Zero waste project 5: pussybow blouse
Zero waste project n°5: a pussy bow blouse from @lizhaywood3754’s book “Zero Waste Sewing”.
This tie front top is cut on the bias from a perfect square, with the tie going right through the diagonal. The pattern in the book is sized for a 87–117cm/34-46” bust, but now you can buy a pdf version sized for 81-178cm/32-70” bust! Mine isn’t as zero waste as it should have been, because I had a series of beginner mishaps 😆
- I used a pretty but hard-to-fold viscose fabric, so couldn’t get accurate measurements
- I’m short so used a smaller square than suggested in the book, but then forgot to check the suggested neckline length before cutting it. It was 6cm too deep and went straight into sexy cleavage territory 😅
- I hacked a shorter neckline with some huge darts at the shoulder, which unfortunately removed most of the pretty angled shoulder lines and forced me to attempt some badly executed top stitching to hold it all down (see photo 5)
- my neckline “fix” meant that the front hem ended up 6cm shorter, so I cut a curve to keep the back the original length (see photo 3)
- I couldn’t get the pretty tulip sleeves to sit properly after all my hacking, so I left them off and will use them for pocket linings in a future project 🤷♀️
- I finished this late at night and got chocolate grease stains on it. I used mum’s talcum powder trick to successfully remove them!
The fabric is really soft and pretty, and I love the drape of the bow. I will definitely try another one at some point, with the sleeves attached and being much more careful when cutting. Maybe in an easier and more environmentally friendly fabric (@isabelle_sews suggested crepe and I found a beautiful forest green organic cotton one online).
I’m hoping to make the playsuit romper at the end of this book - I never even wanted one before, but since seeing it I really want to try it! 😍
#zerowastesewing #zerowastedesign #sustainablefashion #zerowastesewingbook #zerowastetiefronttop #petitesewing
