Knit Peasant Blouse and Gingham Capris Tutorial

You will need- (or maybe I should say what I used LOL)

1 1/2 yds of knit

2 yds  of gingham (or fabric of your choice)

1 1/2 yds lace  or ribbon (if you want to do the empire waist)

3/4 in. elastic for waistband of capris

1/4 in. elastic for neck of blouse (also for the sleeves if you want them fitted)



A little note about sewing with knits, it's a good idea to pull slightly as you are sewing. That seems to prevent the wavy lines knit can get. Also, you will need a ball point needle for your sewing machine.





Step 1- You will need to decide how long you want your blouse. Since I am using gingham for the capris I wanted the blouse to be long enough to cover my back side (gingham is thin.... LOL). I just measure from my shoulder down to where I wanted the blouse to be and marked it with a pin. Then I folded the fabric over and cut. Set the left overs to the side for your sleeves.



Step 2-  Cut the fabric in 2 pieces- 1 front piece, 1 back piece



Step 3- Pin the pieces together and fold in half.




Step 4- Measure 8" from the fold and mark with a pin





Step 5- Measure 10"  from top corner down the side (not on fold)  and mark with a pin.





Step 6- Cut at a slight curve from the fold to your top pin. (The one that measured 8") This will be your neck.



Step 7 - Leaving a slight straight edge cut at a slight curve from your 8" mark down to your 10" mark. This will be where the sleeves attach.











Step 8- Grab your left over fabric and fold. Measure 17" by 11"  while folded.  Cut 2.





Step 9- Place both of your sleeve pieces (still folded) under your bodice pieces lining up the outer edges and the top edges. Using the bodice pieces as a guide, cut the slants into the sleeve pieces.







This is what you will have.







Step 10- Pin the sleeves to the front bodice piece - Since we are using knits there is really no right side or wrong side. If you are using something other than a knit then you place right sides together. ;) Also both the front bodice and back bodice pieces are the same.... LOL But using that term might make it less confusing.

Sorry that the pic is kind of crappy..... :/



Step 11- Sew the sleeves to bodice piece. (I forgot the pic for this part but it's simply sewing the sleeves where you pinned them.)



Remove the cats from your cutting/pinning board. SIGH.....















Step 12- Lay the bodice piece with the sleeves attached down. Fold sleeves over. Lay the other bodice piece on top (other than knit it will be right sides together) and pin the sleeves in place



Step 13- Sew the sleeves to the bodice piece.







Love on your cat and see if she will let you continue.......







Step 14- Pin from the bottom of the sides of the bodice all the way up through the ends of the sleeves.  This will be the pinning for your side seams and sleeve seams



Step 15- Sew a continuous seam from the sleeve to the end of the bodice, attaching the front bodice piece to the back bodice piece.







Step 16- While still inside out, fold over 1" from the top of the neck line and pin in place.



Step 17- Sew your neckline elastic casing, making sure to leave an opening.



Step 18- Take your 1/4" elastic and place it around your neck where you would like your neckline to sit. Cut.









Step 19- Pin a safety pin to both ends of the elastic and push through the elastic casing, either holding tightly to both ends or pinning the "loose" end. This will keep you from losing one end inside the casing.



Step 20- Sew the elastic together.



Step 21- Sew the elastic casing closed.









Step 22- Now, you can be done here OR you can hem the sleeves the blouse  OR you can add elastic to the ends of the sleeves in the same way you did the neckline making them more fitted. I like leaving my knit unfinished. I like the way it looks when it rolls. ;)

If you want to add the empire waist stick right here. If not, add whatever finishing touches you want to your blouse and move on to the capris.



Empire waist-



Step 1- Try your blouse on and mark with pins where your empire waist should sit.









Step 2- Pin your lace/ribbon/whatever to the right side of your blouse taking care to keep it straight and leaving plenty of excess for when you sew it.







Step 3- Sew the top of your lace/ribbon/whatever.



Step 4- Sew the bottom of your lace/ribbon/whatever making sure to leave an opening for the elastic.



Step 5- Take your 1/4" elastic and measure under your breast line. Cut.



Step 6- Pinning both ends of the elastic with safety pins, repeat the steps used for the neckline. ;)







Step 7- Tuck one end of the lace/ribbon/whatever into the opening. Fold over the other side and tuck it in.



DONE!!!!



Now, on to the capris. I cheat a little here.... ;) After a couple of steps I am going to cut and paste the tutorial for the pajama pants... So when the fabric in the pics change, don't be alarmed. ;) LOL  All the steps are the EXACT same. This is the way I make all my pants, capris and shorts. It's VERY simple and easy.



Capris-



Step 1- Find a pair of capris/pants/shorts that fit you well to use as a guide. If you are using pants you will want to cut shorter for the capris. If you are using shorts you will want to cut longer.



Step 2- Fold your fabric and line it up with the width of your guide making sure to leave room for seam allowances.







Step 3- Place the outside line of your guide on the fold. Pull the crotch of your guide ALL the way out.



Step 4- Cut around your guide leaving excess for seam allowance.







Step 5- If you are using a fabric that has a right side and a wrong side you will want to flip your guide piece over and cut it that way.  Place your newly cut leg as a guide and cut the second leg.



Now I will be copying and pasting from the pajama tutorial. Hey! It's Sunday! A day of rest! LOL ;) And like I said, they are all made the same anyway.... LOL It's taken me longer to put this tutorial together and the natives are getting restless... LOL





Step 12- Take one leg and pin the side with right sides together sew up from the bottom to the point of the crotch. Do the same with the other leg.



Step 13- Turn ONE leg right side out and stuff it down the other leg, matching up seams. Pin in place and sew from the top of one side, down to the crotch and up to the other side.



Step 14- Turn pants wrong side out and pin 2″ from the top to make your elastic casing

Step 15- Sew your elastic casing, leaving an opening to thread the elastic through

Grab your child and measure the elastic around the waist. Other people will say to add a little for seam allowance but I find that always makes the pants/skirt/shorts a little too big. 



Step 16- Put a safety pin in both ends of the elastic and thread one end through (you can either hold tightly to both ends OR pin one end to the fabric (Thanks, LaVonne)



Step 17- Sew ends of elastic together.



Step 18- Sew the opening closed.

Step 19- Pin and hem the bottoms of the pants! (I forgot to take a pic of this but I figure if you’ve made it this far….  )





Now here you are! You have a new peasant blouse and matching capris! :)









Let me know what you think! Is this easy to follow?