The Alexa blouse is inspired by a design sold on W concept, a Korean fashion website. It is now sold out but it was over $200 when it was available. I love the designs offered on W concept as some are quite minimalistic and elegant, and if you have the budget, you can get them quite easily. The designs on this website does not come in a wide range of sizes, though, so if you fall into the small – medium range you can find your size, but if you are larger maybe you have to look elsewhere.
The Alexa blouse features a button up front, ruffle trim detail and short sleeves. It will take you some skills to make it, but do you think it will worth the effort?
My pattern is made in 10 sizes from XXS to 5XL so you may find a suitable size for yourself. If you are not sure which size suits you best, take a look at the measurement table before doing anything here: SIZE GUIDE.
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. This pattern is made for woven fabric.
- Buttons
- Fusible interfacing (light weight)
- Scissors, pencil or fabric marker, ruler, pins
- Sewing machine/Serger or needle and thread
- Printed pattern
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.
Cutting instruction:
After printing out and taping all the 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:
- Back: cut 1 on the fold
- Front: cut 2
- Sleeve: cut 2
- Back Facing: cut 1 self fabric + 1 fusible interfacing
- Front Facing: cut 2 self fabric + 2 fusible interfacing
- Ruffle Trim: cut 1
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. Apply fusible interfacing to Front Facing and Back Facing pieces.
3. Fold, pin and sew bust darts on Front pieces.
4. Place Front and Back pieces right side facing. Match all the notches, pin and sew the shoulder and side seams. Attach both Front pieces to the Back piece to get the Main Garment.
5. Sew the side seam of the Sleeve.
6. Turn the Sleeve inside out. Pin the Sleeve to the Main Garment so that the right sides are facing. Match the notches, pin and sew to join the Sleeve to the Main Garment.
7. Place Front Facing and Back Facing right side facing. Sew shoulder seam to get the Neck Facing piece.
8. Fold the Ruffle Trim in half lengthwise, right side in. Sew the straight short end. Turn the corner out. Iron the fold line.
9. Sew two parallel lines using longest stitch length ¼ and ½ inch along the curved raw edge of the ruffle trim. Pull to gather the fabric until it matches the measurement of the center front.
10. Place Neck Facing and Main Garment right side facing. Match the center back neck of the Main Garment and the notch on the Neck Facing. Place the Ruffle trim in between two layers so that the trim starts at the shoulder seam and ends at the hemline of the garment (the tip of the curved end of the Ruffle trim is placed right on the shoulder seam as in the picture below). Pin and sew to attach all three pieces. Clip the seam allowance, turn the Neck Facing over, stay stitch the seam allowance to the Neck Facing.
11. Hem the garment.
And here is the download link:
ALEXA RUFFLE TRIM BLOUSE (SIZE XXS – 5XL)
Click on the link above to download, you may see and ad pop-up but just close it and proceed with your download (sorry for the annoying ad but this is my best way to maintain the website – thanks for your understanding!)
Happy sewing! And don’t forget to share your project on my Facebook page: Tiana’s Closet Sewing Patterns
Tiana
