By Marsha Olson

Materials

• Less than ¼ yard of lightweight woven fabric
• Small sew-on snaps
• Small decorative buttons
• Thread to match fabric

Instructions

Step 1. Sew the bust and double-pointed darts on the blouse front and back. Press the bust darts down. Snip the center of the double pointed darts and press towards the side seams.

Step 2. Sew the blouse front to the back at the shoulder seams. Clean finish the edge of the shoulder seam with a small zigzag stitch. Press the shoulders towards the back.

Step 3. Staystitch and clip the armholes.

Step 4. Clean finish the hem edge of the sleeve. Add a narrow lace edging to the sleeve hem by butting the edge of the lace up to the finished hem edge, and sew the two edges together with a small zigzag stitch.

Step 5. Stretch and sew 1/8-inch elastic to the sleeve following the elastic guideline marked on the pattern.

Step 6. Sew a double row of gathering stitches along the cap edge of the sleeve between the clip marks.

Step 7. Pull the gathering up to fit the armhole. Sew the sleeve in place.

Step 8. Sew the sleeve and side seams. Trim the seam to 1/8 inch and clean finish.

Step 9. Clean finish the neck edge. Sew the lace edging in the same manner as for the sleeve hem edge.

Step 10. Finish by adding snaps down the front to close.

Add a cummerbund of ¾-inch velvet ribbon with a snap at the back for an authentic 1950s accessory.