The blouse shown above in soft cotton batik is one that I made a few years ago from this now "vintage" HotPatterns.com design that I tweaked a little bit to have a closer fit. This exact HP style (shown below) has been re-designed and is now offered as the HP1169 Classix Nouveau Refined Peasant Blouse...and can be seen here on the HotPatterns website.
The basic differences between the 2 patterns is that the HotPatterns style has a lovely "couture-like" flowing silhouette, with sophisticated details. The Meghan Peasant Pattern from "The Scientific Seamstress" has a silhouette that is both relaxed yet fitted, with pretty sleeve style options, neckline options, and top-tunic-dress length options. I've made them both, and I like the Hotpatterns style for soft flowing fabrics, and I like the Meghan for fabrics like lightweight cotton and soft washed linen.
OK..we know Elastic is on sale, we've got patterns to choose from...Now about those Elasticated Casings...
Making a casing for elastic is certainly one of our easier sewing tasks. Turn, stitch, insert elastic...done! Sewn this conventional way, we end up with a perfectly acceptable casing that looks something like the photo below, after the elastic is inserted. Fine...yet a little "bubbly and wobbly"...but something we have come to accept with elasticated casings.
(OK..a word here about "elasticated". I am old enough to remember when *everyone* just said "elastic casing", then one day I started to hear elasticated this/elasticated that...so...today I choose to use the word, elasticated every so often...with a few plain "elastic casings" thrown in ;) But yes, this is indeed just our old friend "the elastic casing" fancied up a bit)
By taking one additional construction step, you can achieve a "designer" look to an elastic casing garment. A very simple step that will result in a flat, even-edge casing every time, like the one in the finished garment shown....here is a close-up photo--
So what's that extra construction step? Edge-stitching!
After the casing is folded to the wrong side of the garment and stitched along the BOTTOM edge (leaving an opening to later insert the elastic, of course)....All that we need to do next to lend that "designer touch" is to edge-stitch the TOP fold of the casing...all the way around, as shown below--
By taking this one easy extra step, our elasticated casings lose the bubbles,
and gain some designer panache!
Quick note from Pam....
Thank-you very much for shopping at
my store and thank-you for continuing to follow my blog. I have not
blogged for a long time because of illness. I am dealing with it in
every positive way I possibly can, and I look forward to being able to
teach you more "tricks of the shirt-making trade" as soon as possible.
Thanks again for continuing to follow me here and on Facebook. I
appreciate it more than you know...and and I will be back...I promise :)
Sorry to hear you have been ill. Hoping you are back to full speed very soon. Thanks again for all your tutorials. I use them lots!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tip! I just might have to make myself a peasant top and try it out. Hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you're well soon. I thought of you quite a bit while sewing a shirt for my daughter...used your collar point tutorial and I'm sure that I unconsciously used several others. I do appreciate your expertise that you've shared with us, as well as your WONDERFUL interfacing!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear of your illness, and hope you get better soon! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and advice! I love learning these little techniques which make big differences!
ReplyDeleteThanks again Pam for your expertise and sharing it with us. Great tip and can't believe I've never sewn the elastic this way before. We're with you in believing for complete restoration and very happy that you are with us and encouraging and mentoring our sewing community. God speed.
ReplyDeleteI always thought that "elasticated" was the British English version of "elastic". Like they usually say "orientated" rather than "oriented". You can of course have a casing for something other than elastic, so it's important to say something! Great hint - the topstiching.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you get well quickly. I love reading your blog. I re-read all your tutorials all the time. I love all the buttons I ordered. Get well, we need you. xoxoxoxox-M
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pam; I think I just found the answer to "what pattern to use to turn this fabric into a new summer blouse" and I will definitely be using this tip. :)
ReplyDeleteMay God's grace and peace be with you as you cope with this illness.
Thanks Pam, for sharing your sewing secrets! I've come to the conclusion recently that elastic may well be the answer to my fitting and flattering issues, so it's nice to see a way to make it a bit smarter.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are feeling better soon.
Thank you for the great tip!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great tip. So sorry to hear of your illness and hope you get well soon!
ReplyDeleteHugs and prayers!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this tip. I have the original HP pattern and want to sew it up now that I have seen your wonderful version. Hope you get better soon.
ReplyDeleteI read this tip when you first posted it. Since that time I started to edge stitch my casings and the result is so professional. I am always surprised that this little step can make such a difference. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteGet well soon Pam. I love your interfacing so must try more of your range of elastics. The clear elastic has been great! Warmest wishes from Australia.
ReplyDeleteHope you are well soon!!!
ReplyDeleteHope you are well soon!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog and can't imagine not sticking around till you're back full speed!! I'm sending prayers that you have a speedy and complete recovery....God Bless
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I will remember this, and as we all (should) know, your elastic is the best! Hope you're feeling lots better.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great tip on the "elasticated" casing. I think I like saying that word, too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are over this health hump real soon. We all rely on your expertise and wonderful products more than you know.
Thanks Pam! Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteThanks for another great trip. I am so glad to read your post. This morning I was irong a shirt I made for my husband and I thought of you and hoped you were ok the sewing community is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and thank you for this tip on the elastic casing! I just made the Meghan Peasant dress recently. My next one will be even better thanks to you! I wish you well with your recovery!
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself, hope you are feeling better soon. We are cheering for you!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a simple and effective tip!! Thank you Pam. Feel better, Mary
ReplyDeleteHi Pam. I truly hope your health is fully restored very soon. Thank you so much for this and all other really great tips you share with us. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your blog so much! Thank you for sharing all these wonderful tips with us. I hope you make a complete recovery soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam, recently found your blog and find it very educational and realistically useful. So many "educational" tips require a PhD in deciphering. Sorry about your health issues and hope for the good results. Been there myself, so fully understand. Get well. Elaine
ReplyDeleteHope you are better soon!
ReplyDeleteYour blog offers SO much of value. I really appreciate it. I hope your condition improves or that you will find more support and resources to handle it. My thanks and very best wishes.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear you have been ill, I hope this is something you can overcome- sending healing vines and prayers.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled upon your blogsite while researching how to do shirt collars and I must say, that was the absolute best tute that I have ever seen- the exact information is provided and perfect pictures showing the steps, even a novice such as myself could do those perfect points :-) Thank you for this blog, it is like a Bible for me now! Ruth M
I'm of course late to the party (as usual) but wanted to thank you for all your wonderful tips, tutes, and techniques. You are an amazing woman, and you know I of course wish you well. Keep fighting - don't ever quit! Love ya
ReplyDelete