A Cap-Sleeve Silk Blouse

This blouse began when I saw my friend wear a little cap sleeve sweater that tied at the back key-hole instead of buttoned.  I was enchanted.

I got some mysterious polyester out of my stash, laid my own cap-sleeve blouse on top, and traced.  I felt bold and willing to throw away a flop if needed.

It turns out the blouse is cute and the fabric is SILK.  It's good I didn't know I was sewing with silk, or I would have been anxious.

I realized that using ties at the keyhole would have made an unfortunate mashup of elements that looked like a hospital gown.  I was thinking 80s revival, not hospital.  So I added a pretty, clear button.

I bound the neck and arm holes with self-bias, finishing it with handstitching.  That was a lot of delicate stitches!

I thought the blouse was too shapeless (hospital gown fears), so I nipped it in 4 places. Are these tucks? In some patterns, these are elongated things that blend into the line - what are they called?  I thought the blouse called for something more fresh and casual - and it turns out my tuck-things can look like a maternity blouse, too.  Not a good look when you're going to your husband's 20th high-school-class reunion.

Still and all, I felt chic in my skinny jeans and homemade silk blouse. Thanks to my husband for these photos, snapped just before I left for work one morning.