That's Sew Cinematic: Introducing The 'Rizzo' Blouse

Using Rizzo as my inspiration for this challenge I've finished re-creating this top that she wears in a diner scene.

Just to recap, I've used Style 1136 (undated) for this blouse in a plain bottle green cotton.

And here it is!

The blouse is super comfortable and I love the collar, although it does sit quite far back? I decided to have black buttons for a bit of contrast, and if you can spot it, I added something a little 'extra'

As soon as the shirt started coming together my husband mentioned that it looked similar to a bowling shirt, I then remembered that Rizzo wears the above red shirt at the end of the movie with her name on it. It was a match made in sewing heaven!

I'm not particularly great at embroidery so I very carefully just traced over some faint pencil line I drew on, with a needle and thread.

This is a really nice pattern, and I love the simplicity of it. I'll definitely be sewing this up again!

That's Sew Cinematic: Update

My Rizzo blouse is finally starting to shape after a bit of a false start. Me being obviously SUPER eager to get this going cut the wrong version so I would have ended up with a chinese-style collar instead of a shirt collar, DUH!
Anyway, that aside the blouse has been pretty straight forward, and most of the construction is done. I just have the sleeves to sew in, the hem & the buttons, plus a bit of suprise embroidery!
Here's a little sneaky peek!

So excited to finish this now! 

That's Sew Cinematic - Rizzo Blouse (Style 1136)

The next item I'm planning on sewing up for the Sew Cinematic challenge is the top. For this I decided to stick with the Grease theme, and am re-creating a top that Rizzo wears.
It's going to be a slight mix of two, but I'll get onto that when it's done!
The main inspiration is the scene where Rizzo talks about 'looking like a leper' thanks to Kenickie.

These are the best photos I could find of Riz in this scene which is a shame as the rest of her outfit is really cute, and is different to what we see everyone else wearing during the film. The shirt is actually tied at the front, and is paired with jeans and of course (for some of the scene) Kenickies leather jacket.

To make this look I'm using an undated Style pattern 1136. I'm guessing by the illustrations that this is possibly late 1950's?

I'm sticking with ordinary bottle green cotton for this, but as suggested before I may add something a little extra to it!

Sew Cinematic Inspiration Post: Slip

I have to admit, I'm not making a slip for this part of the challenge, I am however planning on sewing something very similar. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try something different and make something i've been thinking about for a long time. What is it?? I hear you gasp!?
It's nightwear!

I've been wanting to sew up some cute babydoll nighties for ages, but I've yet to find the right pattern, until now.



Simplicity 4484

 Another ebay bargain! For your viewing pleasure here are a few images I found through google when searching for inspiration.

So what film am I basing this on? It had to be Grease (again, I know!). The sleepover scene at Frenchie's house is so iconic, I have to try and re-create Frenchie's babydoll & bloomers!

The fabric choice for this should make it quite interesting, I am avoiding nylon like the plague so no authenticity for this challenge! However on the back of my pattern the suggested fabrics are as follows:  Cottons & blends, broadcloth, batiste, crepe, challis, gingham, lawn, seersucker, voile, rayons, silks, and synthetics.

I also don't want it to be plain, but I may sew up a yellow version like Frenchie's for the challenge and then make another one up using something more interesting.

For inspiration I had a quick look on the website of one of my local fabric stores to see what they have to offer, I mainly liked the chiffons & georgettes.

So there you go, another project to add to the growing list! But I have to ask, have any of you lovely readers ever sewn up nightwear? Any suggestions on what fabric to avoid?

Sew Cinematic Inspiration Post: Top

To follow on from my last post here, this week I wanted to share what I'm planning on making for the 'Top' part of the challenge.
How on earth to you choose what top to make, and from what film? I found this much more difficult than the dress part. Dresses tend to make more of an impression, tops or blouses, for me anyway, tend to be a bit bland?

To make it easier on myself I chose a film that is so iconic & inspirational for many reasons. Grease.
A perfect excuse to make a 1950's blouse. So now comes the decision of 'which character do I wanna be?' The prim & proper Sandy? The bad Sandy? Tough girl Rizzo? Quirky Frenchie? The best dancer at Saint Bernadettes?

The answer -

It had to be Rizzo, c'mon how cool does she look? However, it's not this top that I'm making. I decided to go with the green shirt she wears at a scene in 'Frosty's Palace', the 'hickey from Kinickie' scene.



These are the best photos I can find of the outfit which is a shame as it's a cute outfit for Rizzo. The shirt is actually tied up at the waist, and she wears it with some high waisted jeans.
I've already got a pattern in mind too which is Style 1136.

I'd be making up version B which is the white collared shirt in the centre.

I'm curious to know, whether you're taking part in the challenge or not, are there any famous movie 'tops' that spring to your mind?