My DIY | Wrap Ruffled Peplum Blouse

Good morning everyone! Firstly - who’s excited for the eclipse this afternoon? Secondly? Raise your hand if you’ve been singing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” for the past week or so? No? Just me? 

Today I’m really excited to show you the blouse I made last week - a wrap blouse with peplum and ruffle elements. I did made some minor changes to the construction of the garment, so let me tell you all about it! 

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Sewing Notes | McCalls 7602

I picked up the pattern during one of JoAnn Fabric’s 99 cent sales and I already had the polka dot fabric on hand. I used both the right and wrong sides of the print and I love how the subtle contrast enhances the design of this piece. I don’t know the kind or content it is but I’m guessing it’s a rayon. I was surprised it was so easy to sew! I lined it using a similar navy fabric I picked up elsewhere.

I cut a size 12 with the D cup option and used the tissue paper pattern as is for this piece. 

The first thing I changed was to convert the faux wrap into an actual wrap. I created long ties in the self fabric and attached them to the smaller side seams of each front bodice piece. I left a small opening on one side seam to allow the under side of the bodice and it’s corresponding tie a place to exit the blouse. I also omitted the back zipper, as the wrap allows for an easy way to get this piece on!

Another thing I did differently was to line the entire garment, including the peplum and ruffle. I did this because I didn’t want to fiddle with a narrow hem on so many curved pieces. It also gave the final garment a really polished look inside and out. Unfortunately it weighed down the ruffle a bit so I added some hooks and thread tacks to help it out a little. Also my chest is huge and adding the extra closure helped not show off too much cleavage. 

I would definitely sew this again - maybe in a pretty eyelet cotton for summer or another rayon that could layer with a turtleneck for fall and winter (very 70s school teacher, right??) If you’ve made this piece, I’d love to see your version!

To get a sneak peak of my next project, check out my instagram stories! I’m making a bit of a mini collection this season. I started with these jeans and now this top. All of the pieces sort of work back together and with what I have in my closet. I’m excited!“

What I Wore | Connect the Dots

WhatIWore: Here’s what I’m wearing to run tons of errands around town with my kids today. When I saw this dress at Target, my initial reaction was: CUTE! My second thought was - don’t you already have a lot of black and white polka dot dresses? I decided to try it on anyway and loved the look of it. It’s probably supposed to be an off the shoulder thing, but that makes me look a little too broad up top. I was saving it for a date night but I could be waiting way too long for that to happen. So ta da! Here it is!

When: June 8, 2017

What:
Shades: Karen Walker ‘Super Duper’
Dress: Target
Belt: thrifted
Sandals: Clarks (gift from 2015 partnership)

Where: Out! About!

I always like to let you know if a top/dress is nursing friendly. This one is, if you’re ok with a full boob reveal or if you use a cover. I’ll just stick to nursing in the car or at home with this dress, but there’s plenty of elastic to make it comfortable for me and baby!

What I Wore | Mister Robot

WhatIWore: For the past few days I’ve been digging around through my archives to find examples of how I’ve worn one piece multiple ways. In the process, it gave me some new ideas too! Or at least, old ideas to dust off and try out again with a baby bump! Today’s look came from this oldie but goodie. It was my first type to style this investment blazer from Theory and I also wore it with polka dots. 

The main difference in my eye is how I buttoned up this maternity blouse (a gift from Séraphine, cheers!) under the blazer (and maternity jeans, obviously!) As a tangent - have any of you seen Mr. Robot? It’s one of the best shows on TV (season two just ended) and the buttoned up plus blazer look reminds me of Angela’s styling in season two. All business, right? Well, the cuffed jeans and spike necklace definitely take me into casual territory, but it’s a bit of a different look for me and I like it. You never know until you try! 

When: October 5, 2016

What:
Shades: Karen Walker ‘Northern Lights’
Blouse: gift of Séraphine
Blazer: Theyskens’ Theory (older style, similar here)
Jeans: Jeans: AG ‘Stilt’, (non maternity here)
Booties: gift of Rockport from last winter

Where: Coffee Shop

See Also: How I’ve styled a blazer, polka dot top and jeans two ways (one and two) Plus a lot more ways I’ve worn the blazer in my 2012 gallery. 

What I Wore | Mix and Match

WhatIWore: Behind that smile is a sick and tired mama. I thought I could soldier on and go out to a coffee shop to work (really trying to step up productivity around WIW lately!), but instead I threw on some pajama pants and went straight to bed after we took these photos. First Adam got sick at the end of our trip, then Felix kinda/sorta got it (his immune system is incredible, thanks breastfeeding!) and after taking care of everyone else… mom gets sick. I thought I almost got by without getting the bug, but my throat feels like stabbing knives and I’m soooo tired. Boo hoo. 

I wore this kind of outfit a lot last summer (see here and here). I like this skirt a lot as an alternative to shorts - it pairs nicely with tee shirts and I actually wore it yesterday afternoon too! I like the combo of stripes and polka dots as well. Luckily for me, there always at least one striped shirt in the clean laundry pile (because it feels like that’s the only thing I buy anymore… other than white eyelet tops!) Anyway… I’m gonna grab a cup of tea and sort out lunch for the little guy and then plop our bums on the couch for a movie marathon afternoon. You gotta do what you’ve gotta do, right? 

And if you’re wondering why I tried at all… it might be our last sunny day for a week (!!) and I didn’t shower - just some BB cream, sunglasses and a half assed attempt at freshening up my hair!

When: July 12, 2016

What:
Shades: Karen Walker ‘Super Duper’
Tee Shirt: J.Crew (similar)
Skirt: ModCloth (I also have this similar style)
Belt: thrifted
Sandals: gift of Clark’s from last summer (many similar options under $100 here)

Where: Nowhere! Back to bed instead (but I’ll definitely wear it again sometime soon!)