Makyla Creates: Dua Blouse

Oh the Dua Blouse. I adore this top. I wear it at least once a week, whenever I want to feel a little dressed up. Makyla Creates wasn’t somebody I’d heard of before, but she’s fast become one of my favourite pattern designers.

After falling hard for ruffles and puff sleeves at the beginning of summer, but not being overly keen on some of the more popular indie sewing patterns, I came across the Dua Blouse at just the right time.

So what made me fall for this pattern? The statement balloon sleeves are fastened with a dainty tie. The curved, gathered yoke extends from front to back with it’s gorgeous ruffle (I much prefer this detail to a straight yoke ruffle across the front). And even though it has a high neck (an absolute favourite detail of mine) it’s still breastfeeding friendly (woo hoo!).

Because of my big bust I was unsure about which size to make, but looking at the finished measurements really helped. I decided to go for it in a relatively cheap fabric, and call it a wearable toile if anything went wrong.

There’s lots of gathering in the pattern, and quite a few more time consuming details, so I was close to the end before I could try on the blouse for fit. And it was perfect!

I bought the fabric at the start of my sewing journey. I think it was around £5 per metre and is a basic cotton – heavier than a lawn but lighter than quilting weight. Soon after starting to put the blouse together I realised it was a brilliant pick for this pattern as the crispness of the cotton highlights my favourite features – voluminous sleeves and the ruffles. I love the print too. It’s made what could have been quite a summery top such a versatile blouse. It’s seen me through playdates and actual dates!

So the pattern. I wasn’t sure how the experience of making it would be, as Makyla Creates was new to me and I didn’t know anybody else who had made her patterns. I needn’t have worried. Her instructions are really clear, as are the beautiful hand drawn illustrations. It’s quite an involved pattern but with the quality of instructions I felt really well supported throughout the sewing process. There are some fiddly parts but I just had to slow down and take my time which I really enjoyed.

The pattern uses 1cm seam allowances in most parts, and some 6mm, which at times made things a bit fiddly as I’m used to 1.5cm. The advantage though is less waste, and feeling like a legitimate sewist as you don’t need the leeway of the more common wider seam allowance. The only change to the pattern I’m going to make is to topstitch the ruffle seam allowance to the yoke, just to ensure the ruffle doesn’t flip to the wrong side.

I love it. So much so, I’ve cut another out and started to sew it. I’ve stopped though as it’s a very summery fabric and I want to focus my limited time on my wintery wardrobe. I can’t wait to pick it up again in spring though.

I’ve also downloaded the Blouse One pattern from Makyla Creates and am looking forward to what she comes up with next. But for now, I’m enjoying getting lots and lots of wear from my fancy but breastfeeding friendly me memade top!