weekend getaway blouse with hemstitching

We’re thrilled to have Lisa back on the blog today! Last year, she shared her Weekend Links post with us, and now she's back to show us how she added hemstitching to the Weekend Getaway Blouse. Thank you, Lisa, for this fantastic tutorial! ![Lisa's Hemstitched Weekend Getaway Blouse](http://bsg-i.nbxc.com/blog/d516d02b459cf7e2591fb35975402192.jpg) The Weekend Getaway Blouse has been on my “to sew” list for ages, so when Liesl mentioned it was available in a paper format, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to give it a try. Be sure to check out Lori’s version with added pleats and Claire’s vibrant color-blocked take for more inspiration with this pattern. Liesl’s focus was on experimenting with the center front detail, and she also mentioned how much she loves sewing with linen. This got me thinking about hemstitching, which is a beautiful drawn thread technique that also serves as a practical way to hem garments—often seen in vintage heirloom pieces. For those unfamiliar with hemstitching, you can learn more about its history in this post. Below, I’ll walk you through a general tutorial using a piece of linen with larger gauge and perle cotton so you can clearly see what’s happening, followed by instructions on applying this technique to the Weekend Getaway Blouse. ### Preparing the Fabric: Before starting, create reinforcement bars by stitching a series of small satin stitches along the hemline. Begin by knotting your thread. From the right side of the fabric, insert the needle where the hemstitching will begin and bring it up a few threads to the left where it will end. ![Satin Stitch Bar](http://bsg-i.nbxc.com/blog/e3197ad302d963b764c1bf9dec4c2910.jpg) Now, work your way back down to the starting point, weaving in and out of each hole and stitching over the thread on the reverse side. Once done, clip the knot and flip the fabric to the backside. Take a deep breath—you’ve got this—and carefully snip the horizontal threads close to the satin stitch bar. Next, stitch another reinforcement bar at the spot where the hemstitching will end. If you're unsure where this is, use the tip of your needle to gently unweave the threads until you reach your desired endpoint. ![Clipping Threads](http://bsg-i.nbxc.com/blog/fbfbf271943ec4ee8fb6875cac68381d.jpg) Once the second bar is stitched, clip the threads on the opposite side and gently pull them out with tweezers. If you’re working with a finer fabric, you may want to clip just one or two threads initially to create space for identifying the remaining threads to remove. ### Hemstitching: Traditionally, hemstitching is done from the wrong side of the fabric, allowing you to catch the hemline neatly. Flip the fabric to the wrong side and secure your thread beneath a satin stitch bar. Starting from right to left, slip the needle under several threads (I grouped mine into fours), coming out without piercing anything. ![Traditional Hemstitching](http://bsg-i.nbxc.com/blog/6b29092584cdd4f57a5d49dfcadca89f.jpg) Next, reinsert the needle from point A to B, looping the thread around the fabric threads. As you pull the needle out at point B, pierce the fabric a few threads below where the threads were removed. Pull securely and repeat this process rhythmically as you move toward the end. To finish a section of hemstitching, run the thread under the previous row of stitching and take a few tiny backstitches before starting a new thread. To hem the fabric while stitching, fold the hem allowance up to the removed threads, ensuring the needle pierces through the folded edge. ### Handling the Corners: Corners require extra reinforcement since all threads are removed. For simplicity, I used a basic stitch for my blouse. Start by anchoring the thread beneath a satin stitch bar on the wrong side of the fabric. Bring it up through a satin stitch bar on the right side and take a stitch in the middle of the adjacent bar, pointing the needle toward the center of the corner and going over the working thread. Adjust the thread tension so it doesn’t pull too tightly. Work clockwise around the corner, always starting from the middle of a bar or thread group, pointing the needle toward the center, and going over the working thread. Once you return to the starting point, take the needle to the back and secure it by running it under one of the bars. ### Applying Hemstitching to the Weekend Getaway Blouse: For this blouse, choose a lightweight, drapey linen or cotton-linen blend with visible slubs and consistent thread thickness. The striped pattern makes it easier to identify which threads to remove. No adjustments are needed to the pattern. The hemstitching is applied to the facing pieces since the front detail is created using facings. Mark the seam allowance at both the top and bottom of the facings. Determine the distance from the edges for your hemstitching, keeping in mind the ½-inch seam allowance on the center front and the total 1-inch turn-back. My hemstitching is ¼ inch wide (two stripes) and starts 7/8 inch from the center front. You can adjust this to 1 inch if it suits your fabric better. Stitch the satin reinforcement bar along the marked seam allowance at the neck edge and hem edge. Cut and remove the threads. The stripes made this step easier! From the back, using regular thread and an embroidery needle, hemstitch the facing. ### Hemstitching the Back: On the back, I used hemstitching to secure the pleats in place. First, baste the pleat along the center back, pressing it flat with a long stitch length. Use a marking pen to indicate where the pressed edges meet the body of the blouse (these are the vertical hemstitching lines). Also, mark the neck edge seam allowance and the width of the hemstitching across the bottom of the pleat. Remove the basting thread and press flat. Stitch a satin reinforcement bar at the top of both neck edges and along both sides of the corner at the bottom. Cut the threads and remove them. Hemstitch across the bottom but not the sides. Follow the pattern instructions to stitch and press the pleat flat, then hand-baste it in place to avoid interference with your hemstitching. Hemstitch the sides, catching the pleat as you work. Remove the hand-basting thread and reinforce any empty corners as detailed in the tutorial. Complete the rest of the blouse according to the pattern instructions, and enjoy your beautifully hemstitched creation! ![Final Look](http://bsg-i.nbxc.com/blog/00f5dad8bd81158ae7ef6e3434b5f083.jpg) --- I hope this guide inspires you to try hemstitching on your next project! Let me know how it goes in the comments below. Happy sewing!

Life Jacket Infant

The Life Jacket Infant , it's a simple design with front YKK zipper for baby swimming in pool or training in the swim school. Seaskin's Toddler Life Jacket or Life Vest is made from soft neoprene SBR in 2mm, and laminated with standard nylon ( 4 way stretch ), inner is 4-6 cm EPE foam, safe and confirmtable. And Life Jacket Infant, we have two different styles, one is removable EPE foam and another one is non-removable EPE foam. So you guys can choose what you prefer for your baby.

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Shenzhen Seaskin Sports Goods Co., Ltd. , https://www.seaskinwetsuit.com