Longline Blouse with Front Hook Closure
A women's loose, A-line blouse in tunic length with a pointed shirt collar, an edge-to-edge front closed with seven hooks and eyes, side slits, and long sleeves gathered into buttoned cuffs.
When To Wear
- Everyday and office wear over trousers, leggings or a straight skirt.
- Spring and autumn, on its own or under a cardigan.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Loose, widening from the shoulders to the hem.
Length: Below the hip, with slits in the side seams topstitched 0.2 cm from the edge. The hem is overlocked, turned up and topstitched, its front corners stitched together with the facing.
Collar: Pointed shirt collar without a stand, the upper collar interfaced; the open neckline forms a small V at the front.
Closure: The fronts meet edge to edge and fasten with seven hooks and eyes, caught between the front and the interfaced facing at the marks. The front edges are topstitched 0.5 cm from the edge, and the facings are secured at the shoulder seams with a 1 cm bar tack.
Sleeves: Long set-in sleeves eased into the armhole, with a vent topstitched 0.2 cm from the edge. The lower edge is gathered into an interfaced cuff folded in half, closed with one button.
Back: One piece, no centre back seam.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Hooks and eyes set into a faced front edge, a collar without a stand, side slits, sleeve vents and gathered cuffs.
Fabric Recommendations
Linen, cotton and blended fabrics.
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing (front facings, upper collar, cuffs)
- 7 hooks and eyes
- 2 buttons (cuffs)
Cutting Plan
- From main fabric: Front - 2 pieces
- Back - 1 piece
- Center Front Facing - 2 pieces
- Sleeve - 2 pieces
- Collar - 2 pieces
- Cuff - 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing: Center Front Facing, upper Collar, Cuff
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the center front facings, cuffs, and upper collar.
- Serge/Overlock the side edges. Stitch the shoulder and side seams, stopping the side seams at the slit mark. Serge/Overlock the shoulder seams and press towards the back. Press the side seams open. Topstitch along the side slits 0.2 cm from the edge.
- Stitch the lower collar to the upper collar, trim the corners, turn right side out, and press.
- Serge/Overlock the outer edge of the center front facings. Stitch the facings to the front edges, inserting hooks on the right front and eyes on the left front at the marks. Trim excess fabric in the corners and turn the facings to the inside. Press the front edges. Topstitch 0.5 cm from the front edge. Secure the facings to the shoulder seams with a 1 cm bar tack.
- Stitch the lower collar to the neckline. Fold under the edge of the upper collar and topstitch it over the seam attaching the lower collar.
- Fold the cuff lengthwise in half. Stitch the short ends of the cuff, trim the corners, and turn it right side out. Press the cuff into its finished shape.
- Serge/Overlock the sleeve edges. Stitch the sleeve seams up to the vent mark. Topstitch along the vent 0.2 cm from the edge. Run a line of loose (long) stitches along the lower edge of the sleeve and gather it to fit the cuff length. Stitch the outer layer of the cuff to the lower edge of the sleeve, then fold under the inner layer and topstitch it over the attachment seam.
- Set in the sleeves, easing the sleeve cap. Serge/Overlock the armhole seam.
- Serge/Overlock the hem allowance of the blouse, turn it to the wrong side, stitching the corners at the front edges together with the facing, and topstitch along the edge.
- Mark the buttonhole position on each cuff, work the buttonhole, and sew on the button.
