying to insert different sleeves without changing the arm curve! :P)
Moral of this rambling story? Love your blouse, and I’m off to finish cutting mine right now!
LOL I wish I could meet you as well. but at least we can hang out virtually! 🙂
Thank you so much, I think the fabric suits this one perfectly. I’m a bit obsessive about the fabric and the pattern ‘working’ well together.
The sleeve ends doesn’t go all the way to the side seam on View A so that might be the difference?? Although my upper arms are rather scrawny.
Fear not, the zipper was very easy – much quicker than buttonholes!!
Yeah, I found the sleeves worked best when there was quite a lot of gathering and consequently quite a large gap under the arm. I like that it’s not obvious when the garments on that the sleeve is only partial… All the cap sleeve effect but nice and breezy for hot weather too!
Great blouse! I just got this pattern in the mail, hopefully it’ll enter my queue soon. I’m also a little trepidatious about the sleeves, so thanks for the great tip about the save with the pleat! I might have to steal that…
Steal away! I’m not a big fan of sleeves that poke out too much. With the little tuck you can still have the cute puffed cap sleeves without too much ‘sticking out’.
That’s brilliant! I love what you did with the sleeves. The sleeves are what has kept me from buying this pattern. I hate cap sleeves. I’m with you, they are too, too twee. Great blouse!
Thanks, I think the tucks eliminate any excessive twee it’s a nice little pattern I’d highly recommend it, cap sleeves and all!
Very flattering! I love what you did to the sleeves, and the print is perfect in this style.
I love this print it reminds me of waterlilies and Monet! Thank you.
Yes, those sleeves are too cute! I need to try that interfacing finish, thanks for sharing this!
It’s such a clever way to deal with interfacing – not to mention it saves thread!!
Is there an award for fastest sewing? Do you have ANY unfinished objects???
LOL I’m the type that can’t stop once I start, relentless!
I do have three quilts in various stages of completion – one has been half quilted for 7 years!!
Thank goodness! Is it hand quilted or machine?
Hand – hence the delay. I never machine quilt, that’s something I’m prepared to pay for 🙂
I like hand quilting in small doses…especially is winter. It’s a good excuse to curl up under a blanket really
Looks great!! Comfortable?
Super comfortable, it’s quite loose through the body and the armholes are generous. The belt gives it some shape.
Lovely!! Print is also awesome.My first visit to your blog from pattern review. I love the dress you are wearing in the photo of your blog title 🙂 If you have time do visit me on my blog.
Hello 🙂 thanks for dropping in – and that’s a Sewaholic Cambie in my blog header (I’ve made three of those!).
It’s a lovely looking blouse and I’m sure it will be perfect for the coming summer. I don’t see any evidence of drunken money stuff, so my feeling is that perhaps you’re far too tough on yourself in the first place. 🙂
I am my toughest judge. However the drunk monkey’s work was unpicked and I fixed it up. That monkey really needs to learn his place in life – and it’s not at my sewing machine.
That is sooooo beautiful. I love the interfacing/facing tip. I’d never heard of the drink monkey before!
The drunk monkey often comes to visit my sewing room, leaving wonky top stitching in his wake. Dreadful little beast!
I’ve never done the interfacing that way but I’m sure it’s going to become a favourite method.
What a lovely shape you are, it’s a really pretty blouse! I’m certainly going to try that facing tip, it looks so neat. I can’t keep up with your amazing sewing ventures, is there any way you could slow down a bit and let us all catch up?! x
I’m away this weekend for my brother’s birthday – however I did stop at a fabric shop & pick up some fabric for my next project!
It seems to have been quite prophetic naming my blog SewBusyLizzy, I never imagined I would be quite this busy.
I have been considering taking on a major project to slow me down!
looks great! I wasn’t too sure about the pattern, but as I see your version, I might be tempted 🙂
To be honest I wasn’t too inspired but I started to see how it might work and suit me in various ways. In the end i always fall for Sewaholic. I love that it’s shaped yet so simple. Thank you.
Ooooh, I love this version! Your print is gorgeous, the detail is perfect and I love how fitted it is on you. Oh, and thanks for the mention ;o)
Thanks Marie. I love linking to other blogs, I think it’s lovely being part of something bigger than just my little corner of the world. I can’t wait to try Views B & C now 🙂
What a beautiful top, Lizzie. Sewaholic should feature you on a regular basis!
Thanks 🙂 There is something about Sewaholic patterns that I just love. Kismet sewing!
Hi! I’m new on PR. I love your Alma! So sweet and very flattering! I can’t wait to try a Sewaholic pattern. Have several on my wishlist. I love the interfacing tip!! That is fantastic! I just finished a nightgown and it was such a hassle getting the edges of the interfaced, curved fabric neatly turned under. I’m really excited to know there is a better way for next time.
Hi there! Sewaholic are great patterns, if you surf around my blog you will find I’ve made Cambie, Minoru, Thurlow & Renfrew as well. I’ve loved them all!
