Ah, the bargain table floral rayon from Darn Cheap.  This is the last of it – and I have to say that I am rather sad to see it all gone.  However, this was a worthy project – a Sewaholic Pendrell top for my cousin Freya.

Last time I made this blouse for Freya I used a less draped cotton. This one seems to have come out slightly larger, despite making the same size 10.

This is such an easy blouse to make. The neckline and armholes are finished with bias binding, there are no closures, no darts, and it just slips on yet still has an element of shape. And those self-lined, pleated sleeves! I love them!

Just a little sewing tip – rayon like this is prone to stretching and shifting and moving around when you sew it. I stabilised the neckline with this knit fusible tape that I bought from Stitch 56 once the top was cut out. Well worth it.

I use stay tapes like this around necklines and along shoulder seams. I don’t use them for everything that I make, but I definitely use them a lot – usually in places where the instructions will say to stay stitch. I use double sided fusible tapes a lot when sewing with knits to secure hems in place. And to finish, a quick snap of the top when Freya was finally able to try it on.

Yes, it would have been a good idea if I’d given her the summer top in the correct season…