Double Layer Chiffon Blouse – Free Self-Drafted Pattern Tutorial

Thank you for all of the comments on my recent post – Self drafted halter neck chiffon blouse.

Self Drafted Halter Neck Blouse in Chiffon

Several visitors asked for a tutorial, and I am happy to oblige.  I've made the blouse again in a different fabric – this time a lovely blue and cream chiffon with embroidery and sequins.  Swanky!  Along the way, I took plenty of pictures and have written notes to share. Read on for your free blouse pattern.

free blouse pattern

This tutorial is ideal if you want to make a simple blouse using a sheer fabric like chiffon or lace, with a lining. It includes full step by step instructions on how to make your own version of this blouse in your own size.  It can also be used to make a single layer version if you are using a fabric that is not sheer.

This is a long post, for which I apologise.  It's my first time making a tutorial and I just didn't know when to stop!  Let's get started.

So Sew Easy: Chiffon blouse, free pattern and tutorial

Measurements

Pattern making

First, you will need to take your measurements as shown here:

 

1 – full bust at the widest part

2 – hip measurement where you want your top to end

3 – length from collar-bone to where you want your top to end, measuring over the bust instead of down the gap in the middle

4 – length from collar-bone to bust point

Now get yourself a nice big piece of paper, or tape several pieces of regular letter paper together. And you are ready to start drawing your pattern.

 

Drawing the pattern

1.  Find the center of your paper and draw a line top to bottom.

2.  Along the bottom of the paper, one inch from the bottom, draw a line which is half the length of your high hip measurement.  For example. My high hip (where I want the bottom of the blouse to be) measurement is 36 inches so I drew a line 18 inches long.  This line should be centered over the line that runs top to bottom, so 9 inches on one side and 9 inches on the other side, forming a large upside-down T- shape.

Pattern design

3.  From where the two lines meet, measure up an amount equal to your measurement 3 – this will give the finished length of the blouse.  Draw a straight line across parallel to the bottom line, and as wide as half your bust measurement.  Center this measurement on the center line.  For example, my bust measurement is 36 inches, so I drew a line 18 inches long, 9 inches on either side of the center line.

4.  Join up the lines making a large rectangle.  If your hip measurement is wider than your bust, your rectangle will taper towards the top slightly.  If your bust measurement is larger, I recommend drawing the bottom line longer until it is the same size as the bust line or else you might not be able to get it on.  (Excuse the cat – he loves to sew!)

5.  Now you need to add some ‘ease’ to the pattern so that the blouse isn't skin-tight.  I suggest adding a full or three-quarter-inch on either side, depending on how loose you want the blouse.  The ease I have added is the shaded area.

Halter-blouse-tutorial-012

 

6.  From the top line, measure down measurement 4 and draw a line from side to side.  This is the bottom of the arm curve.

7.  Now we need to cut out an area for the arms – I used a large dinner plate.  The bottom of the curve/plate sits at the side where your line from step 6 meets the side.  Scoop out a curved shape on one side.  You can leave the other side for now – coming up later.

Halter-blouse-tutorial-015

 

Halter-blouse-tutorial-0148.  Now we need to add a seam allowance.  I suggest a half inch or 5/8th, which ever you prefer.  Or to allow for a little adjustment later, add a whole inch seam allowance – you can always take in the sides to make the blouse more snug, but if you cut too small, then you can’t add fabric back in.  I added seam allowance on the side edge and around the arm curve.

Halter-blouse-tutorial-018Halter-blouse-tutorial-016

 9.  Now time to consider the seam allowance for the bottom.  Add back an inch at the bottom to allow you to turn up your fabric and hem.  This is why we left that inch at the bottom when we drew our first line.

10.  We also need an allowance at the top – but we also need to add some allowance for the fabric casing where the neck-band will go.  I suggest adding 2 inches at the top to include the casing and the seam allowance.

Halter-blouse-tutorial-019

 11.  Now time to cut.  Cut out the side of the pattern with the armhole marked, then fold it over down the center line and draw the same shape to make sure the pattern is even.  If things are a little uneven down the sides, now is the time to tidy them up.  Finish cutting out the whole pattern piece.

