Lavished Linen Blouse

This classic linen blouse is lavished with fil tire’, bullion roses, lazy daisies, web roses and point de Paris.  It looks like the product of an overworked, thimbled embroideress.  In fact, it was all done by machine.

Wing needle entredeux and shaped French laces add detail and delicacy to this versatile garment.  It is a project I designed and taught at the Babylock school at a Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion in Huntsville.

The machine embroidery is from Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Combinations  by Suzanne Sawko and me.  Suzanne digitized the designs and her fil tire’, in my unbiased opinion, is the best,  cleanest and most delicate machine embroidered fil tire’  there is.  

One of my favorite features of this blouse is the entredeux inserted between the sleeves and bodice.  Even people who cannot sew notice this detail and marvel at the novelty.  Of course, it is more time consuming than a standard sleeve insertion, but it is not difficult.  These same observers usually comment on the pinstitch which seems to hold the neck bias binding in place.

I have always contended that these little details are what makes an heirloom garment an heirloom.  Good construction and fine materials are requirements of heirloom sewing, but the extra details are what makes it an heirloom.