Button-up Blouse with Optional Bow – Vogue V9029

Hello, Snazzie People!

I wanted to tell you about one of my winter wardrobe makes – Vogue V9029.

Vogue V9029 is a fitted button up blouse with princess seams and many different collar and sleeve cuff options. I have had this pattern in my stash for several years and have been wanting to make it, but I just never found an opportunity until now.

When I was planning my fall wardrobe fabric, I found this black, gray, and white floral at Cali Fabrics, and I instantly thought of V9029 with the pussy bow collar option. However, while my shirt still has a bow, I didn’t end up making the pussy bow collar. I decided I wanted the option to wear it with or without the bow. Read on to find out more about how I made the bow.

I’ve made several button-up shirts now, and I often do things a little differently from the patterns. For instance, I rarely use the pattern instructions for sewing the placket, collar, and shirt cuffs. Instead, I used what I learned from Saremy at Sew Sew Live. She has some great tips for collars and cuffs.

I also try to use French seams when I can, though I’m still not comfortable doing French seams on set-in sleeves. Usually, the commercial sewing patterns just have you press your seams and move on, so I was surprised to see that this pattern actually had you doing French seams. This could be normal for Vogue patterns. I think this might be the first Vogue pattern I have sewn.

So, what about the bow? Well, I originally thought just to make the bow separate, but the pattern piece for the bow was huge! Since I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to wear a bow, I wanted to streamline it a little bit. I thought about just drafting my own, but I didn’t have an idea of size and length and what would look good, so I turned to the Internet, and I wasn’t disappointed.

I found that Casey from Pattern Scout had the same idea of adding an optional bow to her own button up shirt pattern – the Byrdie Button-up – and she was nice enough to share a free download with the pattern pieces. You can check out her post here: Byrdie Pattern Hack: Pussybow Blouse.

Since my fabric is directional, I wanted to make sure I cut it so the flowers were going in the same direction on both ends. Despite knowing this and planning for this, I still messed up and had to cut one end twice. Fortunately, I had plenty of fabric left over, and I even used some for the pocket lining in my Plum Corduroy Atenas Jacket.

I am pleased with the result. I like the fact that the bow is an option, giving the shirt more versatility. I have always liked princess seams, and I like the straight hemline. I will definitely make this shirt again.

Do you like the pussy bow style?

Do you like the option of removing the bow?

Have you ever made Vogue V9029 or the Pattern Scout Byrdie Button-up?

Happy Sewing!

Kelly