Lucky Classic Blouse Pattern: A Permanent Feature For Your Wardrobe

Elizabeth – The lucky blouse for your classic wardrobe; believe me, this is true, it brings good luck to all who wear it. This classic blouse pattern is sure to become a permanent feature of your wardrobe, so stick it out to the end!

This classic blouse pattern is a wrap blouse designed to be for woven fabrics.

I have made the blouse with ties around the waist instead of buttons.

Gathers at the top of the shoulder

and darts at the front and back to allow you to fit the pattern to your body.

Many years ago when I was living in Panama, I was roommates with three girls all called Elizabeth. Elizabeth the first was a newly graduated accountant. To go to her first big job interview she borrowed my special blouse and a pair of pants. She managed to get the job and started the chain of coincidences involving these three and my special, now lucky, blouse.

Elizabeth the second was an exchange student from Hong Kong who was learning Spanish in Panama. Her real name was Yuh Line, but like many East Asian people living abroad adopted an English name. She ended up borrowing my lucky blouse to go to a wedding. At the wedding, she met the person who'd become her future spouse, and today they own a dental clinic together.

The third person who borrowed my blouse was the only one not named Elizabeth. Her name was Gisela and she also borrowed my blouse for a big interview. This time it was for getting a scholarship to Cornell University, which she succeeded in getting.

By now the reputation of my lucky blouse was well established, which is where the third Elizabeth comes in. Elizabeth III was the best friend of the owner of the apartment. She was an enigma to me, she did not work, nor study, but always managed to look great and well-dressed. Many times I would come home and find her dressed up all sharp and beautiful on her way out to some sort of fancy social occasion. However, she did have the annoying habit of going through my clothes and borrowing them without my permission, and this really started to cause some friction between the group.

One particular evening I'd laid out my lucky blouse in preparation for a big job interview I had the tomorrow morning. I left the apartment for an hour or so, and upon returning I found my lucky blouse was missing. Later that night I answered the front door finding Elizabeth III bringing home and a male friend to the apartment (which was already against our rules). As I opened the door I did not see him at first, instead noticing that she was wearing my lucky blouse.

“Why are you wearing my blouse? I was going to wear it tomorrow for my interview.” I asked in a not-so-friendly tone. This incident happened to end my stay in the apartment, as according to Elizabeth III I'd embarrassed her in front of who she later called “the man I was going to marry”. Well, I washed the blouse that night and wore it the next day. I did end up getting the job but I had to sleep on my brother's couch until I could make other arrangements.

Anyways, I hope this little story helps explain why I think the classic blouse pattern, Elizabeth, might bring you luck too.

Materials

• 1.6 to 2.2 yards of 56″ Cotton Sateen, linen, silk taffeta
• Thread to match
• Lightweight fusible interfacing
• Seven strings, deco flat elastic, cord, or deco woven tape.

Tools

• Sewing ruler
• Tape measure
• Erasable ink pen or tailor's chalk
• Paper for pattern making

Fabric Recommendations

Sewing Skill: Intermediate

I do not recommend this blouse as your first project if you have never done a blouse before. Below are the skills necessary to be able to finish the blouse.

• Tracing and making a facing
• Understanding a facing
• Grainline direction and how it affects a garment
• Making a cord for button loops
• Fitting

Body Measurements

There is a 3-inch ease on this pattern.

Size	S	M	L	XL	2XL
Bust	31	33	36	39 1/2	43 1/2
Waist	24	26	32	34	36
Hips	33	35	37	41 1/2	45 1/2

How To Download Your Lucky Blouse Pattern

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Elizabeth The Lucky Blouse Pattern Layout

How To Make Your Perfect Blouse

There is a 5/8″ seam allowance in the pattern.

Step One: Making And Tracing The Facings

Have you ever heard the phrase “do as I say not as I do”? Unfortunately, that applies to this part of the project as I am not using fusible interfacing in the facing, which is not ideal. If you read my post last week you would know that I have moved and all my sewing things are in a container, so I have to make do with what I have.

You may notice in the pictures that I have opted for stitching rows at the front to give this part of the blouse some rigidity. You can do the same or use bias tape instead of a facing. In fact, these would make it much easier, but I only just thought about that once I finished the blouse.

Apply fusible interfacing to the fabric from which you will cut the facings. This is a better system than fusing the interfacing after cutting because you avoid shrinkage and deformation of the facing.

Trace the facing neck and front. Sew at 5/8″. Put aside.

Step Two: Making The Cords

Here again, you can use deco tape, and it will save you at least two hours of work. You will need ten pieces 8″ long.

Cut a bias tape 24″ in length and 1″ in width this will make three pieces of cords. You will need 10 pieces.

Fold the bias strip in half, and sew at 1/4″ from the fold.

Use a loop turner to turn the loop.

Step Three: Sewing The Darts

Sew the front and back darts of the blouse. Press the darts.

Step Four: Pinning The Cords

You will need to place the cords before you put the blouse together. I have to warn you here, I will be talking about the sides of the body as supposed to what you see in the picture. This is a wrap blouse, the right side will be on top, and you will see the ties on the left side of the body.

Pin three cords separated by two inches on the right side of the body.

On the same side, but on the inside, pin two cords.

Do the opposite on the left side two cords on the top and three on the inside, with the exception that the three cords need to be left on the outside of the blouse so you can tie them up.

NOTE: You know you have done it well when you match two cords in the inside tied together as in the picture above and three cords on top matching three cords on the side.

Step Five: Attaching The Front And Back Of The Blouse

Sew the shoulder seams, serge the seam allowance and press the seams open.

Sew the side seams, and be careful that the ties remain horizontal. Serger and press the seams.

Step Six: Attaching The Facing

Pin the facing to the blouse right sides facing each other at the shoulder seams, and pin the facing all over the front. Sew at 5/8″.

Cut the facing side, and reduce it by half. Press towards the facing, fold and understitch.

Serge the edge of the facing and iron the facing.

It will be helpful for beginners to read this article.

Understitching a Facing, Neckline, or Lining

Step Seven: Adding The Sleeves

Sew along the arm of the sleeve, serge and iron the seam.

Gather the cup of the sleeve.

Pin the centre of the sleeve to the seam allowance; remember, the two notches indicate the sleeves' back.

Sew the sleeves to the arm holes.

Step Eight: Hemming The Blouse

Serge the bottom edge of the blouse. Fold the facing and the hem 5/8 and sew using a medium stitch.

The original blouse has button loops instead of ties and has one button inside on the right side of the body at the tip of the bust dart. The blouse also had embroidered cuffs and a very large belt. Let me know in the comments below if this is something you would like to explore.

I was voted out of the apartment and landed on my brother's couch for a few weeks until I moved to Europe. (another story for another day), I do not know if there is good or bad luck. I believe that when we wear something that makes us look good and feel confident, things tend to turn how we want. It is all on our mind; if we know the product and the companies and look and feel confident, the possibilities of things going our way are high. As Louis Pasteur said, “Chance favors the prepared mind”.

Did you ever have a roommate who abused your wardrobe? Let me know in the comments below if you believe a piece of your wardrobe has brought you good luck.

Until next time! Let's keep the world together one stitch at a time.

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