Modern Blouse with Vintage Style: McCalls 7978
The big problem with most modern blouses is they are men’s shirts cut to fit women. They tend to be loose, button down the front, have a collar with a stand, and some have even come with button-down collars, as though we were going to wear ties. Before the 1970s, women’s blouses were far more interesting which was made possible in part by swapping the center front buttons for a side-opening with a placket of snaps, so that you pulled them over your head, and then did up the snaps. Unless, and this was rare, they were loose enough to pull over your head without a side opening.
This new pattern by McCalls manages to keep the modern front opening which is convenient, and add some of the vintage details that made the traditional blouse such a pleasure to make and wear. These have a V-neckline with bands that either are fitted through the waist with either a princess seams or midriff piece and a peplum. Both then have gathers to make room for the bust. Long bishop sleeves or short sleeves are both gathered with cuffs; and then the neck band is plain or has a tie. They all close with a loop and button closure, which unfortunately, seems to have no flange beneath.i.e. the two side butt up against each other and that’s it. So unless you want skin peeking through the button loops, I’d add a piece or extend the facing. Me, I will probably hack it a wee bit and opt for a side-opening and snap placket. The featured illustration is a midriff version, so you will miss the vintage features if you don’t click through.
You can find it here: https://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m7978
