Hello there Sewcial Studio Sewers!
My name is Ruth (@ruthypotts). I’m an Aussie living in Cardiff, Wales, I’ve been sewing for nearly 5 years now and most of that time Amanda and I have followed each other on IG. I was really excited when Amanda asked me if i fancied joining the Blogging team, so here I am today to share my first Sewcial Studio blog, and most recent make with you – a Sew Over It Pussy Bow Blouse. 
After immigrating from Australia to the UK nearly 2 years ago I realised that my me-made wardrobe was a little impractical and I probably couldn’t continue wearing summery, sleeveless dresses to work every day. As a result, I’ve been really focused on sewing more separates, and garments with sleeves that can be worn all year round and layered with cardigans and coats. I knew after I saw the stunning version made by Sasha (@like_my_granny) on Instagram, I absolutely HAD to make a Sew Over It Pussy Bow Blouse.
Amanda kindly sent me a selection of fabric swatches to help me pick the best fabric for my project. It was love at first sight when I opened the envelope and saw the beautiful Regal Sophia Double Georgette fabric, and I knew it would be perfect for my project.
The Pussy Bow Blouse pattern calls for fairly drapey fabrics, making it in the Double Georgette was absolutely perfect, so I asked Amanda to send me 2 metres. I was a little nervous that the fabric might be a little tricky to work with, or fray, but all my fears evaporated once I started sewing! The fabric was fantastic to work with. While it is drapey and soft, it was easy to fold and cut, and barely frayed at all as I pinned and sewed the seams. I was also a bit worried about accidentally melting the fabric when ironing the seams, but after a quick test on a scrap of fabric, I knew I could comfortably use a warm (low-medium) iron without any problems!
The pattern is marked for confident Beginners and Intermediate sewists. Construction of the blouse was very quick and straight forward thanks to very clear pattern instructions. There are no bust darts ( plus point) it has a v-neck with front centre seam and two tie options, the sleeves use the seam allowance turned back for the sleeve placket, then gently gathered with a rectangle cuff sewn in place. I cut a straight size 12 based on my measurements, Sew Over It patterns tend to sit a bit far back on my shoulders, so I added half an inch to each back-shoulder piece (and the centre of the sleeve piece to compensate for this change). I also used a small piece of ribbon from my stash instead of making fabric loops for the sleeve cuff closings. I used My over-locker to finish all the inside seams although you could use french seams to neaten and prevent any potential fraying over time.
The blouse is everything I had hoped for in a new work separate! It’s bright and cheerful, doesn’t require bucket loads of ironing to look presentable, and has a few extra details (hello sleeve cuffs and pussy bow!) that take this blouse to the next level. I know I’m going to get a lot of wear out of this blouse – but perhaps not for a few weeks until the weather cools down again!
Happy sewing everyone!
Ruth (@ruthypotts) xx