Gorgeous blouse! I really love the way the inverted pleat changed the shape of the sleeve. That was a nice fix.
Thank you 🙂 I was pretty happy that a few stitches took it from twee to squee too!
I’m pretty sure you could look super in a paper bag..that’s not a challenge because I’m sure you’d sew that up lickity-spilt. You’ve done such a tidy job, perfection inside and out.
LOL that really made me giggle.
That fabric is awesome. And you’ve done a great job!
Thank you!
Absolutely love the fit and the fabric. It looks the business!
Thanks!
I wasn’t impressed with the pattern until I saw your finished version. It is lovely. I may just have ton invest in this one!
Thank you very much! It’s hard to resist a good summer blouse, this one really appealed to me as it’s loose through the body which is great on a sticky, humid summer’s day… not to mention you can eat as much lunch as you like!
I bought this pattern and yours looks great so I can’t wait to try it. You are super fast at getting things sewn up!!! The fabric is gorgeous…. and it looks great with jeans but I can imagine it’ll be gorgeous with skirts too. I think I might do the peter pan collar version first… and thanks for the tip with the interfacing 🙂
I love the fact this shirt has such a lovely shape without having lots of pieces or seam lines to achieve it. Plus there is plenty of wiggle room to enjoy during our hot humid summers 🙂 I hope you enjoy making it as much as I did, looking forward to seeing the Peter Pan version!
This is so cute! And you are rocking the jeans! Thanks for the interfacing tip. I’ll definitely give it a try.
Doing the interfacing that way definitely neatens up the inside of any project – thanks!
Looks beautiful. I particularly love the print. The facing finish is amazing!
I went a bit nuts when I found this print… it will pop up again… 😉
I love this fabric so much it was tough to cut into. Fortunately the fabric stash has some more waiting…
I have been ogling the Alma blouse for a while – you might just have given me the final push I needed 😀 And I love the interfacing trick, that will find it’s way into my repertoire.
I can’t believe we aren’t all taught to do interfacing that way right from the beginning. It is the best way to do it – even if you are lucky enough to have an overlocker/serger, it’s so neat. Enjoy your Alma blouse pattern!
Gorgeous! I love that fabulous print you have chosen. Looks pretty and kinda sophisticated at the same time. You look fantastic!
Sorry; I hit publish before I had finished.. yes those 30m rolls of plastic tableclothing from Spotlight are absolutely terrific for tracing patterns. The second time I bought it I got the white, which is heaps heaps better for tracing than the red 😉
I am slightly concerned that the Spotlight staff think I’m stalking them. At least I’m not in the fabric department for a change. Thanks for the tip I can’t wait to try it.
I picked up this print at Spotlight. I bought 1.5m at full price. Then I found it on the bargain table – on half price bargain table day, I got several meters for just $2.50. Insane for the quality! And I’m so surprised it wasn’t more popular and sold out before it even got to the bargain table. Lucky me I guess…
this is so pretty! thanks for the facing tip! looks very clean and nice! 😀 My pattern just arrived! cant wait to try it! I love the print of your version and how you changed the sleeves!
Can’t wait to see yours now!
just saw the last line. brand new pattern? ooo i have an idea as i just stumbled upon something that will be brand new! Excited to see what it will be! so many nice new patterns out I am a bit overwhelmed. 😛
Really love your version…and that it pairs with jeans so nicely. Your finishing, facings and French seams will make it even more special to you…one of those super smug makes.
LOL when it comes to sewing, smug is good isn’t it? 🙂 *giggle*
just found your blog and love it instantly ! i love to knit and have recently taken up sewing but it has taken a back seat as life has got in the way with post graduate exams etc. Thank you for reminding me to keep true to myself – always. Please check out my blog on something a bit different (healthy eating) love from London UK Grace xxx http://www.goodphat.wordpress.com
Thank you – with all the studying don’t forget to have fun and take time to create things that make you happy
Your version is so stunning! I just bought this pattern yesterday, and I hope mine comes out as lovely as yours – the fabric is just so vibrant and fantastic!
Awwwe thanks Meg! It’s such a lovely pattern Alma, this was like a blissful marriage of pattern and fabric.
Just between you and me I’ve got 4m of this fabric – I fell in love – just need to decide what other pattern is ‘worthy’ of it. LOL.
Stupid question I have here (I’m not sure what is considered the “right” side of the fusible interfacing), but once you iron it, the interfacing is fused to the facing, and not to the inside of the blouse, correct? – P.S. I keep getting “error” messages, so I’m sorry if this posts more than once, I keep trying to get it to post.
Not a silly question… Yes. You put the non-sticky side of the interfacing on the right side of the fabric facing. You stitch around the outer edge. Then you turn the pieces so the sticky side of the interfacing is then on the wrong side of the fabric facing and iron. Does that make sense?
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That fabric is amazing. You did an excellent job, the fit is perfect and it looks really good on you. It’s really flattering and you can tell how well sewn it is. The french seams and everything look impeccable. Great job!
Thank you! That’s lovely feedback, I love that little top it’s one of my favourites!
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