Halter-blouse-tutorial-021Halter-blouse-tutorial-022

12.  The same piece is used for the front and the back.  Your pattern is ready.

Cutting out your pieces

You will have 4 main pieces of fabric, two in your lining fabric and two in your outer fabric.  Cut the two lining pieces first using the pattern you just made, and set them aside.

For the outer pieces you have a choice. You can either cut them exactly the same and then sew using both layers of fabric as if they were one.  Or you can decide to have the outer fabric a little looser.

This is what I chose in my version.  I simply lay the pattern piece on my fabric and then cut around leaving a space of about ½ inch on both sides and at the bottom.  I wanted my outer fabric to hang a little lower than the lining.  There is no need to add any extra at the top seam.

Before cutting your outer pieces, do consider pattern placement.  If you have a large repeating pattern, decide if you want this centered or offset and place your pattern piece to best use the fabric design.

Sewing your blouse

1.  Start by finishing the edges of your 4 pieces.  If you are using a serger, you can skip this step and finish as you go.  If you are using a regular machine, you should finish your raw edges on the sides, arms and top seam using a method of your choosing; zigzag, overcasting, turn and stitch, etc.  Press your pieces.

Halter-blouse-tutorial-024

The turn and stitch option.  I used this on the sides of my outer fabric because I wanted it to hang a little lower than the liner.

Or try the overcast presser foot – I used this on all the edges for my lining pieces, and around the arm curves on my outer pieces.  This allows some stretch and stops the chiffon fraying.  You can find an overcasting foot on Amazon if you don't have one:


Overcasting foot

2.  Turn and stitch the bottom hemline on all 4 pieces, making sure all are the same size.  Turn once ½ inch, then turn again.  Or if you prefer, finish the raw edge with a zigzag or overcasting stitch and then turn up the hem one inch.  Stitch evenly.  Press.

Hemming your blouse

 

3.  Now attach the outer fabric to the lining fabric.  Match up the raw edges with both right sides of the fabric facing up. Pin, then baste with a long stitch ¼ inch from the edge.  If you want your outer fabric to hang a little lower than the lining fabric, line this up now at the arm curve before basting the side seams.

Joining the outer fabric to the lining

4.  Put your two joined pieces right sides together and line up the side seams.  Pin, then stitch using your seam allowance from bottom to armhole on both sides.  You now have a tube of fabric.  Press your seams open.

Halter-blouse-tutorial-033

5.  Turn over and finish the armhole curve in one seam from one side to the other.  Stitch evenly.   As we are hemming on a curve, you may need to cut some little snips in the edge of your fabric to help it to lay flatter for sewing.  Press.

Seam on inside arm curve

6.  On the top edge of both pieces, turn over ½ inch seam allowance and pin in place with your pins on the right side.  Now turn the top edge to the inside of the blouse, lining up the edge you just folded 1.5 inches down from the top.  This forms your casing front and back.

Top casing

7.  Stitch each casing in place, but only along the bottom, not the sides.

Stitch top casings

8.  Now it’s time to make the neck-band.  Cut a piece of fabric 6 inches wide and as long as your bust measurement.  On just one of the short ends, fold over half an inch to the wrong side and sew.  Fold in half long ways with right sides together, raw edges matching and stitch ½ inch from the raw edges along the long edge. Now turn the tube of fabric the right way out.

Halter-blouse-tutorial-024

 

Halter-blouse-tutorial-026

9.  Thread the tie through the casing front and back leaving the ends loose.  You can use the handle of a wooden spoon to push the fabric through the casing.  Now try on the blouse and adjust the length of the fabric tie until you get the fit you like.  Place the finished end of the tie on top of the other and pin in place, keeping it together while you remove the blouse.

Setting the length of the neck band

10.  Undo your pins, and cut the fabric tie one inch longer than you had marked.  Slip the raw end inside the finished end, overlapping by the one inch you left.  Then sew the two together securely.  Slide the tie around so the overlap is hidden inside the casing at the back.

