When I purchased this fabric (a polyester spandex blend that feels fantastic!), I knew what I wanted to do with it right away. I wanted to create a blouse that would flow and move, as well as have some style. For my red blouse project, I made McCall’s 6436. The paper pattern is no longer available, but I see that you can purchase it as a digital download (you can check it out here).

Have you ever made a button front blouse/shirt?

When I posted some pictures online, many people responded that they have never made a shirt. I understand that it does look more complicated than it actually is (trust me on this). With most sewing machines having automatic buttonhole attachments, it’s so much easier than it used to be.

It seems that one of the hardest things is to try to get the spacing right on the front of the shirt. Making sure your buttons are evenly spaced from each other is important because it’s noticeable if they aren’t. Also, making sure that the shirt stays closed in the front, especially at the bust when you move, is also important. But don’t let any of this dissuade you from making a shirt. At the end of the post I’ll share some of the tools I used to make this easier.

Another thing I did which I often talk about is making a muslin. I made one (I usually just attach one sleeve) to check the fit since I’ve never used this pattern before. I took my time and made sure to follow the instructions so that I wouldn’t skip a step.

Making a muslin/mockup for fit can save you time & trouble!

So, if you haven’t tried doing this before, I encourage you to give it a try. Like most things you sew, it gets easier the more practice you have.

Here are some of the tools I used to make this shirt: