It’s no secret that orange is a favourite colour of mine to wear.  This is actually my second version of Fibre Mood’s Ermine Blouse.  I received a preview PDF version of this pattern to sew-up and share on Instagram on the launch day of Edition 16 (September 16th).

My first version was sewn in a cotton poplin and it was a touch small in the upper chest and armholes.  I made my size decision on the finished bust measurement and it’s just one of those instances were I got it wrong!  My bust sits between a small and medium on the Fibre Mood sizing chart and this time I needed to size up not down.  The resulting top is now on display at work as a sample, so not all is lost.  See side-by-side photos of both Ermine’s on Instagram.

Now back to version two… it was sewn in deep stash viscose which I purchased many years ago at Tessuti and feels luxurious to wear.  Some fabrics just need time to mature in the stash until the right project comes along!

The print hides the details a little, but there are gathers in three locations – the front angled yokes, at the top of the sleeves and the where the back joins the back yoke.

Taking the led from my friend @timetosew, I hand basted both the bias binding on the neckline and the button stand before machine stitching.  Sure it takes a little bit longer, but I find you have more control when hand stitching and it significantly reduces the need for unpicking and redoing.  And my buttons, they are from an epic op shop (thrift shop) haul from last decade!

This make is a little different to my normal, but I’m calling it a success.

Pattern:  Fibre Mood’s Ermine Blouse
Size:  Medium
Fabric:  Deep stash viscose from Tessuti
Alterations:  3/8″ (1cm) forward shoulder adjustment
Outfit:  Lobster Brooch by Trovelore and purchased from Tiffany Treloar, jeans from Caro and shoes from Peter Sheppard (8+ years old)
Location:  Eastern Suburbs, Melbourne