This blouse is made with nice linen scraps from another blouse I made. I have been experimenting with metallic embroidery and decided to combine that with raw edges to keep it casual enough to actually use. 

I used a plain ol’ sloper that fits me to cut a nice simple top. The neckline is cut wide and the hemline is cut in a gentle curve reflecting that of the neckline.

I have used raw edges  a bit in other garments and have realized that I prefer raw edges that can be controlled a bit. Cutting them on the bias limits how long those ravelled threads can be, something I prefer. It also allow for stretching the edges and giving it a lettuce edge like look. So, I cut one inch wide bias strips and pinned them neatly around the neckline. I zigzagged them in place down the center with white thread and then stitched over that with pretty decorative stitches. The stitches shown are built in to the Babylock Ellegante II but there are decorative stitches on most machines would work nicely. I combined two patterns to make rows that coordinate with each other but are not exactly the same. 

The back of the blouse has buttons to close it. My nicest buttons were not white enough to look right on this so I used some very non-descript white plastic buttons and sewed them on, face down, with the metallic thread. 

The armholes and hemline are faced with bias strips and machine stitched in place. The neckline is actually faced with the first strip of bias so that the actual raw edge of the blouse is encased underneath the first strip. 

In the end the bias strips didn’t ravel very much when the blouse was washed. I was disappointed but remembered that I had played with bias edges before with satisfying results. I grasped small sections of the bias edge and pulled in opposite directions, effectively stretching it out of shape in a very nice way. It has a subtly ruffled look, ruffles that are not prissy though, ones that have the sort of contemporary edge that i aim for in clothes. 

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