Gathered Flounce Blouse with Loop Fasteners
Introducing a charming women's blouse pattern, distinguished by a playful double gathered flounce framing the neckline and front edges, laced together with a tie through delicate rouleau loops.
When To Wear
This versatile blouse offers a balance of casual elegance and unique detailing, making it perfect for:
- Casual Chic Outings: Pair with skirts or trousers for stylish daytime events or relaxed gatherings.
- Spring & Summer Wear: Its lightweight design and short sleeves are ideal for warmer weather.
- Feminine Everyday Styling: Add a touch of romantic flair to your daily wardrobe with its distinctive flounce.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a fitted, short blouse that accentuates the waist.
Neckline & Flounce: a folded, gathered flounce runs around the back neckline and down both front edges, standing up softly at the neck like a ruffled collar.
Closure: Three self-fabric rouleau loops on each front edge; a self-fabric tie is laced through the loops, drawing the fronts together for adjustable styling.
Sleeves: Short cap sleeves set into the upper part of the armhole; the underarm is finished with bias binding.
Back: Shaped with a center back seam and darts for a tailored fit.
Hem: a slightly curved hem finished with a narrow rolled edge, sitting at the waist or slightly below.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires confident skills in precision gathering, making rouleau loops from bias strips, and applying bias binding for neat finishes.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose lightweight fabrics with good drape to allow the flounce to fall beautifully:
- Thin fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Bias tape for finishing the armholes and the flounce attachment seam
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Back – 2 pieces
- Front – 2 pieces
- Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Flounce – 4 pieces
- Bias strip for the loops – 2–3 cm wide, long enough for 6 loops of 5 cm (cut by measurement)
- Tie – 4 cm wide, length as desired (cut by measurement)
Sewing Instructions
- Stitch the darts on the back pieces. Press the darts towards the center.
- Stitch the center back seam. Press the seam to the left side and serge.
- Stitch the shoulder and side seams of the blouse. Serge the side and shoulder seams. Press them towards the back.
- Stitch the Flounce pieces together in pairs along the short ends. Press the seams open. Fold each flounce in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press. Run a line of loose (long) stitches 0.5 cm from the raw edges. Gather the flounces to match the length of the back neckline and front edges, distributing the gathers evenly along the entire length.
- Make the rouleau loops: cut a bias strip of fabric 2–3 cm wide. Fold it in half lengthwise, right sides together. Stitch 0.3–0.4 cm from the fold, widening the seam to 0.5–0.7 cm at the end. Trim the seam allowance to 0.3–0.6 cm. Turn the tube right side out using a needle with a thick thread. The cord should be firm along its entire length. Cut the cord into 6 pieces, 5 cm each.
- Mark the loop positions along each front edge: 1.5 cm below the neckline, 1.5 cm above the hem, and midway between them. Baste the flounce to the front. Fold the cord pieces in half and place them on the flounce at the marks on the right side of the front, aligning the raw edges. Secure the ends with machine stitching.
- Stitch the two flounces to the front edges and to the front and back neckline. Bind the seam allowances with bias binding.
- Clip the armhole at the notches. Place the bias binding right sides together with the lower part of the armhole and stitch. Turn the binding to the wrong side so that a narrow piping of fabric shows along the armhole edge. Topstitch the fold of the binding to the armhole 0.1 cm from the edge.
- Press the sleeve hem allowance to the wrong side, turn under, and topstitch. Set the sleeve into the upper part of the armhole. Serge the seam.
- Finish the hem of the blouse with a dense rolled overlock edge.
- Cut a tie of the desired length, 4 cm wide. Press it in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Unfold and press the long raw edges to the center crease. Fold the tie along the center line, matching the folds, and topstitch 0.1 cm from the edge. Lace the tie through the loops.
