Liberty Sewing Patterns Thea Boho Sleeve Shirt

When I went to the London Stitch show in March I saw a lady wearing this blouse and I loved it so much that I asked her all about it. This was my first attempt with a Liberty pattern using a Liberty print and the fabric I chose is the Imran C Tana lawn. I decided to make version C as I loved the 2 layer sleeve detail and I made it up in a size 8 as my bust is 32, waist 32 and hips 37. I would say that I’m a fairly experienced sewer but I found it difficult to understand the pattern instructions as it assumed a lot of sewing knowledge. Luckily a friend came to the rescue and we worked it out together. The only alteration I made was to cut 10cm off the bottom hemline as it came up very long on me, although I’m an average 165cm tall. The struggle was well worth it though as it’s a super stylish blouse, so elegant and stylish.

This is quite an easy make with good instructions.

The sizing is a little off. If you have a normal to large bust then you will have to adjust.

Also the cuffs are huge’

I was SO excited when I discovered that Liberty were launching sewing patterns. And the Thea Boho Sleeve shirt was my favourite pattern of those launched.

The pattern is very clear to work with. Another reviewer noted that it is produced by McCalls, and as a result the markings and instructions are all clear. There are more advanced techniques involved and I was surprised it was classified as a beginner skill level.

Two disappointments: normally sleeves are slightly too long for me on standard "Big Four" patterns, but I found they could have done with being an inch or so longer. I will adjust this for next time. Also, this has clearly been drafted for a very small busted woman. I did a FBA and for my net make will add another dart above the bust because it pulls slightly due to the cut. When you look at the official photo on a small busted model, there is a slight pull even on her.

My fabric was bought at the lovely Fabric Godmother and I can't wait to start another one. It is a really satisfying project to sew, and as a very experienced sewist, it was a great project to do.

I ran into many mistakes with this top but I pressed on and talked about them all! I also made the cuffs a bit smaller to fit my tiny wrists! Lots of tips and tricks with this blog post! ENJOY!

https://www.victorialucilleanne.com/blog/LibertyLondon-pattern-and-fabric

As a long-term fan of Liberty fabrics I couldn’t wait to get my hands on their new pattern range, which are beautifully styled in gorgeous website photos. The pattern envelope is generously sized and made from robust cardboard, so when used the pattern pieces can be easily put back inside. There are in fact two complete patterns in the packet to cover the size ranges, and size 14 is included in both. I was surprised to find on opening the pattern tissue that the pattern is in fact produced by McCalls, under the Liberty branding. The pattern and the instructions are therefore consistent with those from McCalls and other commercial pattern companies.

I have rated the pattern 4 out of 5 for three reasons. Firstly, there are no finished garment measurements either on the pattern envelope or the pattern tissue. Commercial  patterns often have large amounts of ease so I sized down from my body measurements, which would have put me at a size 14-16, and instead made a size 12. In practice this turned out to be fine for me. Secondly, the pattern is described on the envelope as ‘Easy’, which could mislead people into thinking  it’s suitable for a beginner. Depending on which option you choose, it’s actually quite an involved make. Each version has a collar stand, hidden buttonhole placket and set-in sleeves, and the long sleeved versions involve quite a lot of gathering. Thirdly, the instructions are relatively brief and don’t compare well with the level of guidance from some indie pattern brands.

That said, I am thrilled with the way my shirt turned out. The pattern contains several options, meaning you can get a range of choices from it. You can choose a band collar or pointed collar with stand; short sleeves, long sleeves with two layers of frill or long bell sleeves gathered into upper arm caps and cuffs.  The front and back body sections are gathered into a shoulder yoke, meaning that bust darts are unnecessary. The front plackets are made from self-facings.

I made version C, shown on the pattern envelope, and the design is lovely. I used Liberty Tana Lawn, which worked beautifully. Silk and linen are also recommended on the pattern envelope as well as cotton. It’s important to avoid anything bulky because of the gathering.

I will definitely make more of this lovely shirt.