French Knot Blouse

7:08 PM

I need more blouses.
Pretty much my "above the waist wardrobe" consists of solid tee shirts.
I need to grow up and move beyond the Target or Old Navy tee shirts.

But I'm also thinking a real blouse might be more flattering.
Lynette, my sister, HATES knit.  She won't sew with or wear it.
She's voiced her anti-knit opinions, and I still love knits for kids, but I'm starting to come around with the unflattering element of just wearing tee shirts for me.
After babies, I find my tummy skin will never be the same, and wearing knit shirts that cling may not be the best idea.  Obviously a larger tee shirt won't cling as much, but then it won't fit right.  So before this post becomes "What Not To Wear" by someone who's clueless and needs to be a contestant herself, on to my new goal to sew more tops that aren't knit and outline to outline and emphasize my perpetual post-partum mini gut.
So I'm trying to have looser blouses in more structured fabrics to flow over the skin rolls rather than crease between them.

I had some left over drapes from my aunt, and made a simple pop over blouse.
The scoop neck is big enough to go over my head without a zipper or button, so it makes it an easy top to wear.
It's just like a tee shirt, no boob or back darts, so it's even easier to sew.
It gets some shape by the curved side seams so it's not just a total box.

The texture on this blouse is a pattern of french knots with embroidery floss.
I had never used french knots and found helpful videos on youtube to show me how, they're pretty easy.
The knots add a subtle detail and texture that I thought worked out nicely.

The front is in a grid pattern that gets more concentrated at the neck.
The back just has a 2" spaced grid throughout and the sleeves were an even 1.25" grid.

 I worked on it over the course of a few weeks a few here and there when we went places.
I rarely hand sew but this fit in a bag and made it easy to get it done while watching the kids play at the park, fishing, etc.  I put a square knot behind each french knot, but as I worked, just left the thread connecting them.  The drapery fabric is thick enough you can't see the backing thread so I think I'll leave it to help prevent knots coming untied.

After sewing the side/ shoulder seams and finishing the neckline, I used tailor chalk to map out diagonal lines 2" apart on the front and back.
I marked intersections with a blue fabric pencil and as it got closer around the neckline, I drew knot dots on the half way point between intersections to double the concentration of the knots.
I didn't use any embroidery hoops either.


 I wore it to church today and got a few compliments and asking if I made it.
Later my husband asked if it was because they liked it or if it looks homemade....I wasn't sure.
I think I'll try another and make it 2" longer.

Anyway, the french knot idea could spruce up lots of different projects with simple, subtle texture and detail.

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29 comments

  1. I definitely don't think they asked because it looked home-made! Oh the post partum pooch! I'm 14 months after my second (AND LAST) kid - struggling with accepting it and with my wardrobe. I definitely need to make tops like this. What pattern did you use for the top? It's exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for.

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  2. "You mean to tell me my children have been seen all over Salzburg in nothing but some old DRAPES!"

    It looks awesome, I love the french knots, and how you put them more densely around the neck. It looks great! I'd wear it in Salzburg ;)

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  3. I love your blouse!! So much work to put those French knots on it!! Awesome! I have been thinking I need to do some handwork this summer (portable, like u said), this may have to be my project!

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  4. I love it! You are so great at putting in the little details that really make a garment beautiful. I hope someday to think more like you.

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  5. Hmmmm - you've got me thinking now about my tshirt collection :) I love the idea of a collection of wee cotton tops - yours is a lovely shape and it looks great on you. NOT homemade!!!
    By the way - I'm totally loving your shoes :)

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  6. the shoes! They were a splurge from money I made sewing 17 skirts for a wedding.
    I got them as factory seconds from http://www.danskooutlet.com/Home/
    I got a pair of medical clogs when I was working 8 years ago that I still wear a ton in the winter. They're really comfortable and made to help when you're on your feet all day. I loved those so I thought a pair of dansko sandals would be great for summer vacations/ day trips where there's lots of walking and I'd rather not wear tennis shoes. I hope these last forever like my other danskos!

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  7. This is a fantastic idea! Would love to try it on something for my little girl! Thank you for sharing.

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  8. Great fabric embellishing idea! I am so enjoying your 'adult' sewing projects these past few weeks.

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  9. I love that shirt style. Why is that second baby so hard? Thenfirstmwasmeasymto get rid of. Is there going to be a shirt tutorial sometime, or a pattern? I'd love to revamp my top section with a few...or a lot of those.

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  10. Absolutely gorgeous!

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  11. What a beautiful blouse! :) It fits perfectly on you! I also need to be moving away from knit but am afraid most blouses look too boxy on me but I'll never know if I don't try! The distribution of the knots is perfect and you look gorgeous in these pictures. :)

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  12. I get the 'did you make it?' question a lot too, and I'm also never sure if it is because it looks handmade or if the questioner just likes it. I don't think your blouse looks homemade though, I would expect to find something similar in a retail store. The french knots are the perfect touch.

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  13. Tell hubbs he's UBER lucky to have such a talented, creative, hot mmamma like you for a wife and to be proud, not doubtful... ; ) (jk) OF COURSE your blouse doesn't look home made, people were just AMAZED you did such a super job!! Lovin' it!!

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  14. So cute! And I love your tag line. I think that so totally sums up my extracurricular sewing, crafting, blogging, etc, too. :) Between the more important things... and I have no idea how I'm going to phase out of my Old Navy t-shirt collection. I'm wearing one right now! :-P

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  15. this is seriously beautiful. i love the subtle but beautiful detail of the french knots.

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  16. I loove that top! So gorgeous, the fabric is perfect.

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  17. This is a stunning blouse! I am obsessed with knits and am having a hard time not sewing myself 100 tanks for the summertime....but they are so cozy! :)
    Anyway...this is beautiful.

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  18. i love making french knots! this is the perfect excuse for me to make french knots all day! thanks for the great idea!

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  19. I too need to get myself together and make more blouses. I have totally fallen into the t shirt trap the last few years.

    Your blouse is simple and the detail is genius. I love it. Once again, you've inspired!

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  20. Your post cracked me up, thanks for that. And the top looks fantastic! All those French knots must have been tedious, but we're well worth it.

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  21. Very nice! Where did you find this pattern?

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  22. The fabrics is good and stitch like in such as manner this is good in style,I also like to wear this kind of dressing.http://www.gotapparel.com/

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  23. I like this shirt. Cute and comfy looking. It looks like something that could be dressed up or down very easily.

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  24. Very nice. Wondering, did you already have this blouse or did you make/use a pattern for it? Is it a pattern you designed? Could you possibly please share it with us?

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  25. I didn't use a pattern, but drafted my own. more info here:
    http://projectsbyjess.blogspot.com/2012/09/simple-blouse-pattern-images.html

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