Today we'll be making you a 3/4 sleeves boho blouse. I know last week I promised to make flutter sleeves on an A-line top, but when I made the top I actually hated it. The end of the sleeves hit exactly where the flair began and in someone who is a size 10, it adds a few more pounds. Who wants that? So I am back at the drawing board, testing another flutter sleeve top, crossed bodied and with my little detail to hide a tummy. I'm sure you'll love my favorite trick on a top to hide a tummy and to create an hourglass figure even when you do not have one, so check back next week.
This week's top is a bra-friendly boho-style blouse. It is very easy to make. The pattern has three pieces of the pattern, four pleats, and a front tie. I encourage you to use cotton batiste, silk, or rayon (more commonly known as challis or crinkled rayon).
I read your comments and emails, every single one, and I appreciate your feedback, suggestions, and constructive criticisms. Most of us, (including me) find it difficult to find summer tops in natural fibers. So I thought I'd share with you the tops that get me through my summers regardless of fashion trends.
This 3/4 sleeves boho blouse is from sizes 10 to 22. The back side is lower than the front.
Elastic sleeves hem.
A bra friendly neckline, while still keeping a medium off the shoulder look.
Materials
- 2 to 2 1/2 yards of a natural fiber blouse fabric (see my suggestion from fabric.com below)
- Thread to match
- 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 yards of 5/8″ bias tape, satin would be ideal.
Tools
- Sewing machine (ideal but not essential)
- Loop turner
- Sewing needle size 70 or 80
Size Chart and Finished Measurements
| Size | Bust Inches | Bust Metric |
| 10 | 42 3/4 | 109 cm |
| 12 | 43 1/2 | 111 cm |
| 14 | 46 1/2 | 118 cm |
| 16 | 47 1/2 | 121 cm |
| 18 | 50 1/2 | 128 cm |
| 20 | 52 3/4 | 134 cm |
| 22 | 55 1/2 | 140 cm |
Fabric Suggestions From Amazon.com
Skill Level: Intermediate
You need to know how to sew a raglan sleeve, apply bias tape, and know how to attach elastic.
How To Download And Print The Summer Top Pattern
Please use Adobe Reader, print in landscape mode and do not scale.
Pattern Download
We're going to continue to use the new Payhip webstore to distribute our patterns.
Our patterns are still free, but now you now have the option of making a small contribution if you like our work! We'd really appreciate it and it will help is keep going with new and fun designs like this. Even a dollar or two really goes a long way.
Thanks so much in advance for helping us out. You can use any credit card and you don't need a Paypal account, although you can use one if you have one.
Pattern Layout
How To Sew Your 3/4 Sleeves Boho Blouse
There is no seam allowance so you need to add 3/8″ or 5/6″ but you need to be consistent. Add seam allowance to all edges including the dart at the shoulder.
Step One: Add Bias To The Slit And Make The Pleats
Cut the slit until the notch marked in your pattern and apply the bias tape. I have to add, you could skip this detail if you want to make the work more simple. Notice too, I was in a hurry when I was making this top and my bias tape is not looking professional.
Fold the pleats towards the center of the blouse.
Step Two: Sew The Sides
Sew the sides, I am using a 3/8″ then I use a zigzag to clean the seams.
Step Three: Sew The Darts And Sleeves
Sew the dart at the shoulders.
Then print side together sew the sides of the sleeves.
Pin the sleeves, aligning the sides of the sleeves to the sides seams of the blouse.
Sew at your chosen seam allowance.
Step Four: Add The Bias Tape To The Neckline And Elastic To The Sleeves
Start on the right side of the blouse, Leave a strip of bias tape hanging from the top of the biased slit.
Start sewing on the thinner side of the bias tape.
Fold the tape and sew very close to the edge, in this way you are making both a tie and the neck binding.
Cut two strips of elastic wide enough to go around your arm but not tight.
Hem the sleeve leaving a small gap to insert the elastic. Insert the elastic using a paperclip and sew the small gap close.
Step Five: Make The Hem
There are many ways to hem this blouse. I recommend checking out this tutorial, it has a few ways you can approach the hem for this project, choose the one you find most comfortable.
