Slouchy Beatrix Blouse

BEATRIX BLOUSE | RAYON IKAT

Hi Friends, 

I've been hinting at this make for a few weeks now on instagram, but I've finally got the pictures together to show you one of my favourite recent makes: A rayon blouse made with Made by Rae's Beatrix Pattern. 

This shirt fits the criteria of being breezy enough for summer, looking bomb with a pair of jeans, and also being interesting enough to tuck in a pencil skirt at work. 

I'm really pleased with how its fitting into my wardrobe so far. 

It's no secret I have a small obsession with woven tee patterns. I love their versatility!

What stood out to me about the Beatrix is that it offers multi-cup sizing - anything that reduced the amount of flat pattern modification I need to do is a total win in my books. Things like shirttail hems and buttons are things I feel happy to hack into a pattern - but doing a FBA on a shirt without darts makes me cringe. 

So. Much. Work. 

I sewed up a size XS C/D with the hem of view A and the button placket of view B (sounds confusing, but it's actually the exact same way Rae makes the blouse during her sewalong). I ditched the buttons because I can't find the perfect ones, but I'm sure I'll add them on another time - For now the back is just based together on the placket seams. 

Construction is insanely simple, almost too easy to be true, and I finished it easily in the same afternoon I started the project. I followed her sewalong instead of the instructions, and love how clear and easy to follow it was! Rae's patterns are on the more expensive side, but I really felt like I got my money's worth with all the resources she gave. 

I used a gorgeous Rayon Ikat print from fabricland - you can see the same fabric being used by Anya for pants here.

This print is slowly, but surely, taking over the WORLD. 

No Joke. 

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After making three scout tee's (One blush coloured here, one hamburger print here, and one unblogged in black and white gingham) and never being 100% satisfied with the fit, I knew I needed to branch out and try another pattern. I really needed some bust darts to shape my figure. 

Does the Beatrix solve all my fit problems? No. The back is a little too baggy for my liking (do I need a sway-back adjustment?!). But, the multiple cup sizes has given me a fit that's closer to my ideal with minimum effort on my part. 

#makergoals

I'm sure many of you are asking: which is better, the Scout or the Beatrix?

Truthfully, it might be too soon to tell. 

I've made three scouts, and have a fourth cut out - I've got a lot of experience with the pattern. It's cheaper than Beatrix, but simpler. It also comes in a wider range of sizes, but no multi-cup sizing. 

So far I've made two and a half Beatrix's (one's unfinished, the other is coming soon), but never put the buttons on or made the shirt exactly as the instructions specified. It's a little more expensive, but gives you more options. The facings and plackets make this blouse a little more intricate to make, and a little more interesting to look at. Also it includes my all-time favourite feature, multi-cup sizing. 

I think the true test will be seeing which of the two patterns I continue to reach for - I'll be sure to update you once I know. 

That's about all I have to say about my first Beatrix Blouse. I hope you've enjoyed reading about it. 

Next week I have two makes ready to show you: Another rayon Beatrix blouse, or a Noelle Bra hacked into a dress. Which do you guys want to see first? Let me know below!!