Simplicity 4586 Blouse - Completed

The blouse has been completed and I am pleased with it. The fabric is nice to the touch and most importantly - it fits!  This cotton/silk fabric was a bit sticky going past the feed dogs, but not where it caused a problem.  It just didn't glide.  The pattern is well-drafted and can be sewn up many times and not look the same.  There is, however, no challenge.  But that can be good if a new blouse is needed quickly.  This wardrobe basic will be included in my TNT (tried and true) patterns.

I kept thinking about buttonholes while I was putting this blouse together.  Making buttonholes on the Bernina 930 is not difficult.  If you are not extremely careful, though, there can be slight size differences from one buttonhole to the next.  I don't like that.  So, this morning, I dug out my old Kenmore sewing machine.  I haven't used it in years, since it had suffered a parking lot crash when one of the carrying case latches broke.  It hasn't been the same since.  But, I thought I would give it a try as it has an automatic buttonhole feature.

To make a buttonhole on the Kenmore, you place your chosen button into the slot on the back of the buttonhole foot.  It makes the buttonhole the perfect size for the button. You can sew as many buttonholes as you please and they will each be exactly the same.  I used it for the buttonholes on this blouse.  It did a great job!  It is worthy and won't be packed away again.  Yeah!

My button sewing technique has improved.  After sewing the buttons on, using the Bernnina 930 and the awesome #18 foot, they were finished by hand. For each, I threaded a needle with the two front thread tails, sewed through the button, and took a few stitches on the back. I then tied the threads off, including the two back threads. It took a few minutes to do, but they are secure.

The only other non-machine sewing was the tacking of the back facing to the shoulder seams. It could have been done by machine, but the needle was there and it was just a few stitches on each side.  I didn't mind.