Sewing Project, part 1 – The Butterick B4985 Easy Blouse

July 13, 2011 by

Butterick B4985 Easy Blouse!

Welcome fashion sewers to another sewing project brought to you by Fashion Sewing Blog.

In this three part series, we will look at, explore and create an easy blouse sewing pattern, made by Butterick, ref B4985.

The pattern envelope itself displays 4 blouses so it is my intention to demonstrate the making of blouse C, pictured below -

Blouse C on this picture is featured bottom left

I would describe this blouse as chic and a must have for any wardrobe.  I have chosen this particular style of sewing pattern as it can be worn casually, or for an evening event.

How to Sew the Butterick B4985 Easy Blouse Sewing Pattern -

sewing
NB – Click on each photo to enlarge it and take a better look.

pattern
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The Butterick B4985 Easy Blouse Sewing Pattern Pieces
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The Butterick B4985 Easy Blouse Sewing Pattern Pieces
Once your pattern pieces have been pinned / cut onto fabric, transfer the pattern markings.
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Once your pattern pieces have been pinned / cut onto fabric, transfer the pattern markings.
The gathering stitch symbol, as demonstrated, is displayed as a small circle.
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The gathering stitch symbol, as demonstrated, is displayed as a small circle.
For this pattern, I will be using iron on fusible interfacing.
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For this pattern, I will be using iron on fusible interfacing.
Neaten the seam edges (overlock stitch).
Caption
Neaten the seam edges (overlock stitch).
Sewing the seam allowance of the sleeve cuff.
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Sewing the seam allowance of the sleeve cuff.
Staystitching the outer edge of the collar.
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Staystitching the outer edge of the collar.
Pressing seam allowance of the outer edge of the interfaced collar.
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Pressing seam allowance of the outer edge of the interfaced collar.
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How I made the blouse -

1 – Introduction to the sewing project (no explanation needed).

2 - Cut the Pattern Pieces – There are 9 pieces that are required for this pattern and the pieces themselves are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12 and 14. (Put an X on pattern piece 6). It is similar in shape to the front piece of the pattern and you do not want to mix them up.

3 – Transfer Markings – Mark your fabric pieces with the position’s of the button and buttonholes.

4 - Markings – The gathering stitch is indicated by a circle symbol.  Use tailor tacks to transfer these markings.

5 – Interface – I am using iron on fusible interfacing.  Iron on the interfacing to piece 9 – the Front Facing, 12 the Sleeve Band and 14 the Collar Band (only one piece).

7 – Neaten Seam Edges – The seams to the pattern pieces now need to be neatened.  The seams that require overlocking / serging are – the shoulders, the upper sections front and back side seams, the sleeve side seams, and the seams of the lower section.

NOW YOU’RE READY TO CONSTRUCT THE BLOUSE ITSELF!

7 – Cuffs – Fold the cuffs in half and sew a 1.5cm / 12th inch seam allowance, press and put to one side until needed.

8 – The Collar – Staystitch the collar with no interfacing along the outer edge (around 7mm or 1/4inch).

9 – The Collar – Press the seam allowance upwards 1cm of the interfaced collar piece.

10 – Part 2, Butterick B4985 Easy Blouse Sewing Pattern – Coming Soon.

If you find that you are having any problems at this stage of the sewing project or wish clarity on any of the instructions I have written, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you can’t wait for part two, simply click or visit -

Sew-a-Long, part 2, The Butterick B4985 Easy Blouse.

Please upload any of your sewing project creations to my Sewingista Gallery and show off to the growing sewing community.

Happy fashion sewing

Colleen G Lea

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Comments

  1. Missy says:
    August 15, 2011 at 5:47 am

    Hi Colleen!

    I just started cutting this out and sewing it together tonight, but I’ve run into a little problem, and I was curious to see if you had the same problem and found a way around it: I’ve to the point where to sew the lower and upper pieces of the blouse together, but after matching side seams and back center, there seems to be a large gap of extra fabric in the lower part of the blouse. I’m not seeing any markings on the pattern for gathering in the back, and I triple checked to make sure I cut out the correct sizes, and even matched the pattern pieces (including seam allowance) of the lower and upper back pieces, and it looks like there’s a little more fabric in width on the lower part than the upper part.

    Tell me I’m not crazy!

    Thanks so much,
    Missy

    • Missy says:
      August 15, 2011 at 6:57 am

      Hi again!

      I just unpinned the upper and lower pieces and attempted to assemble again, and figured out what my problem was: I was pinning the lower piece upside down! :P (I don’t know why the upside down tailor tacks and clippings didn’t tip me off earlier).

      By the way, your blog is great! Makes me want to get a serger just to have “neat” seam edges :D

      Missy

      • Colleen G Lea says:
        August 16, 2011 at 10:55 am

        Hi Missy,

        Thanks for both of your comments, you brought a smile to my face. Trust me, you’re not the only one, we have all been there.
        Why not show off your final creation at Sewing-ista Gallery. It would be great to see the final article.

        I could honestly write and fill an encyclopedia with the mistakes I have made but hey, solving these sometimes self induced problems is part of the fun.