Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Butterick 5817 - Blue silk top

I think I might be the last Mood Sewing Network blogger to make a garment out of their great Thakoon designer fabrics. Seriously. But, I'd seen a picture of what the designer used this fabric for, and I couldn't get it out of my mind. That blue solid border wanted to be at the top of a long sleeve blouse, so of course I had to wait for some cooler weather to use it.


This fabric is a silk crepe de chine from Mood Fabrics, which has a neat border print that doesn't show up in their photos. I used silk crepe de chine last month to line my aqua brocade dress, and I'm getting less and less afraid of sewing with it.


Since this fabric is pretty busy, I wanted to use a simple pattern. Finding a slightly fitted simple long sleeve blouse wasn't easy! After combing through all my patterns and Burda magazines, I went looking through patterns online. This is Butterick 5817, and I had to look at the line drawing to figure out exactly what it was doing. I liked the long darts and slightly shaped center back seam. I could not even think of trying to put a zipper in this thin fabric, so the small slit at the neckline really appealed.


I used a fabric covered button at the back, and interfaced the fabric before making it into a button. Experience has shown these thin fabrics will show the sheen of the metal without interfacing. I made a thread loop to hook around the button. This pattern has cuffs at the end of the long sleeves, which I did cut out. The sleeves turned out to be the perfect length without the cuffs, and I decided I liked it with just a small 5/8" hem. The neckline was finished with a strip of bias binding. I had to use the print of the fabric here since the blue wasn't wide enough to fit the entire binding in.


I've been seeing lots of silk blouses on the runways lately, and I wanted one too. Goodness knows you can't find silk anything in mid-priced department stores anymore. I hope to make another silk blouse soon, perhaps with buttons down the front and a collar.

54 comments:

  1. This looks like such a gorgeous fabric (and a beautiful colour on you too). Sometimes simple lines are best!

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  2. what a perfect use of that fabric! great top!

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  3. Its great. i like this colour.
    Love. \wilma

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  4. Beautiful! Great pattern placement! I love silk blouses, they are just so dreamy to wear!!

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    1. Thanks Sallie! They're kind of like wearing pajamas to me!

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  5. Such a perfect use of this fabric

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  6. fantastic blouse and I want that fabric :)

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  7. Wow! Such a simple pattern and your top looks fabulous. I think many people (myself included) would have dismissed the pattern due to unappealing photos, but it really suited your fabric perfectly and looks very stylish!

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    1. Thanks Twotoast! I totally overlooked it at first too. Those photos are not great.

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  8. Beautiful as always Amanda. Great design choice as well.

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  9. I love a simple blouse pattern. My TNT is New Look 6732 (now OOP, I believe). It has fairly similar lines to yours although with a slightly wider boat neck. It calls for facings, however. Thanks to your tips, last time I made it I did the bias tape edging around the neckline and armholes and it came out beautifully.

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    1. Oh how awesome! That tutorial gets so many hits still! Thanks for your comment!

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  10. Perfect pattern choice for such beautiful fabric!

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  11. It is very pretty. The colors are great.

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  12. Lovely top. Bet it feels lovely to wear too.

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  13. The wait was worth it! Amazing job on this gorgeous top.

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  14. Replies
    1. Well... this was a knock-off, so I can't take much credit for the design. But thanks!

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  15. This is really pretty and delicate top. Love the colours and print too.

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  16. Lovely top and fabric! It looks like a grown up version of tie dye.

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  17. Beautiful blouse, perfect use of the border print. I've been wanting a silk blouse too, but finding real silk here in the fabric stores is as hard as finding a RTW blouse!

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    1. Thanks Kristy! From what I understand, Mood now ships internationally. Not sure if it's expensive or not, though. Maybe you need to plan a trip to China or Japan... ;)

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  18. Your simple design really sells this gorgeous fabric. I'm on a fabric diet, but I want some of this for myself!

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  19. Beautiful top - the details elevate the "t-shirt" style to a higher level.

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  20. Amanda, this is so gorgeous! I'm sorry but you won't be the last to make something from this stunning fabric. Mood does ship to Australia, but their charges are truly astronomical! Luckily, for a fraction of the cost, they shipped this fabric, another brocade I had to have, and a Marc Jacobs voile to Texas where my daughter is visiting, so now I can't wait till she comes home in 3 weeks! I adore your blouse! Do you think it's ok if I do a knock-off of a knock-off? ;-)

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    1. Haha! And yes, do make your own blouse from this lovely fabric! Thanks for the comment!

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  21. This is gorgeous. Great use of this beautiful fabric. Impeccable as always.

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  22. Such gorgeous fabric, and you really made the most of that lovely solid area at the top! You girls are so lucky to get all those fabulous free fabrics :)

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  23. My goodness, this is beautiful! The color and print really shine in this simple shape!

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  24. Just saw this on the MSN page! ! I'm ready to cut up my dress and make this top! Great job!

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  25. Hi Amanda, love reading your blog as always. I wonder if you'd be interested in reviewing out a PDF pattern that I'm putting out. I couldn't find an email to contact. If you would are interested my blog is www.allthewyldthings.blogspot.com, www.wyldchicboutique.com, and the pattern in question is http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/margerita-nursing-topdress/72089. My email is joycegimfil@yahoo.com

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    1. Thanks for thinking of me! Unfortunately I don't have as much time to sew as I would like, so I always have to turn down these pattern testing requests. Good luck to you!

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  26. Great looking top! I like the solid color at the neckline!

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  27. Wow gorgeous as always! I love your style and your makes, but what's most impressive is how perfectly neat your sewing is. So very inspiring :)

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  28. Hiya. I really like the shape of this top as well as your subsequent taupe one, so I bought the pattern too. I am having problems with the fit of the sleeves though and wondered if you also encountered this problem or if it is just my figure. The sleeves are OK when I am just standing still but if I try to reach forward there is a lot of pulling at the seam where the bottom back of sleeve attaches to the back. Did you have to make any pattern adjustments? Sorry for the boring technical comment, I do really like your tops!

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    1. This blue one I cut a straight size 10 through the shoulders/arms/bust tapering out to a 12 for the hips. I, too, noticed the pulling of the sleeve through the upper arms after I'd worn it around for a bit. For the second version I cut a 12 through the shoulders, a 10 through the bust, and went back to a 12 for the hips. The fabric I used had a bit of stretch to it. My second version is way more comfortable to wear then the first. I suggest you go up a size for the shoulders and sleeves. Hope that helps!

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