And that's all! I hope you'll find as much use as I do with this easy but always stylish blouse. Please let me know in the comments below if you have any questions, or even to share your own projects.
Look out soon for the flutter sleeves on an A-line top project. Until then, Happy Sewing!
P.S.
If you really love the look, I have another 3/4 sleeves boho blouse in our pattern collection. It is really a tunic that a few of the readers have made with success. Keep in mind that this one does need a strapless bra. Check it out here.
Why would you put a section of the pattern the ;wrong; way on the fabric.? That is generally a ‘ no, no’, so why is it OK here?
I suppose it could be altered to have an even front and back hemline? I just loathe hi-lo hems (for myself) but I’m not the fashion police and don’t dictate what other people should or shouldn’t wear.
Hi, is this easy to personalize by making it a bit more fitted on the waist? I’m a beginner and because my chest is quite big in comparison to my waist I was wondering how I could make it look nicer on me. I was thinking of maybe adding some elastic on my natural waist, not very tight, just to gather it a bit in that area…
This is really cute, Mayra. I just have one question – I thought raglan sleeves were usually sewn onto the bodice front/back pieces first, and then the bodice sides and sleeve seams sewn in all one go (with reinforcing in underarm area if deemed necessary for strength). It seems a simpler technique as it doesn’t require as much manipulation of the fabric at the sewing machine as required for a set-in sleeve. Is there an advantage to sewing a raglan sleeve onto the bodice after doing side and sleeve seams?
Hi there! I’m not sure if it’s me, but I’m curious about your fabric recommendations and can’t find any info through the two links. Thank you for your help.
Thank you for one more useful and free pattern for our sewing enjoyment.
You rank this as an intermediate skill project and, for assembly and finish, I agree. However, figuring out how much fabric to buy takes some doing. First, I would almost never layout one major body piece cross-grain as your layout diagram showed, so I printed your diagram, cut out the pieces and re-arranged them all straight on the grain. Next I counted the squares of paper each piece covered, did the math for 8.5 x 11 paper then added 3/8″ to all seams and a couple inches for shrinkage to get the length and width of a layout that used the least amount of fabric (have you priced decent fabric lately!) For size 22, which I need, it figured out to needing 3 1/8th yards of 44″ or wider fabric. Is there an easier way to do this?
The fabric requirements are for 2 to 2.5 yards. Is this for 45” or 54” fabric widths?
I have downloaded the pattern twice, but my printer will print the directions but not the pattern.
Are you using Adobe Reader?
I would love to make this but I need it to fit chest 36 inches.
I have not shared the smaller sizes yet.
I would like this make this, but I need it to fit a 34 bust.
Noted, I have to grade the top down for you to be able to make this top. Please stay tuned.
Thank you Mayra, that’s such a pretty top . I need a smaller size 2 or 4.
I did not graded down this pattern, I would have to make a new pattern for that matter But with so much to do I am not sure I have the time. Sadly:(
I went to download the pattern and saw that you provide an option to pay-what-you-wish. I was willing to pay a little bit since I’ve had such amazing success with so many of your free patterns but the platform wouldn’t take both my MasterCard and my Discover Card. Just wanted to point that out in case there’s a problem. I went back and downloaded it using the free option and am looking forward to trying it.
Hi, many thanks for the feedback. I’ll look into it. Thanks so much for your support.
Love love love your pattern. Finally something for us big girls. It’s hard to find something that looks nice and fits good. I love your website and I’m going to download this pattern and definitely going to donate to your site. After all your hard work to make this pattern and then give it away for free it’s the least we can do is contribute. It would probably cost $15 to buy a pattern in the store. I don’t even have to leave my house. Thank you I enjoy your site. I look forward to the next one.
Easy-looking, easy-sew blouse for summer with less need to adjust shoulder fit. Thanks.