Halter-blouse-tutorial-041

11.  If you like, you can gather the front and back until you are happy with how it looks, and then sew again neatly from the front, through the casing across each end, into the neckband inside so that the gathers will be permanent.  Do the front, the back, or both.

Stitch the band inside the casing

 

Now your blouse is ready to wear.

So Sew Easy: Chiffon blouse, free pattern and tutorial

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and found it easy to follow.  I’ve not done this before, so if you have any suggestions do let me know.  And do leave a comment on the tutorial post with a link to the photo of your finished blouse – we would all love to see what you made.

I’d love it if you would pin my tutorial on your Pinterest boards for others to find.

recycling old placemats

 

So Sew Easy: Chiffon blouse, free pattern and tutorial


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Carole Lapointe
Carole Lapointe

C’est en parcourant votre site, il y a plusieurs années, que vous m’avez donné le goût de la couture. Grâce à vous et à votre expérience, j’ai confectionné de nombreux vêtements et accessoires. Vos tutoriels sont des outils très précieux, ils sont détaillés et faciles à utiliser. Je pense sincèrement qu’il devrait y avoir plus de gens comme vous sur cette terre pour améliorer l’être humain. Un grand merci à vous.

RB
RB

Amazing and thorough tutorial. Your garments are so well made and your arms are also amazing! So jealous of your cute little figure. ????

Susan Blair
Susan Blair

We used to make these out of pretty pillow cases and ribbon..as a dress for children and “halter top” for teens and women. This is a beautiful version.

Stephanie Goodman
Stephanie Goodman

You must read my mind! I just got some muslin that i wanted to make a dress out of, and your tutorial above has exactly the top design I was looking for! Thanks!

Barb
Barb

This is awesome! Thank you, I hope to make this in many sizes for my Grandgirls and myself.

Cynthia
Cynthia

Your DropBox is not available . The link is broken. I sure would like this pattern. I can sew very well. Just not without a pattern.

Mayra Cecilia
Admin
Noble Member
Reply to  Cynthia

yes sadly, this link is no longer available because the computer just died. I will have to republish this on a later date. Thanks for letting me know.

FlourishingPalms

Thank you very much for this tutorial! I really appreciate knowing how to determine my own measurements, and I’m happy to report that your tutorial worked perfectly. I made my pattern from freezer paper. The changes I made were to: 1) make my top from 100 percent quilting cotton; 2) cut the front bodice one inch lower at the neckline; 3) and make the side seams French seams. I wrote a blog post about my tops, and linked my readers to this tutorial. Thanks very much for taking the time to share this! I see more tops in my future!

Cláudia Costa
Cláudia Costa

Thanks a lot, Debbie!
Greetings from Portugal

Teresa
Teresa

Thank you for this tutorial! I was so happy to find a good project for a special piece of fabric I had in my stash and learned so much in the process!

Jean
Jean

Sounds great. Does anyone have instructions and pattern for a blouson tankini top?

Pat Parkin
Pat Parkin

Thank you. I have downloaded this and am going to have a go at it. It has been so hot lately and I need something breezy to wear.

Amanda
Amanda

This was great. I’m going to sew this one.

Ipalei

This is great! Thanks very much for sharing

Dianne
Dianne

I love the tutorials, but wanted to print the pattern out as well. It says the pattern has been moved. Could you send it to my email address? I love all of your patterns and tutorials! To the person who said she needs a bra, I do too, but I use the clear straps, and they don’t show at all.

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Dianne

OOps Diane, I’d been doing some house=keeping and moved this without realising it would change the link address. I’ve corrected it now, so if you go back to the post and click the download link it will work for you. Thank you for letting me know.

Cassie L
Cassie L

I love this tutorial! My gym gives out free T-shirts when you join and they’re pretty large. Well, I saw one member had modified her oversized t-shirt to look similar to this awesome top and we all were gushing over it. I didn’t know where to begin modifying my own like that but your tutorial gives me direction. I need to make this twice. Once with my gym Tshirt and then with some nice fabric. 🙂

Sherry Lynn White
Sherry Lynn White

Any pillowcase tops like this one??

Geraldine
Geraldine

Is the bottom/hem triangular scallops (last 2 photos)? How did you stitch the hems?

