summertime and the sewing is easy

I visited my very good friend and former team-teacher, Alex, today.
She asked me what was the most fun thing I’ve worked on since quitting teaching.

The most fun thing?
Hm…that’s a head-scratcher,
because I’m enjoying all of it.

But if I must give an answer…

Since I left teaching,
all of my sewing has been related to the following:

1. Homework for New York Fashion Academy
2. Alterations and custom work for clients

Which means, no new clothing for poor little me all summer!
I can’t complain–I do NOT need more clothes, I can barely fit them in my closet already.
But there’s such a sense of fulfillment and pride when you finish a garment
and then wear it out the door.

So I suppose that makes this peasant blouse THE MOST FUN THING I’VE SEWN THIS SUMMER!

It’s also fun to wear, because I modified it ingeniously to have adjustable waistband and adjustable sleeves.

The sleeves can be gathered like puffy Snow-White sleeves,
which makes the top more snug and warm,
or let loose for a more 70’s boho look
and a nice breeze that goes right through.

I put the blouse to the test a couple weeks ago and wore it on
one of the hottest weeks like ever in Seattle’s history.
We walked to a comedy open-mic on Capitol Hill
and I let out the sleeves for a breeze,
then after the show we walked through the chiller night air
and I gathered the sleeves in.
Worked like a charm.

In this prototype, I made thin strips of remnant fabric into the drawstrings,
but ribbons would also be super cute.

You can see more photos of the construction process on CUP & PENNY’s Instagram.

Fabric: Moda, lightweight, purchased from Dry Goods Design in Pioneer Square.
After working with bemberg rayon the past couple weeks (slippery as a fish!) this cotton was so nice to work with.
Pattern: Martha Stewart, with my own waistband and sleeve drawstring variations
(I added a half-inch seam allowance for the drawstring tubing)
Photo shoot location: Olympic Sculpture Park
Photographer: My lovely husband who put up with a cranky model