Sleeveless Gathered V-Neck Placket Blouse

Gathered V-Neck Blouse

A women's sleeveless blouse cut straight to the hip, with a split V-neckline, gathers on the front neckline and a double-layer placket stitched over the centre front from the V down to the hem. Neckline and armholes are bound with bias binding.

When To Wear

• In summer, on its own with trousers, shorts or a skirt.
• Under a jacket or cardigan for the office.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Loose, straight body with no darts.

Length: Hip length, with a hem that curves up at the side seams.

Neckline: Round neckline with a narrow V slit at the centre front. Gathers on the front neckline on each side of the V, set to length with a neckline shaping template. The neckline edge is bound with bias binding, which holds the gathers.

Front: Cut in one piece on the fold. The placket is made of two pairs of pieces, stitched together along the centre and then stitched to the V opening and turned out; it lies on the front from the neckline to the hem and is topstitched along its centre seam, with the free edges tacked by hand from the wrong side.

Sleeves: Sleeveless; armholes finished with bias binding.

Back: One piece cut on the fold, with no centre back seam.

Finishing: Hem finished, turned once and topstitched. No seam allowance on the neckline or armholes, which are bound.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Gathering to a template, bias-bound edges and a placket stitched to a V opening with a clipped corner.

Fabric Recommendations

Blouse fabrics with good drape from natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

• Bias binding (the approximate length is marked on the front pattern piece)