The ‘Faux Wrap Blouse’ outfits | Debi Fry
The Facts
Fabric: 4 pillowcases–2 for each blouse (yes! I made two blouses this week), 1.5 metres of lime green crepe back satin (all of these from my fabric stash!!!) approx: £5 total
Pattern: Idea/inspiration from Simplicity 7760, skirt from McCall 3968
Year: c. 1968 for wrap blouse and 1940 for skirt
Notions: 3.5 metres x 2 of yellow trim £5
Time to complete: 8 hours for two blouses and one skirt
Wear again? Yes….the blouses go great under sweaters! I need to fix the hem of the skirt but other than that I love it!!
Total Cost: ~£10
I really had no idea what to make for this challenge. Luckily when I was out at a charity shop with my niece, I came across Simplicity 7760, a pattern from 1968 for a wrap blouse and dress:
Perfect, I thought! I’ll just make a wrap tunic blouse. As I unfolded the pattern the main piece was ridiculously large requiring me to unpick the pillowcase and probably add a seam down the back. Then I started thinking, wouldn’t it be great to use all the seams already in the pillowcase and make a faux wrap blouse? Would that be possible? I’ve been soooooo longing for a simple/easy project that I jumped at the chance to give it a try.
Enter pillowcase set #1: bright yellow and sunny
So, it’s a faux wrap blouse because I actually slip this over my head! Both of the pillowcases I used were 18 inches across. They fit me fine except for the hips. I had to chop off quite a bit of length because of my hip width (I’m 39 inches in the hips, so the pillowcase was about 3 inches too tight).
This first version was really my test version to see if it would work. On this version, I made the length a bit longer and cut a small slit at the side to mimic a wrap opening. I sewed the trim on this version going across me and all the way down to the bottom of the blouse. I also sewed the trim onto the sleeve openings.
Version #2: Sunny with blue tones
Once I had experimented with the first pillowcase, I felt confident to cut into the second set which has a very colourful print.
I followed the same technique I did for the first one except I made the blouse shorter (without a bottom slit) and I had the trim go across my bodice in the opposite direction.
Here’s a better close-up of the entire blouse:
I made the blouse from one pillowcase but needed the second pillowcase for the sash ties. I ended up tying them into bows.
Lastly, I made the skirt from a pattern I’ve used before, McCall 3968 from 1940:
I love this skirt pattern as it’s so versatile. I’ve made it before in lightweight wool (which was the perfect fabric for the pattern). This time I decided to try sewing it up in crepe back satin with the crepe side showing out and the satin inside. I used some fabric from my stash that amazingly matched the two pillowcases perfectly (I love it when that happens). I was originally going to make a blouse with this fabric but I had enough to make this skirt instead!! The only thing I can now see in the photos is that the invisible hem is not invisible!!! Argggghhhh….lesson learned, do a narrow machine hem on crepe back satin instead of hemming it by hand!
So, which one do you like better? Version 1 or version 2?
If you’re curious how this all came together, stop by my blog this week as I’m going to do a step-by-step tutorial on how I made these faux wrap blouses.
Great shirts and skirt – interesting how the brightness of the yellow top really lightens the colour of the skirt, but the ‘bluer’ top makes it look darker and shinier. So bright and spring-like all told.
Lovely and fresh looking.
As ever, looking absolutely beautiful. What a clever blouse!
I think the Sunny with Blue Tones one is my fave, it’s softer and blends well with the green! Nice work on following through on an idea! I reckon pillowslips and bedspreads are wear dreams are made and tested out!
xoxo
So beautiful and spring! I like the three garments alike, you have two different suits with three pieces, Awesome!
So cute I love the skirt and the blouses!!! Who knew a pillow case could be so versatile.
Aren’t you miss clever! I like them both! And it is an interesting color combination, I’m so used to seeing you in deep reds and greens and browns. You look like you’re off on a cruise.
Debi, I adore these! I love color and both of these are perfectly summery. Excellent use of trim, by the way…and I am looking forward to your tutorial very much! You are a true fashionista :)
I love them both, although more partial to the blue just because I like blue… Will definitely be checking out your blog for the tutorial – these look like easy, office-appropriate blouses… And what I need for hot & humid DC summers!!
Ooh, Debi! I can’t believe those blouses are pillowcases!!! They look amazing and I really like both of them. I really like the bright green skirt, too, it looks great on you! :)
Fantastic!! Now I need to find me a pillowcase. I like the colours of yours :)
They really don’t look like pillowcases at all! Great print choices, and a very clever shirt.
They’re both so nice, but I especially like the second one! The trim goes so well with it, and I like the fabric. No one who saw you in these darling tops would ever guess that you were wearing pillowcases!
What a clever idea! I thought they were real wrap blouses when I first saw the photos. I love the second one cos it has a more colorful print and absolutely adore your choices of trims!
How clever.. so pretty..You look great.
Always fabulous Debi, and a clever pattern too. You look amazing in these colours, I have a soft spot for green myself.
Thanks Jen! I know…isn’t it funny how the different blouse colours really tone down or liven up the colour of the skirt?
Thanks Diane!
Thanks Karen! I had fun with it!
Thanks Veronica! It was fun to try out something new!
Thanks Rosy! I know…I can’t believe I made three things this week…yay for pillowcases!
Thanks Jessie! I know, right?? I never thought you could make a dress or a swimsuit from a pillowcase!! :)
Oh! I wish I was off on a cruise! Actually I just wish it was warm here so I could wear these blouses without a sweater…ehehhehehehe
Thanks Meg! I like these summery colours as well! Loved your pillowcase blouse/coverup as well!
Definitely office appropriate! I don’t usually like real wrap blouses because, well, they come unwrapped! But these are perfect!!
Thanks Sarah! I thought of you when I was making these garments…definitely cheery fabric!
Thanks Rachel! I am definitely drawn to bright colours!!
Thanks Becky!
Thanks Melissa! I’m partial to the blue one too! I especially like that trim. It’s funny because the trim was the only thing I needed to buy and I went to the fabric store (I hadn’t viewed my pillowcases for awhile…maybe 2 weeks) and I picked up yellow and red trim. I could have sworn one of these had red in it! hahahhahaha. Lesson learned..I have a horrible memory and need to bring my fabric with me! Anyways, I now have red trim too for a future project!
Thanks Adey! I’m partial to the second one as well! The trim is really nice! I ABSOLUTELY loved your pillowcase swimsuit this week. It’s official, I think you are my sewing guru :)
Thanks Judy!!
Thanks Kazz! I never thought I would be drawn to these colours but I SO AM! :) You look fab in green…I’ll never forget your green and brown dress! One of my favourites!
Very cute! Love the colours :)
thanks so much! They are not my ‘usual’ colours but I like them as well and they felt very summery!