Classic office wear, while versatile, can often get a little boring. For those days when you want to look chic and sophisticated, but still stand out with your own style, go with a statement sleeve. The Melia Blouse features a wide button up collar, perfect for the addition of a bold and chunky necklace, and adorable puff sleeves with easy embellishments that will keep you looking as cute as a button!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 2 yards Sky Blue Giza Egyptian Cotton
- 48-50 Italian White Shank Back Buttons
- 1/2 yard Black Single-Faced Fusible Interfacing
- MDF041 – The Melia Blouse Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Step 1
To start, place an inch and a half of interfacing along the center front of your front shirt panels. These will become the button plackets, so you want them a little more reinforced for sewing on buttons and buttonholes. Additionally, I used black interfacing here to show where I placed it, but you’ll typically want to use white with a lighter fabric like this Sky Blue. Fold the raw edge of the center front back toward the wrong side of the fabric 1/2 an inch, and press. Repeat with a full inch, so you have a 1″ placket, and 1/2″ seam allowance folded under. Edge-stitch down the entirety of the placket to keep it in place.
Step 2
Add the chest darts into your front panels, following the guides on your pattern, and then attach the front panels to the back of your shirt at the shoulders and sides. Since this is an unlined garment, I recommend French or Hong Kong seams.
Step 3
Interface both your collar as well as the collar stand pieces, and then sew around the top three edges of your collar panels with the fabric faces together. Trim your seam allowance, turn right side out, and press.
Step 4
Sandwich the bottom edge of your collar between the top edges of your collar stand pieces, like above. Sew along the top edge and curves; trim your seam allowance, turn right side out, and press. You can attach one of your collar stands to the face of your shirt neckline and then fold the raw edges of the second collar stand inward and slip-stitch it into place.
Step 5
Next, sew your shank back buttons onto the puff sleeve panel. I started with a column of 3 in the very center, and worked my way outward as I alternated between columns of 3 and 4. Each column is 2″ apart.
Step 6
Matching up your notches, evenly gather the panel at the bottom of your upper sleeve. I’m using French seams here, so I’ve gathered it with the wrong sides together first. Once the panels are attached, you can sew up the inseam of the sleeve and attach it to the armholes of your shirt!
Step 7
Gather the bottom of the sleeve puff similarly into the sleeve cuff. Machine sew one of the cuff edges to the puff, fold it in half, tuck in the raw edge, and slip-stitch like you can see above.
Step 8
Lastly, use the placket guide on your pattern to add button holes and buttons to the front of your shirt, and then it’s ready to wear!
SO CUTE ohmygosh. I love it!!
Una linda blusa gracias bendiciones por su generosidad
Hermosa
Hermosa
Beautiful use of buttons
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful pattern with the rest of the world. I hope I’ll find the time to create it, soon!!!!!
I <3 your patterns, Courtney!
Hermosa blusa
This looks adorable, but I hate sewing on buttons maybe even more than hand-hemming, and I hate hemming. I’d have to be in a really good place to sew on those buttons. This would be a chance to use some eye-catching embellished fabric for those sleeves, I think…
True! This would look super cute with a print or an embroidered lace as the puff!
I made this, and it is fabulous. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Courtney, what size did you cut for this tutorial? Thanks! I’m trying to figure out if a size 10 is the European or American size 10.
Our sizing is American. You can find a size chart below the download form. 🙂
Que bella camisa,
Malia blouse – so cute!
Hermoso muchas gracias
Gracias por compartir sus patrones
hola
Muy hermosa esa blusa muchas gracias. Me pueden mandar el patrón a mi correo gracias
Me encanta
me gusta la blusa
Muy bella la camisa
Me encanta
The comments are so encouraging as la camisa es muy bonita!!! I was wondering… could I use a linen gauze about a 5 oz weight for this? I wanted to wear pair this with a vest/waistcoat:-D Thank you for the inspired beauty and sharing such a great pattern!
Hi Lina! Yes, I think that would come out lovely!
Gracias x compartir tus patrones
Hi! I just finished making this using the other version with a straight sleeve. I love it! I didn’t use the cuffs, but instead just hemmed the sleeves so I can push them up later.
One tip is that it might be helpful to have directions with more pictures and steps. I had a hard time figuring out when to put the sleeves in, and couldn’t find anywhere how big the hems were supposed to be.
Thanks for an awesome free pattern! I love the relaxed fit and I know that I’ll be wearing my shirt a lot!
muchas gracias me encanta tu pagina
Beutiful
Do I have to leave the seam allowance myself or is it included in the pattern?
Hello Ash, all of our patterns include 1/2″ seam allowance.