Some of you might remember the pink eyelet blouse I made earlier this year for Elsa.
Wren wants a similar blouse, but in white. I inherited a lot of eyelet from my grandmother. I used Elsa’s shirt pattern to draft a larger one for Wren. I made Elsa’s shirt pattern from a shirt she already had.
Because the pink eyelet had a finished edge, I didn’t useelastic on the edges on the sleeves. The white eyelet does not, so I ran elastic through the seams for the sleeves.
If you’re looking to make a peasant blouse in any size for a child, check out this tutorial!
Supplies:
Less than a yard of fabric
1/4″ wide elastic for sleeves and neck
thread
Tools:
Sewing Machine
Iron
Sewing pins
Scissors
Safety pin to run elastic through casings
Time:
About 2 1/2 hours
Cost:
$0.10
The fabric came from my grandmother’s stash. All I had to purchase was elastic, which I bought on sale from Wawak, and thread (also bought in bulk from Wawak).
Did you make any gifts today?
oh, this is gorgeous!!!
I love those kind of blouses for little girls and have made many over the years. I’m sure your daughter will love it, and white goes with everything, so she will be able to wear it a lot. I know it feels good to use up fabric that was given to you–such a nice feeling to know that it is used in such a great way–and for me, it always makes me feel good to know that it would have made the donor happy to know it was used in a great way.
I am still working on a skirt for Patsy, my daughter. It’s the first thing I’ve sewn since moving, and it’s been a challenge to figure out the mechanics of where I’m sewing (kitchen table–ironing board in middle of living room) in this much, much smaller house. BUT, I’m finally seeing some progress, but–seems like this project needed lots of ripping. Thank goodness for high-quality seam rippers! I am also realizing that I don’t have enough light to see properly, so am mostly needing to sew during daylight hours, so it limits me. We are working on the lighting issue, and it will come with time.
I love peasant tops! Both of those tops are just beautiful, Brandy. I’m sure Wren will be thrilled to receive her wonderful Christmas gift!
I haven’t started on making any gifts yet, but just had another project thrown into the mix last night. We have been invited to a wedding shower for a soon-to-be family member. I will need to make a nice gift for her as well. I really need to get going on this pronto! Your posts are very motivational and inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing.
I made homemade all natural vanilla brown sugar body scrub for a wedding gift for my daughter in law to take to a bridal shower. I used a small jelly jar that I already had, took some fabric and ribbon from my stash to decorate the jar and used one of my beautiful blank butterfly notecards to attach to the jar and the colors of the card matched the fabric and ribbon even though it wasn’t intentional!
Oh, lovely! I always wanted an eyelet or a peasant blouse when I was a kid. Really pretty!
I finally have a day off today, so I can start doing some sewing, but I might just spend it baking instead. Some baking will definitely be turned into gifts. 🙂
Those shirts are too precious! I haven’t been able to practice sewing much lately but I need to prioritize it! I think it’s a fantastic skill to have and pass down. 🙂
A peasant blouse with a contrasting skirt was my second sewing project in 7th grade home ec classes. The white one is very nice–eyelet is a favorite of mine and I made a few eyelet pinafores to go over some infant sized dresses I sewed when my granddaughter and some of her cousins were tiny. I enjoyed making children’s clothes a whole lot–so little fitting involved and so little fabric and time to accomplish something. I have not done any sewing of gifts as yet this year, as I am having trouble deciding what to give people. I am trying to make some cotton loop potholders (for myself, and gifts, if I can do that many) but so far have only the second one on the loom. The first one will be mine because I missed correcting one mistake which won’t affect the wear on the potholder. I really like those potholders but have to make my own these days.
I have used a similar pattern, (the peasant blouse) to make a beautiful night gown for a grand daughter. Just made it long enough to go below her knees. It was a big favorite.
I myself made a blouse for ME last week from one of my husband’s shirts. He was getting rid of the shirt and he no longer liked the colors. I took the shirt, cut the top part off and then added a neck line of elastic like a peasant blouse. I sewed the front up all the way down the shirt so it no longer opens…It looks great with my jeans and did not cost anything except for the elastic. I also cut the sleeves down to be a short sleeve for me. I like it so much I am going to look for other shirts to make into blouses for me.
I am truly blessed to know how to sew.
I had a similar blouse way back when and it was one of my favorites.
She’s going to love it.
Brandy,
How lovely. I just love how beautifully you do everything.
That is absolutely beautiful!
I am behind on gifts this year, mostly due to illness.
At our scout campout we tried wood burning small jewelry boxes. My daughter made one to give to her best friend. She doesn’t know this but she will get mine.:D
Today I finished a quilt. It was intended to be for a Christmas gift but one of my daughters is coming with her family for thanksgiving. She has a November birthday so I will give it to her then. I canned 78 quarts of peaches off our tree this year. Many of those will be Christmas gifts this year. Our tree bears well most years so there will be more in the future. I bought a large terry cloth tablecloth. Cut it up to make 8 tea towels which I am machine embroidering. I made apple crisp with homegrown apples today and used the peels to start a batch of vinegar. Brandy I am old enough to be your mother but I learn from you each week. I always thought I was frugal, but you continually inspire me…well done!
Brandy,
I didn’t really make this gift, my husband did. I had bought 3 glass votive candle holders- a really pretty green in color and bought matching green votive candles (these were all clearance so total cost was well under $5). I had my husband take a piece of old barn wood and drill 3 holes so the glass candle holders sit a bit down in the wood. I must say this candle holder turned out so good I would love to have one for myself.
Again, with my husband’s help I took half of an old door and sanded and painted but it still looks old. I then picked up 3 really pretty knobs at Pier 1 (I had a gift certificate so no cost) that I placed along the bottom to hang things from. I then added a beautiful hydrangea wreath I made myself from dried hydrangeas from my yard to the upper half. It will look lovely in my niece’s country home and literally no cost to me.
I am finding by getting a little creative this year I am really saving a bundle on my Christmas budget. I got my inspiration from you Brandy- you are always so creative and clever and end up with beautiful gifts.
Becky- I went through the kitchen table sewing to the salvaged small cabinet sewing for a few years, and then asked for a the arrow gidget II table (from sew vac direct) for a combined anniversary/birthday/christmas gift, and saved enough to get a custom insert for it. (They also have a nice selection of machine extension tables for less). I put it in a corner of the upstairs landing, and made an ironing pad for the top of a salvaged chest of drawers- that I use to store fabric in. A thrift store lamp helped tremendously with the lighting. Being able to leave the machine set up and having everything organized makes a tremendous difference in getting things done! My daughter lives in a very small place now, and has her machine parked on a thrift store side table, for Christmas I’m making her hanging pocket organizers for her notions and tools that can be stored in the closet. Check out pintrest for ideas on sewing in small spaces, it takes a little thinking outside the box, but if you can find a corner and make it work for you, it is sooo much easier.