Rimma has always been a huge fan of Toile de Jouy prints, so when she spotted a beautiful toile design on a silk-cotton voile at Elliott Berman’s website, her imagination instantly conjured up an airy blouse with billowy sleeves. The fabric, made of 75% cotton and 25% silk, was incredibly lightweight and delicate. Its off-white background had a faint yellowish tint, adorned with finely sketched black flowers. Rimma loved everything about it.
To take the utmost care, she hand-washed and air-dried the fabric. Then, after sifting through her blouse pattern collection, she decided to try one she hadn’t made before: the Helper Sew Hillary blouse. It featured a peasant-style silhouette with very full raglan sleeves and double neckline ties, finished with charming petal-shaped ends. It was those floral tips that truly sold her on the design.
SEWING TIPS: She chose the size based on her bust measurement, and the fit turned out perfectly, though with such a loose style, that wasn’t difficult to achieve. Given the fabric’s delicacy, Rimma opted for French seams throughout, steering clear of overlocking. For the neckline, she used a technique she had learned a few years back, making French seams that continue into a vent, eliminating any raw edges where the seam ends and the neckline begins.
SEWING TIPS: While the blouse construction was simple, the delicate fabric required extra care. The biggest challenge was turning the narrow ties right side out—her usual loop turner was too wide. Rimma used a clever alternative: she left long thread tails when stitching the bias strip, threaded them through a needle, knotted them, and pushed the needle’s blunt end through the tube. It was slow but effective. Once turned, she gently steamed the ties to maintain their rounded shape without direct ironing.
The petal tips were cleverly made by folding small circles of fabric and stitching them to the ends of the ties. Rimma loved the look, simple yet distinctive. The finished blouse felt airy and light, perfect for hot days when she wanted sun protection without overheating, thanks to the loose silhouette and breathable fabric.
CREATIVE IDEAS: And as a final touch, she made something out of a small, triangle-shaped scrap left over from the project, a neckerchief. After a quick hem, she had a sweet accessory to pair with other outfits. It felt like a fun new style element for her to experiment with, and also a charming nod to her former days working as a flight attendant. ✈️💛
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