DIY Vintage Blouse

This DIY Vintage Blouse tutorial is a part II of my Free Vintage Blouse Pattern post.

 

You can also learn how to make a Vintage Blouse with a Bow here.

I live in Norway and we’re currently nearing the end of autumn. It’s getting quite cold and I feel like my vintage – inspired wardrobe needs some long sleeve, warm, cute blouses.

 

This particular blouse is the effect of my unquenchable desire for puffy sleeves and covered buttons. I simply can’t get enough of them!

 

It also has shoulder seams that fall a bit forward and a peter pan collar.

Here is a simple tutorial on how to make this awesome blouse.

STEP 1 – ASSEMBLING YOUR PATTERN

 

Follow the steps of the first part of this post to learn how to make a basic blouse pattern.

 

Tere are a few alterations that you will make to your basic pattern. However, keep your original, basic pattern stored away. It will come in very handy whenever you will feel like making a new blouse.

 

Take the shoulder seam of your basic blouse pattern 3,5 cm up on the back bodice and 3,5 cm down on your front bodice. Extend the shoulder seam on your front bodice by 4 cm. We’ll use that extra material to make little gathers.

 

I wanted big, visible cuffs on my blouse so I made it 20 cm long and 15 cm high.

 

To get the puffy sleeves of my dreams, I extended the sleeves of my basic pattern by 6 cm on each side on the bottom and connected the new points to the shoulder. (If your basic shirt has vell fitting sleeves you will have to extend it more. )

 

The instruction to design your own collar is here.

For this blouse, you will need both collar and undercollar.

The under collar is the same piece of the pattern as the collar, only 3 mm smaller on the outer edge. 

Cut undercollar, collar and back bodice pieces on the fold.

 

You can tweak those measurements to reflect the idea you have for your blouse! 🙂

 

 

Those are the pattern pieces you should end up with once you’re done with drafting.

 

STEP 2 – FRONT BODICE

 

Finish the inner seams of the front bodice. I did it by first overlocking the edges and then fusing my seam allowance to the inside of the blouse. No visible seam on the front!

STEP 3 – MAKING GATHERS

 

Sew two rows of gathering stitch under your shoulder seam on the front bodice (leaving 1,5 cm on each side).

 

STEP 3 – MAKING THE BODICE

 

Pin the back and front bodice pieces on the shoulder seams (right sides together). Make sure that the edges align and then gather the material on the front bodice. Even out the gathers and stitch together.

 

Then, pin side seams right sides together and stitch.

 

Your bodice is ready. Try it on to see if you’re happy with the fit.

 

STEP 4 – MAKING THE COLLAR

 

Interface the upper collar to give it a little more stiffness.

 

Pin collar and undercollar right sides together and stitch around the outer edge.

Clip the seam allowance to around 5 mm and notch the curved edges.

 

Turn the collar right way out and press. Make sure to roll the seam towards the undercollar to make the outer seam less visible.

 

STEP 5 – ATTACHING COLLAR TO THE BODICE

 

Pin right side of the collar to the wrong side of the blouse. Stitch in place, shorten the seam allowance.

 

Turn your blouse right side out, iron the collar to sit on the right side.

 

Next, edgestitch around the neckline to keep the collar in place.

 

STEP 6 – DETAILS ON THE SLEEVE

 

I didn’t want to stress about getting my hand through the sleeve, so I decided to leave the bottom part of it opened.

 

Remember the notch I’ve made 5 cm away from the sleeves hem?

This 5 cm has to be enclosed with a double hem (fold it 0,5mm, press, fold 0,5 mm and topstitch).

 

STEP 7 – ATTACHING THE CUFFS

 

Interface the cuff pieces.

 

Press up the seam allowance on the top side of cuffs.

 

Next, put in two rows of gathering stitches on the ends of your sleeves, leaving around 2 cm on each side.  

 

Attach the unpressed side of the cuff to the sleeve (right sides together).

 

Make sure that 1,5 cm of the cuff is sticking out on both sides and gather the material of the sleeve to fit in.

Stitch together and press the seam allowance towards the cuff.

 

Next, fold the cuff in half, right sides together and stitch the sides. Cut corners and turn cuffs right way out.

They are almost done. The only thing left is to hand stitch the cuff to the sleeve on the inner side.

 

STEP 8 – FINISHING THE SLEEVES

 

Pin sleeves right sides together and stitch.

 

When you get to the point where you created the small opening at the bottom of the sleeve, pivot and sew across the hemmed edges. This way you will close the sleeve and secure the openings for hands.

 

STEP 9 – ATTACHING THE SLEEVES

 

Turn your sleeves right way out and your blouse inside out.

Use the notches on the back side of the sleeve pattern to match sleeves with back bodice. This way you will attach sleeves in correct armholes.

 

Pin the sleeves to the arm seams and stitch in place.

 

STEP 10 – HEMMING YOUR BLOUSE

 

Make a double hem by folding the edge of the bodice by 0,5 cm and then 0,5 cm again to cover up the raw edge. Stitch in place.

 

STEP 11 – MAKING BUTTONS

 

This blouse was made with simple covered-up buttons. Most packages come with instructions on how to make them.

I made button loops using this awesome tutorial.

 

YOU’RE DONE! CONGRATULATIONS!

Would you like to make your own vintage-inspired blouse? Please let me know if you do!

 

Pin this post for later and add this blouse to your project list.

 

Comment below if you have any questions!

 

Love,