Bell Sleeve V-Neck Blouse
Introducing a stylish and feminine blouse pattern featuring a split V-neckline, an empire seam and elegant bell sleeves with elastic-shirred bands, offering a versatile garment for various occasions.
When To Wear
This versatile blouse is designed for both elegant casual wear and sophisticated evenings, making it an ideal choice for:
- Daytime Chic: For an elegant yet comfortable look suitable for brunches, casual outings, or relaxed office wear.
- Evening Sophistication: Pair with a tailored skirt or trousers for a refined dinner or social gathering.
- Transitional Styling: Ideal for layering during changing seasons or for adding a touch of bohemian grace to your wardrobe.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a relaxed fit through the body with a high (empire) seam under the bust, gently drawn in with elastic, and wide bell sleeves.
Neckline: a shaped split V-neckline, finished with bias binding.
Closure: a short zipper in the center back seam at the neckline.
Sleeves: Long one-piece set-in sleeves flaring into a bell at the wrist, with elastic stitched along marked lines on the forearm to create shirred bands; the sleeve hem is bound with bias binding.
Body Construction: Upper and lower front and back pieces joined by a horizontal seam, with darts for shaping; elastic is stitched to this seam from the bust darts around the back.
Back: Center back seam with zipper and a horizontal seam separating the upper and lower back.
Hem: a straight hemline with side slits.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in working with bias binding, elastic gathering/shirring, zipper insertion, and assembling multi-part garment sections.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose light to medium-weight woven fabrics with good drape to enhance the silhouette and movement of the sleeves:
- Thin silk fabrics (e.g., silk crepe de chine, silk georgette, charmeuse)
Additional Supplies
- Bias binding
- Zipper
- Elastic tape
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Upper Back – 2 pieces
- Lower Back – 2 pieces
- Upper Front – 1 piece
- Lower Front – 1 piece
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
Sewing Instructions
- Mark and stitch the darts on the front and back pieces, then press.
- Bind the shaped neckline slit of the Upper Front with bias binding. Secure the binding at the point in the middle of the slit and press.
- Cut bias binding according to the blouse neckline size. Stitch the corners of the bias binding, trim excess fabric, and turn out the corners. Bind the neckline edge of the Upper Front with bias binding. Press.
- Stitch the Upper Back to the Lower Back and serge the seam.
- Serge the center back seam. Stitch the center back seam up to the notch for the zipper. Press the center back seam open, pressing the zipper opening allowances. Insert the zipper.
- Bind the neckline edge of the back with bias binding and press.
- Stitch the Upper Front to the Lower Front and serge the seam.
- Serge the side edges of the front and back. Stitch the side seams of the blouse, leaving slits in the side seam. Press open the side seams of the garment, pressing the slits.
- Stitch and serge the shoulder seams. Press the shoulder seams towards the back.
- Cut elastic tape to size. Baste the elastic to the seam joining the upper and lower parts, from the bust dart to 5 cm short of the center back seam. Stitch and remove temporary basting threads.
- Bind the lower edge of the sleeve with bias binding. Mark auxiliary lines for stitching the elastic tape. Cut elastic tape to size and stitch.
- Stitch and serge the sleeve seam. Press the sleeve seam.
- Set in the sleeves into the armholes according to the notches, easing the sleeve slightly. Serge the setting-in seam.
- Serge the bottom edge of the garment. Press and stitch the hem.