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Geraldine

The chiffon on mine already comes with a scalloped finished hem so I used the edge of the fabric as my hemline without stitching. The inner lining layer is turned up twice and simply stitched through both layers. If you have one layer you want longer than the other, or one that needs hemming while the other does not, you will need to think about this when cutting out the fabric and make one layer longer or shorter than the other. I cut both of mine the same length and then turned up the lining fabric which made it a little shorter to really show off the nice edge to the chiffon. I hope this helps, Deb

Geraldine
Geraldine

Yes, it does, thank you.

Emma
Emma

I’ve just made this out of a pretty bit of chiffon. It looks really nice with casual shorts! Thank you very much for the pattern.

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Emma

Very welcome Emma. I’d be happy to show a picture of your blouse on the site if you would like to be featured. Just drop me a message using the email me link at the top or from the contact page.

Pam
Pam

Very pretty and a great first tutorial!

Leigh
Leigh

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I’ve got loads of small pieces of beautiful silk fabric and i have been searching for a pattern that would work for such small pieces. Thank you so much for this. I finally can make up my blouses. Oh and your tutorial is so easy to follow.

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Leigh

OOh, this would be lovely in a soft and drapey silk. I hope it turns out just lovely.

Carrie
Carrie

This is amazing. I’m a newbie sew-er so to make my own pattern is a bit intimidating. It looks great. Thanks for linking it up at Think Tank Thursday. I’ve featured you today. http://www.saving4six.com/2013/02/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-18.html#comment-form

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Carrie

Thanks for your kind words and for the feature!

Karen Whitney
Karen Whitney

This is lovely! Motivation to make friends with my sewing machine and learn to sew! Hopefully I will get there someday soon 🙂

justine
justine

I can’t wear this because I need a bra but I’d love to make it for my daughter!

Natalie
Natalie

Super! As you may know I am a sucker for good tutorials, you will be one of my chosen features tomorrow on Tutorial Thursday, do come past and grab your button! Would you be open to being a guest blogger on my blog? I would love to host one of your tutorials 🙂
Thanks for sharing on Tutorial Thursdays.
x
Natalie
http://www.marigoldsloft.blogspot.com

piwi mama

I really think I could manage this with your tutorial! I need to get a new machine but don’t really know where to start looking….any tips. I learn’t to sew on my Grandma and Mum’s Janomes but they all seem so hi tech now -or the basic ones seem so light and plastic. loved the cat in the Picture -funny how they come from nowhere when you put anything on the ground.

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  piwi mama

I have always used a Brother and found them excellent. The first one was older, basic and borrowed but now I have one all of my own. If you go to the SHOP tab at the top menu, I have my machine featured on the front page. It’s the Brother CP7500 – does everything I need and more, but very reasonably priced. Works great for knits, has all the right stitches, every stitch is adjustable in size etc, buttonholes, automatic needle threader, comes with all the attachment feet you need and a large table attachment which I love. If you click through you will see all of the features and it has nearly a 5 star review on Amazon – that’s a lot of satisfied customers. Easy for a beginner to use, a very comprehensive manual which explains all the stitches, when and how to use them. I am absolutely delighted with it and recommend it completely. Plus it’s cheaper than I paid too.

piwi mama

thanks so much! I will definitely take a look at this model

Allison

thanks for sharing this great tutorial! I will definately try making one of these shirts to get ready for spring!

lovelymrsp
lovelymrsp

Very cute~ I never thought of drawing my own pattern… in the past I have taken other shirts or skirts that fit really well and lay them over the fabric & cut. I just kin of winged it! lol ~ thanks for linking up at Made in a Day!
Kim

Sara

I have a warm weather vacation coming right up and may need to give this a go! Thank you!

trishflake
trishflake

This is SUCH a great tutorial and I have always thought these style shirts were so flattering! Thanks so much for sharing at Monday Funday!

Take care,

Trish

Leslie
Leslie

Great pattern!

Thanks for sharing your favorite post at Raising Imperfection! We feature our favorites on Friday, make sure to come back and check.
Leslie
http://www.violetimperfection.com

Diana Rambles

Pretty!