White/Black Embroidery Shirt with Rose Denim Pants

I tell you, I love the hum of  my sewing machine, it relaxes me, calms me, makes me happy.  It is just the perfect hobby and activity.    Now add to the hum of my sewing machine,  The Great British Sewing Bee  playing on my laptop in the sewing room and it just doesn't get much better than that.  As I was working on my blouse from White/Black Geometric Voille, the show just inspired me to do an even better job.

I was imagining May and Patrick critiquing my garment and suggesting other options.  With the critiques, would be positive comments on parts of the garment well done and all was right in the world during this time.   Also,  All the participants on the show, who love to sew and create garments, it was like having my sewing room full of friends.  

I selected Grainline Studio's Archer Shirt

 for the voille and went to work on sewing a garment worthy of the Sewing Bee.  I decided to use white quilting cotton for facings on this shirt, as the voille has incredible texture but two layers would be too much thickness.  I also posted a picture on Instagram for help with the pockets, a significant feature of this pattern but they were getting lost in the pattern design.  Several suggested piping and others bias binding, I went with the piping.  A nice touch at the top of the pockets for some added interest.  I added piping to the back yoke as well.  

Please note this pattern runs larger, it is a boyfriend side and it is long, too.  I always have to add an inch to the body and sleeve on my garments and did on this shirt.  I took it off the body but the cuffs were already completed and look at the great detail on the cuff.  And that cuff is very wide an loose, so if you like a closer fitting cuff, measure the flat piece and adjust.  Here are a few of the shirt details and wonderful close-ups of this fabulous fabric

I have finally found a great pant pattern, Burda 7447, used on my my first Mood Post and pulled it out again to make them from Rose Denim

A perfect weight for spring and summer, plus a nice contrast to the white/black cotton voille. I make these pants with the more tapered bottom as shown on the envelope.  My thoughts were to roll them up in a cropped look.  .  

A few more details on the blouse, I recut the pockets four times.  I wanted the polka dots on the pockets to match with the fabric.  It took some time but I did succeed, thanks Patrick Grant for the inspiration.

I did take in this top on the sides seams by at least 2-3 sizes, something I will take into account cutting out my next one.  Yes, next one and I already have the linen from Mood Fabrics on my cutting table.

The mint belt is a perfect pop of color for this outfit and one of the things I like the best about the white/black cotton voille is the spring trend for this color combination.  With the blouse predominantly white, I can wear this trend and the color looks good on me.  (black isn't a good color on me, makes those good old dark circles pop right on out).  

Today, I just drove around in the country and took pictures for the post and found some places to take some photos.  I hope you enjoy the pictures of the rural area and the sights of spring emerging after a very long winter.

There is a great tutorial for the Archer shirt over Grainline Studio Blog