FINISHED! Mawston Meadow Bow Blouse

Simplicity 2154 in Mawston Meadow
I saw this blouse on Amanda over at Bimble and Pimble and fell so in love with it, that I had to have it, immediately searching out the pattern on the internet and buying the pattern within minutes of finishing reading about Amanda's blouse.  Like many people I'm a sucker for a bow, but with a wardrobe of plenty of pussy bows,  I probably don't need any more, but I thought this might make a small change. Or maybe not. Ben said he really liked it but that it looked like all my other blouses when I was showing it to him this morning.  Mmm. Clearly he wasn't looking properly!
I had plenty of the Mawston Meadow Liberty print that I bought in France and was left over from my Laurel so cut the pattern out a few weeks ago, but then sidelined it for a while. Firstly for my cape and then for my culottes.  I don't normally sew like that, where I have an unfinished item that lingers around but fortunately Me Made May provided enough incentive to finish just one more item before month end.
Simpicity 2154 in Mawston Meadow
It's a cute little pattern, but it pushed me a little bit.  It's not like my other blouses (see!!) because it's reasonably fitted with a side zipper which I didn't realise was there until after I'd cut out the pattern (note to self to read the instructions and the required notions first!).  I inserted an invisible zip on the side, though I don't think that's what the pattern called for but it looks pretty good and the material (or at least the pattern) is very forgiving.  There's a whole lot of darts too which I don't love doing a whole lot, but after quite a bit of wrangling on the bust dart reckon I got it pretty right.
Simplicity 2154 Mawston Meadow
As I was sewing yesterday I was listening to this great podcast interview with Kenneth D King on fit - so I was kind of forced to focus on getting that bit right - as best as I could. By the way, highly recommend these podcasts!  I think I'll work my way through them all.
Simplicity 2154 in Mawston Meadow 
So the bow!  Amanda  mentioned in her post about the bow and yikes, the instructions ask you to gather it, but seriously, I had interfaced the bow (as per the pattern instructions) and as a result there was no way that bow was going to be gathered! Tana Lawn is pretty lightwight, so in all honesty, if I were to make this again, I wouldn't interface.  And wearing the top today to work it felt a bit top heavy and I worried a bit about how the bow was sitting.  You can see from the photos that the bow has a tendency to move bit which, with a floppy bow wouldn't be such a big deal.  I wish I'd noticed the slight lopsidedness of how the bow was sitting before I took the pictures - but hey it's going to move around a bit anyway as it's only attached at the centre!
Simplicity 2154 in Mawston Meadow
Overall a pretty cute make.  Enjoyed wearing it today and think it will get a lot of winter wear as it is a great Winter colour and very good with a cardi!

31 comments:

  1. ooh this is lovely! I really like the big bow coupled with the key-hole neck detail. The splashes of blue in the fabric are gorgeous!

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  2. I'm a sucker for a pussy bow blouse as well (why are they called that anyway?), and yours is even more lovely in that gorgeous Liberty fabric

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  3. Wowser! Kirsty this is absolutely gob smackingly rad!!! I am in love!

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  4. Thanks Kristy, You know I'm going to have to research the term pussy bow!!

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  5. God I love that fabric, it so suits you too. This pattern is so on my list.


    Q- Do you think the bow would fall and slouch a bit too much with the interfacing?

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  6. Love, love, love this!! The details on this blouse are gorgeous and the fabric is just perfect!

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  7. Thanks Amy - I worry a bit it's like the colour of my hair..!? Anyway I found the bow pretty unworkable with the interfacing - very stiff and heavy and I"m sure I used super light interfacing. If you use quilting cotton I definitely wouldn't. All my other pussy bow blouses aren't interfaced and they do hang a bit, but not too much. Mmmm, guess it depends on the fabric.. not much help am I.

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  8. Thanks so much Shar! You are always so supportive of my makes :)

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  9. Wow, that's fantastic! I've had this pattern in my stash for over a year but haven't been inspired to make it - until now! Personally, I love the giant bow. And your choice of fabric is inspired!

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  10. I love this. Can't wear bows, they look so odd on me, but this looks just perfect on you (and of course it is totally different to your other ones, tsk), and the colour suits you well. Don't worry about the bow not always looking perfectly straight, it'll just look natural.

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  11. Oh my god! This blouse is too pretty! The big bow is just lovely, you are making me want to make one of those. Lovely!

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  12. Gorgeous fabric and pattern Kristy!! So great !! How on earth did you get that bow so perfect?

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  13. Oh my, I love that neckline!! Maybe you could tack the bow ends in place underneath to stop it moving? And your in Canberra? I'm in Sydney!

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  14. It is gorgeous! I love the bow and wish I could get anyway with one that size. Another fantastic make Kirsty.

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  15. so goregous! the print is perfect for autumn too. I'm beginning to regret giving this pattern away - I might have to re-buy it!

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  16. Oh Shivani, you shouldn't have..although it is a bit fiddly. What are you making at the moment?

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  17. Thanks Claire. I think without intefacing the bow wouldn't sit so 'pert' which would make it a little more subtle.

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  18. So close!! Thanks Jennifer. What a good tip. I think I might try that.

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  19. I think you are being a bit too kind on the 'perfect' side :) but thanks anyway !

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  20. Thank you for recognising it's differences :) I think the thing to do is to relax into wearing it!

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  21. Thanks so much Gail. I think this is one you could definitely pull out and give a go.

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  22. So pretty! This is on my to sew list too.

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  23. Thanks Tilly. You will look adorable in one! Now that it's done.. I'll be off to make my Miette this weekend.

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  24. I LOVE this!! Gorgeous fabric and by golly that bow looks fabulous perched on your decolletage like that. Like with Amanda's version I really like the heavy structural-ness of that bow. Looking great!!

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  25. I love this! I've been umming and ahhing over this pattern for ages but I am definitely going to get it now.

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  26. Thanks Jenna. Good luck with the pattern! It is quite beautiful.

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  27. So so pretty ! I love this blouse, your fabric choice is very beautiful

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  28. Thanks so much. I wear this blouse to work every week. It has been such a great make.

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