This pattern is made per request of a reader on my Facebook page. She loved the design but won’t buy the product because it was made with polyester fabric (that’s how cheap fast fashion brands from China can compete – they use cheap materials!)
With this pattern, you can use soft flowy fabrics like chiffon, voile or thin cotton. Most fabrics from fabric store will be better than the polyester fabric the brand offers.
As usual, my pattern is made in 10 sizes from XXS to 5XL, so you will find yourself a suitable size. You can also lengthen or shorten the hemline to get your desired length – you can even make a maxi skirt from this pattern.
The pattern is made using layered PDF, please check for your desired size before printing so you won’t waste your paper. I have included a first page with many details about sizing and printing, so please first read the first page and make sure you know what size you need! If you still do not know how to print a layered PDF, please check for the printing instruction in this post: PRINTING GUIDE.
You can print this using your home printer and A4/Letter paper. I calculated the printing area so that you will be able to use either type of paper to print the pattern out perfectly. Always print the first page first and check with the test square if you are printing at the right scale before you print out the whole pattern – avoid waste of ink and waste of paper, save the earth!
Some PC may print smaller than actual size even when you choose 100% scale – I don’t know why this problem exist, but my HP laptop cannot print true to size. I have to scale up to 103% to get the right size. You may need to check with your PC to see if it prints true to size, if not, scale up a bit.
SEWING INSTRUCTION
You will need
- Fabric of your choice
- Some elastic for the sleeves
- Scissors, pencil or fabric marker, ruler, pins
- Sewing machine/Serger or needle and thread
- Printed pattern
What fabric can be used for this project? This design is made for woven fabric. Because it has a lot of gatherings, just make sure you use thin fabric to get a light feel and reduce bulkiness. I suggest pure cotton voile or linen fabric for breathable summer days!
How much fabric do you need for this piece of garment? To be precise, you may need to check how much fabric you need before buying. It will depend on the selected pattern size, the width, and design of the fabric you plan to use. Just to be sure, print all the paper patterns and lay them out at the width of fabric you plan to use (usually from 90 to 150 centimeters or 35 to 60 inches). Measure how much fabric you will need. Don’t forget to account for pieces that need to be cut multiple times and pieces that are cut on the fold.
For this pattern, you will need to use a sewing machine that has the function to sew stretch fabric (zig zag stitch for example), or use a serger which is designed to sew stretch fabric nicely.
Cutting instruction:
After printing out and taping all the 30 pattern pages together, you will get something similar to this image:
You will see that there are 2 sets of lines on each pattern size. The inner lines are sewing line (and you sew along these lines), and the outer lines are cutting lines (you cut the fabric along these lines, remember the folding lines where you have to fold the fabric before cutting). The distance between sewing line and cutting line is seam allowance, and it varies from point to point. For example, the side seam allowance is about 1/2 inch (1.2cm), and seam allowance at hemline is 1 inch (2.5cm). This is the reason why I do not remove the sewing lines from the pattern. Please use it as a guide to know how much seam allowance you need to give at each seam.
Fabric will be cut into following pieces:
- Center Front: cut 1 pc on the fold
- Side Front: cut 2 pcs
- Center Back: cut 1 pc on the fold
- Side Back: cut 2 pcs
- Sleeve: cut 2 pcs
- Ruffle 1: cut 2 pcs
- Ruffle 2: cut 2 pcs
- Neck Band: cut 1 pc
Make sure to mark all notches and other design features such as darts, pleats etc. from the pattern pieces onto your fabric. When sewing the garment, pay attention to notches, they must match up.
Sewing instruction:
1. Serge/zig zag stitch the raw edge to prevent fabric from unraveling.
2. Place the Center Front and Center Back right side facing. Pin and sew the shoulder seam. You get the Center Garment.
3. Place the corresponding Side Front and Side Back right side facing. Pin and sew the shoulder seam. Do this with all 2 pairs of pieces. You get the Side Garment pieces.
4. Use a small hem to finish the straight edge of the Ruffle 1 and Ruffle 2 pieces.
5. Sew two parallel lines using longest stitch length ¼ and ½ inch from the curved edge of the Ruffle 1. Pull the lower threads to gather the ruffle so it will match the length from the notch on the Center Front Piece to the notch on the Center Back piece (the notches that are further from the shoulder seam). Do the same with the Ruffle 2, but the gathered length should be 6cm (2 ½ inch) shorter than the Ruffle 1 pieces (matching the notches that are closer to the shoulder seam).
6. Place the pieces in the following sequence: Side Garment (right side facing up), Ruffle 1 (right side facing up), Ruffle 2 (right side facing up), Center Garment (right side facing down). Pin all 4 pieces together, matching the notches on both main garment pieces. Sew to join. Do this with the other side of the garment.
7. Turn the garment over. Pin and sew the side seams to get the Main Garment.
8. Gather the cap of the sleeve using the same method as step 5. Sew the side seam of the Sleeve pieces.
9. Fold and sew to finish the hem of the Sleeve, leaving a small opening to insert elastic. The length of elastic should be the circumference of your wrist plus 1 inch. Sew the ends of the elastic, push it in the casing and sew to close the casing.
10. Turn the sleeve inside out. Place it to the armhole of the garment so two pieces are right side facing. Adjust the gathering at the sleeve cap to match the notches on the armhole. Pin and sew to attach sleeve to the armhole. Do this with both sleeves.
11. Sew the slit at the back of the neck: cut a straight line from the back neck to the notch on the center back line, use bias tape to bind the raw edge.
12. Fold the Neck Band lengthwise. Sew the two short ends. Clip the corner and turn it inside out. Press.
13. Place the Neck Band and the Main Garment right side facing. Match the notches, pin and sew to join.
14. Hem the blouse.
And here is the download link:
REGINA RUFFLE BLOUSE (SIZE XXS – 5XL)
Happy sewing! And don’t forget to share your project on my Facebook page: Tiana’s Closet Sewing Patterns
Tiana
