My first Polka Dot Project this summer, when I began concentrating on sewing with this lovely print, was a 1940s skirt from a heavy gray fabric scattered with 1/4 in. off-white polka dots. I had enough scraps left to use for contrast, so I had the idea of making a coordinating blouse to wear with the skirt.

This time I used polka dots as a contrast instead of the main fabric. The idea was to be able to mix and match – wear either of them separately or together as a 2 piece outfit, so common in the 1940s.

This also being a trial of a pattern I intended to make in different fabric to wear to an event, I naturally chose the overblouse paired with the skirt in the original pattern.

Most blouses in the 1940s were worn tucked in. Any blouse designed to wear out over the skirt was called an overblouse, unless of course it was a jacket or sweater.

My only pick with the outfit was that the blouse covers up the cute stitched-down pleats in the skirt!

This one I liked very much. It doesn't need a belt, it's comfortable and looks tailored, yet without a business-suit feel. Perfect for a summer dressy outfit.

It was also easy to make. I had a few trouble spots – getting the gathers even on the front, and the center front point of the collar – but it was very simple and easy to understand the construction, even with the funny shaped front piece.

And the gathers I think are quite flattering.

So there's one successful trial crossed off my to-do list for this fall, and another polka dot piece added to my wardrobe!