More summer shirts – the Hey June Biscayne blouse

This is another top that I knew would work perfectly with my favourite Ultimate Trousers. But I thought I would make it a bit more challenging!

I first saw the Biscayne blouse from Hey June at Flossie Teacakes a few weeks ago and decided it would be a perfect summer top.At the same time I came across this lightweight polyester fabric in the remnants at Abakhan. I assume it is a crepe as it has a slightly textured finish? I have had a few bad experiences when sewing with polyester fabrics so I normally steer clear, but I really liked the drape and the pale grey polka dot pattern and I thought it would be lovely for this pattern.The Biscayne has lots of details which make it quite an intricate project – there is a neck placket with hidden buttonholes, self-made bias and a welt pocket (which I omitted because I am a coward!).

I cut a size medium for the bust and shoulders and graded out to an XL at the hip. I ended up taking in the side seams about an inch under the arms reducing to about half an inch at waist level and nothing at the hip.Having my first attempt at a placket in such a slippery fabric was definitely  a challenge! I pinned everything like crazy, sewed verrryyy slowly and used a frixion pen to draw all the lines onto the placket piece as a sewing guide. I think I managed to keep everything straight, but the weight of even lightweight interfacing on such a thin fabric resulted in a slightly bulky placket, particularly at the bottom and if I made it again in a similar fabric I would probably reduce the number of folds and omit the hidden buttonholes.Once I had got the placket and collar out of the way the rest of the sewing was fairly straightforward. I hand stitched the inside of the collar rather than edge-stitching by machine and also hand-stitched the bias on the armscye seams. I machine-stitched the hem and I think it would have been better if I had hand-stitched that as well but I probably won’t get round to unpicking and redoing!

I am really pleased to have successfully made a neck placket and that I managed to sew with such a slippery fabric without disaster! It has been a good sewing week I think but maybe next I will go for something in a nice easy going cotton…

What have you been sewing – and what challenges are you putting off?