Well I thought I’d start the year by catching up with all the makes I didn’t post about from 2022! (Let’s face it, there are quite a few!).

This one is a vintage pattern I picked up from a car boot sale a couple of years ago. (Is 80s vintage now? I feel like if it’s 40 years old, it totally counts!).

I loved the puffed dolman sleeve and knew View 3 would be one I’d make!

I decided to use an astrology themed viscose that I’d gotten from Selvedge and Bolts at The Stitch Festival last year. (On a separate note, I’ve currently got a ticket giveaway going on for the upcoming Stitch Festival in March over on Instagram!). I’d bought the fabric on a whim and didn’t have any real plans for it. The printed black background is covered in a variety of astrology related imagery and gold lurex flecks.

The size 14 the pattern came in was slightly on the small side for me. Luckily it’s a loose fit so I gave myself a little bit of extra wiggle room in the side seam and sewed it up with a slightly smaller than indicated seam allowance. I did take plenty of measurements of the paper pattern as I teamed this to make sure it would fit!

It was a super easy to sew style – honestly I’m surprised something similar hasn’t been recreated in an indie pattern. The centre front and back pieces were sewn together at the shoulder first followed by the front and back sleeve/ side. The sleeve part was then gathered and sewn to the centre piece and then the side seam sewn up. The front was finished with button bands and a collar and the sleeves with a cuff. All in all a pretty easy bit of sewing!

Honestly I think it was a bit of fail between the pattern and fabric. I really like both separately but I think the busy dark print failed to show off the design elements of the blouse to its fullest which is a real shame.

I do think the pattern would do best in a more structured cotton and in a lighter colour! Might be worth keeping it to remake for the summer and to make it in a light linen or cotton!