Just wondering, is there a reason to sew the side seams before attaching the sleeves? I have found it is usually easier, especially with raglan sleeves, to attach the sleeves to front and back pieces of the blouse while the main body of the garment is still flat. Next, finish the neckline, once again, while the main body can still stay flat. After finishing the sleeve attachment and the neckline, then sew the side seams from garment hem to sleeve hem in one long seam, pivoting at the underarm. Finish by sewing hem and sleeve hems. This sequence eliminates the need to match the underarm seam with the side seam, although the sleeve seams do need to be aligned at the underarm (which is usually easier to do).
This method isn’t usually possible with very fitted garments, but this blouse looks like it is supposed to be loose-fitting, especially if the finished garment measurement for a size 10 bust is 42.75″.
Hello Linda, you have just described the mass produced way of finishing a blouse. Either way works. I used the tailoring way. Whichever way you use the important thing is not to be distracted with the front and back. Yes, it is lose fitting hence the type of fabric I suggest. Flowy and fluid drape only. Kind Regards,
You need to remove the Noracora advertising from your website. It has been identified as a scam company with, at best, poor, cheap merchandise. I suggest you google the company and see for yourself. This could cheapen and damage your reputation.
Nope, I do not have such advertising on the site. These type of advertising happens at your browser level and has to do with your history and cookies on your computer. CLean both and the ad will disappear. Kind Regards,
OH GREAT. Now I have one million six hundred and thirty SEVEN projects. THANKS!!
I love this top! I need to find the perfect fabric to make one of these.
One with fluid drape such as rayon or silk back crepe. Let me know how you found the project. If you use Instagram please use #soseweasy I am sure to see it.
Is there a simple way to alter the pattern for a smaller size?
There is but not so simple. IF I get enough interest I will share the top in 2 to 8.
Both my hands are up Mayra. 😀 (And those of hub and son as well – they would want to see me in a me-made top like this but I am not advanced enough to do the scaling on my own)
That would be great as I am a 36 inch bust and was just wondering the same thing. Hope you get time as its a lovely top and here in Perth it sure does get hot. Thanks in advance.
I would love a smaller pattern. I love the top =)
Add me in to the 2-8 size club!
Hi there… How do I adjust for a size 4/6?
Looks so fabulous. Thank you. Do wonder how would I alter it to be a 6, please? I know take in the sides, but the neck, pleats, etc.? Thanks so much.
Hi Fran, I will grade the top for the smaller gals, there is not enough space to explain how to do it. It is not hard but there are a couple of important checks you need to perform before you cut the fabric. I would have to show you with a lot of pictures or a video.
I love this shirt. When I look at the size chart I see size 10 has a bust measurement of 109cm. Is that finished measurement? I’m not used to US size measurements. TIA!
Yes, it is finished measurements. You need to use the right fabric otherwise it will add kilos to your silhouette.
This great My wife is staggered with projects. When she saw the bloose she liked it so much so I downloaded the patter and cut and taped it up. She loves it here comment was THANKS A LOT She will get some BUG print fabric tomorrow!
Any chance you can load a picture to Instagram? Love to see your choice of fabric.
you must be reading my mind! Because, as someone who is NOT a size 10, I have been looking for a 3/4 sleeve blouse pattern lately. Could not find a nice one anywhere! Thank you so much for offering your patterns– especially ones I can print myself!
My pleasure! Let me know how you did with the pattern.
love the blouse and look forward to sewing it. However, I could not use my credit card…site said it would not support the purchase, so I had to dive into my husband’s paypal account. (Win for me!) I just thought you might like to know my experience.
Thanks, Charlotte, not sure why was that. I will look into it. But, I want to thank you for the bottom of my heart.
What would be a good way to alter this so the neck won’t be too wide? Thanks
You will have to raise the neckline. Stay tuned I have an easy way but need to make the top to share it with you.
bonsoir j’attends la semaine prochaine avec impatience pour cacher le petit bidou
Bien Sur! je cherche le crepe de chine pour le fair. Sera prêt ce dimanche. Merci
I grew up in The Sixties, and I can’t help loving the ease of wearing Boho Chic : ) This blouse is perfect for cotton lawn or voile, I think. Can’t wait to make. Thanks!
Indeed that is the perfect fabric for the blouse. Let me know how it turns out if you use Instagram use #soseweasy and I will not miss your post.
Thanks for sharing.☺
My pleasure!