Friday, January 28, 2022

Basic Black: a New Look 6598 blouse



I realized as I finished my malachite green suit that I didn't have a good basic black blouse to pair with jackets. Lots of t-shirt styles but I wanted a blouse with collar. So I looked through my pattern stash and came up with this classic New Look 6598 blouse, with a wonderful collar option. 


I recently found a linen blend from my local Fabricland; it's semi-opaque and has a subdued shimmer to it. It was nice to work with although I had to be careful not to overpress. I bought enough for this blouse specifically, and I ended up making View A, the yellow long sleeved one on the cover, although I did change the sleeve length to 3/4, my preferred length. 


It was pretty easy, even with the unusual collar construction -- at least I wasn't familiar with the technique of insetting the back facing into the bottom of the collar facing piece. It turned out nicely, though, with some careful stitching and pressing. 


It's a short blouse, and I might lengthen it a touch if I make it again. As is it will be nice untucked with a blazer, which is what I was making it for. I was lucky to find some very lightweight black buttons of just the right size in my stash; this fabric couldn't sustain anything heavier. Fortunately for me, all my buttonholes went in smoothly, since I don't think unpicking would do this fabric any favours! 


The only thing I'm not entirely happy with is the width of the shoulders. The sleeve caps drop off my shoulders a bit; I think I could take 1/2" in on either side to narrow the shoulders. I don't know why I didn't check this - New Look has such wide shoulders in most of their patterns! Because of this I'm not fully satisfied with the sleeve caps either. My husband suggested taking the sleeves out and altering it -- which I probably should do. But will I? The eternal question.


I do like this blouse, though, and think that the fit and construction of this one will make it one I'll return to. I see a nice summer blouse with the cute notched short sleeves too. And that collar shape is so pleasing. 



8 comments:

  1. Style and length of this blouse is well balanced for you Melanie. Like the collar style.

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  2. Really lovely blouse that's not too basic. Those pieces are so handy in the wardrobe.

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    1. I was really feeling the need of this standard top. So glad we can just pick something a little special and sew it up!

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    1. It feels slightly retro in a way. I really like it!

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  4. That blouse pattern is a real winner -- bought it when it first came out. Liked it so much that I bought another copy in case I wore the first one to tatters. It can be very casual, in a funky print; or very dressy, in a mid-weight jacquard. The shawl collar construction is pretty well designed -- remember that you don't have to sew that shoulder/neck seam all in one go. I love your basic black version. It will be a good mixer for years. It might be worth your time and effort to unpick the top half of each sleeve, shave some off the shoulder line, and re-set the sleeve. I have to do that alteration on RTW all the time. It's a little change, but the improvement in fit is amazing.

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    1. Thanks for commenting -- that sleeve fix sounds like just the trick. I think it would be just enough to get this to sit much better. I love the pattern, and can see how it could go from some summer casual to super dressy. I do like the silhouette a lot!

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