Contemporary Sewing Patterns for the Modern Maker
Hey everyone, Holly here! The Dove blouse hack I’m going to share with you today has resulted in my new favorite top in my closet. It’s SO good! I’m going to show you how to create a sleeveless version with cute little rectangular cap sleeves. This hack was originally done by Katie of What Katie Sews, and when Meg showed it to me I was in loooooove and knew we had to share it with you all and show you how to do it yourself. So thank you Katie for the inspiration!
Ok, so let’s get started……
Hello friends! I have another cute Dove hack to share with you today. I’ll be showing you how to change the neckline from a v-neck to a higher, rounded neck. Cute, right?! And as a bonus, I’ll also quickly show you how I did a straight hem instead of the curved hem.
The rounded neck is a pretty simple change, but does involve some pattern manipulation. In addition to changing the shape of the neckline, we will also need to alter the back so that it still fits over your head, as well as change which pieces are cut on the fold/not cut on the fold. But one way we will keep it simple is to not worry about altering the neckline facing too. Instead, I’ll show you how you will now be able to use a simple bias strip facing to finish the facing. I’m always trying to think how we can keep these hack tutorials as simple as possible so that its easy for all sewing levels! I hope that is helpful.
But anyway, I am going to keep the two hacks separate – first showing you the rounded neck from start to finish, pattern changes to sewing. And then show you the straight hem, pattern changes and sewing. So let’s just get to it!
I’ve had a lot of requests for tutorials for how to do a full bust adjustment (FBA) and small bust adjustment (SBA) for french darts like the one in my Dove Pattern, so I wanted to make sure we had a tutorial on how to do them on a french dart specifically!
The steps for doing an FBA or SBA on a French dart are very similar to a side seam bust dart, with a few extra considerations since French darts are constructed a bit differently.
So first things first – Let’s figuring how what a bust adjustment is and whether you even need one!
Our team has been working from home these past few weeks, but that hasn’t stopped us all working furiously on the final touches of the Dove pattern… which is now available in our extended size range! I’m so excited to tell you that Dove is now available in sizes 0-20 and Dove Curve is now available in sizes 14-30.
I’m going to go through the differences between the Curve 14-30 pattern and the 0-20 pattern as well as detailing each of the variations, and telling you a little bit about them and how you can use them.
The Dove and Dove Curve instructions and pattern pieces haven’t changed at all, the pattern pieces have just been re-graded to include additional sizes. Dove originally included 5 sizes, and now includes 11! Dove Curve was actually the first Curve pattern we released and since then we have improved our size range further, so i’m thrilled to be adding 3 more sizes to this pattern to bring it in line with the rest of our Curve range. Dove Curve originally included 6 sizes, and now includes 9!
The Dove pattern is drafted for a B cup whereas the Dove Curve is based off our Curve block which is drafted for a D cup.
The Curve pattern is drafted with the same style and design details but with a curvy figure in mind. If you find yourself in the crossover of the two ranges in sizes 14-20 we recommend that you choose your pattern based on your cup size and personally ease preferences. If you have a B cup we would recommend Dove. If you are a D cup or above and prefer a bit more ease and coverage at the hips, we would recommend Dove Curve.
Both patterns come with the same awesome variations and all our tutorials and add on ideas can be applied to either!
View A blouse with elbow length sleevesDove is really all about details and beautiful finishes. View A includes an above elbow length sleeve and is a great option if you would like to let the curved hemline shine. Both the V neckline and curved hem are finished with beautiful facings, and this is definitely one of those makes that you’ll find yourself admiring from the inside and out. This pattern also includes french darts, which result in a very flattering fit and are a wonderful new skill to learn!
View B the blouse with flared sleevesView B includes the same beautiful details as View B, but with a slightly flared sleeve cuff. The sleeve cuff turns this pattern into a wonderful option for colder weather and is just wide enough to add some interest but not wide enough to get in the way of your lifestyle.
View C the blouse with bell sleevesView C is unashamedly my favourite view of this pattern! This view is all about the sleeve drama! It includes a bell sleeve which is a full circle and creates an absolutely incredible silhouette. You can make this view from a drapey or more structured fabric depending on how much of a show piece you want your sleeves to be. Personally i really enjoy making this out of a crisp fabric that makes the sleeves really stand out.
We’ve got some great tips and tricks on the blog to help you with your Dove pattern, and we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to have some more ready for you in the coming weeks so keep your eyes peeled!
I’m truly so exciting that the Dove pattern is now all updated to our size range of 0-30!! Getting all my patterns into a more inclusive size range is my number one priority and I absolutely cannot wait to see what you make with Dove and Dove Curve!
Don’t have the Dove sewing pattern yet?! Order Dove or Dove Curve! If you have any questions at all please let me know in the comments below or send us an email at hello@megannielsen.com. Don’t forget to tag your creations #MNdove and @megannielsenpatterns to share what you’ve been working on, and check out what everyone else is up to!
One of my favorite things about Megan’s patterns is the endless possibilities they each have. Matilda has so many different options within the pattern itself and with a little bit of simple drafting there are even more possibilities. I’ve had this black rayon twill for over 6 months and I knew I wanted to create some kind of short sleeved top that could be worn with anything and everything. Something that could be worn out on a date night, but also worn chasing my toddlers around in jeans. I absolutely love the lines of the Matilda and the front flap pockets are perfection.
In this tutorial I will walk you through how to add sleeves to the Matilda using the sleeve and the armsyce from the Dove blouse. The Dove and Matilda were drafted using the same block, so this will actually be quite an easy change. A tutorial on how to create a top using the Matilda pattern will come in the near future.