I have a touch of luxury for you this week with a delicious pure silk Georgette that I’ve made into the Delano blouse by Ose patterns. Monty, the owner and designer of Ose patterns (a French company) dropped me an email a few weeks ago and asked if I’d like to try out her latest design. I decided to take her up on the offer and she kindly sent to me a copy of the Delano pattern.
The Fabric
I knew instantly what I would use my version of the Delano because when dealing with volume in a garment, I like to slightly minimise that volume by using lightweight fabrics that drape and collapse back into the body… my lovely pure silk Georgette was just perfect for it. The fabric originally came from Clothspot in one of their remnant sales and had been in my stash for about a year. Those gorgeous shades within it were calling my name and after waiting patiently were due their time in the spotlight.
The Pattern
Let’s chat a bit about the pattern, shall we? It comes in sizes 34 to 48 (euro sizing) and it’s available in formats A4 or A0, there are comprehensive instructions plus a video tutorial as well.
Not only can you make a blouse, but you can also make the design as a short dress or a long midi-length version. There is also an option for a short sleeve with a deeper cuff.
My favourite part is that really lovely shaped neckline and those little side panels with the gathering underneath… so pretty!
I cut out size a 36. I normally go for a 38 or a 40 in Euro sizing but I decided to size down to reduce the volume a smidgen.
The only adjustments I needed were for my forward shoulder and to remove three-quarters of an inch of width across the front. I’d actually done a quick toile of the top section of the blouse and realised that I had a little bit of excess width in the middle. Oh, and I also decided to cut the front on the fold.
Cutting out my silk was a little bit tricky, to say the least. First, I trued up the edges and then I laid it down in a single layer on my carpet so that it didn’t shift about and I really took my time with it.
Details
For the neckline facing and little side panels, I’ve used a fine tricot nylon interfacing… the sheerest interfacing that I had in my stash. All the seams except for the armholes are done as French seams and the hem is done with my 2-pass method as featured in this post.
I’m really chuffed with my blouse because volume and I don’t always get on very well together, however, the fabric I’ve used here is so diaphanous (isn’t that a great word ?)and feather-light that it feels like I’m wearing fresh air. I love it!
Thanks again to Monty for introducing me to such a lovely design hope you like it too.
Let me know what you think in the comments and have you worked with sheer fabrics before? Tell me about your experience and any extra tips for sewing such tricky fabric.
See you soon!
Absolutely lovely! Just amazing and looks terrific on you!
Author
Thank you so much! I really love how it turned out.
Very pretty, love those dots! Great match of fabric to pattern, too.
Author
Thank you, Heather. I love those spots too.
Gorgeous georgette blouse, Diane! As usual, you considered what changes would make the design best for you/your figure on the front end… Reducing the extra in the front width, and sizing down make the blouse work better as a tucked top. And it is quite different done in a soft, fine fabric than the voluminous dresses in crisper fabrics shown in the pattern! Beautiful sewing and looks great on you!
Author
Ohhh, thank you so much, Joan! So glad you love it as much as I do.
You’ve done a great job as usual and the fabric and pattern really suit you.
I’m curious to know why you didn’t French seam the sleeve seam. I never used to but have recently on a couple of garments with very light fabric. What was your reasoning not to ?
Author
Thank you, Mary!
Well, I did fully intend to french seam the sleeves…and my honest answers are that firstly, my fabric had frayed quite a bit and secondly, I was getting a little tight for time, given that I needed to make two bikinis for an upcoming holiday and a top for a collaboration. So I took the quick and easy option, hehe!
If I do a similar project again, I will definitely be french seaming as I love the clean finish.
Gorgeous I’m tempted to make this too. I love it way more cut on the fold down the front. Do you think it needs an fba or does the volume allow enough ease? How did you finish the neckline it looks perfect.
Author
Hi Emma. Thank you! I usually do have to do some sort of FBA but I didn’t feel the need this time due to the volume…however, it may be worth just checking to see if you need to add a smidge extra length at the front to allow for your bust picking it up. For the neckline finish, there is a facing all around and I used a very seer interfacing on mine to reduce the bulk given that I used a sheer fabric..