Our new Rosie blouse is sure to steal your heart with its delicate rounded neckline and charming puffed sleeves. The front is constructed from multiple panels, giving you endless opportunities to customize the design—add contrasting bias bindings or ribbons, or mix and match different fabric colours for a unique look.
The Rosie blouse fastens at the back with a button and loop. Prefer a simpler silhouette? Rosie can also be made with a short, straight sleeve instead of the puffed version. Experiment with prints, textures and details to create a Rosie blouse that perfectly reflects your personal style.
We wish you a lot of fun with your new blouse!
Are you using bias tape or ribbon between the seams? Where applicable, the additional instructions are indicated as “with bias tape”. Bias tape and ribbons all have their own width. Check in advance how much of the bias tape or ribbon you want to see at the right side and how you should place it on the seam allowance. The easiest way is to use 4 cm bias tape (which you then press in half to 2 cm) or 2 cm ribbon. This allows you to place it at the edge of the seam allowance, leaving half a centimetre visible on the right side. If you are working with pre-pressed bias tape, first iron it completely open, then press it in half, with the wrong sides together.
Pin the middle panel of the front to the center front piece, right sides together and stitch the long side. With bias tape: first pin the bias tape to the center front piece, before pinning the middle panel to it. Finish the seams together with an overlock or by zigzagging and press the seams towards the center front. Do the same on the other side.
With bias tape: open the bias tape and place two pieces right sides together. Use the V-shape template piece to cut the correct shape. Then stitch the bias pieces together by sewing parallel to the V shape, using a 1 cm seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance and fold the bias tape back in half lengthwise so the V shape is formed.
Next, place the shaped bias tape onto the center piece, making sure the center front seam aligns with the marking. Stitch the bias tape to the center piece before attaching the top piece.
Pin the right-hand side of the top front piece to the center front piece, right sides together and stitch. Right-hand side when wearing the blouse. Make sure the center front markings align. Stitch from the side seam to the center front marking. Leave the needle in the fabric and raise the presser foot. Now snip into the V-shape up to just before your needle. Be careful, only cut into the fabric of the top piece.
Turn the fabric under your machine so you can pin the left side of the top piece to the center piece. Before you lower the presser foot, make sure that there are no unwanted little folds in front of your needle. Now stitch the other side.
Finish the edges together with an overlock or by zigzagging. Press all seams towards the top piece.
Pin the side panel to the front with the right sides together and stitch the long side. With bias tape: first pin the bias tape to the front before pinning the side panel to it. Finish the seams together with an overlock or by zigzagging and press the seams towards the center front. Do the same for the other side.
Finish the center back seams of the top and center back piece. Pin the side back piece to the center back piece, right sides together and stitch the long side. With bias tap: first pin the bias tape to the center back piece, before pinning the side piece to it. Finish the seams together with an overlock or by zigzagging and press the seams towards the center back. Do the same on the other side.
Pin the top back piece to the lower piece, right sides together and stitch. With bias tape: first pin the bias tape to the lower back piece, before pinning the top piece to it. The marking at the top piece matches the seam of the side and center back pieces. Finish the seams together with an overlock or by zigzagging and press the seams towards the top piece. Repeat for the other side.
Pin the center back seams right sides together and stitch from the bottom of the top piece down to the hem. Press the seam open. If you are using bias tape, make sure it matches nicely at the seam!
Finish the side seams of front and back with an overlock or by zigzagging. Pin right sides together and stitch the side seams. Press open.
Pin and stitch the shoulder seams of front and back with the right sides together. Finish the seams together with an overlock or by zigzagging and press towards the back.
Finish the shoulder seams of front and back facing with an overlock or by zigzagging. Pin with the right sides together and stitch. Press the seam open. Finish the bottom of the facing and the center back seams with an overlock or by zigzagging.
Pin the center back seams of the facing with the right sides together and stitch the lower part up to the marking (this is only a few centimeters).
Pin the facing to the blouse, right sides together and make sure that the shoulder seams and markings match. Start at one edge of the neckline-center back and stitch all around to the other edge.
Trim the seam allowances at the curves of the neckline and shoulder seams.
Finish all seams together with an overlock or by zigzagging. Press all seams towards the facing. Stitch the seam allowances to the facing through all layers, at 2 mm from the stitching line.
Fold the back facing back, right sides of the fabric together. Pin the center back seams of the facing and the back piece up to the marking point. Pin the ribbon at the top between the seam allowances, about 7 mm from the neckline. Stitch in place from the neckline to the marking point. Trim the corners at the neckline. Turn the facing to the inside and press neatly.
The straight sleeve:
Finish the side seams and hem of the sleeves with an overlock or by zigzagging. Pin the side seams right sides of the fabric together. Stitch and press open. Press the hem of the sleeve 2 cm to the wrong side and stitch close to the edge. Press neatly.
The puffed sleeve:
For the puffed sleeve you’ll need the pattern pieces for both the puffed sleeve (piece n° 10) and the short sleeve/sleeve lining (piece n°11). The puffed sleeve is the outer sleeve and the short sleeve serves as the sleeve lining. Pin the side seams right sides together and stitch. Press open.
Gather the hem of the puffed sleeve. Easestitch using the largest stitch on your sewing machine at 1,5 cm from the edge. Easestitch a second time at 1 cm. Then gather the cap of the sleeve in the same way between the two markings.
Pin the puffed sleeve to the sleeve lining, right sides together and make sure that the markings of both sleeve caps match. The single marking indicates the front, the double one the back. Gather the hem of the puffed sleeve to match the hem of the sleeve lining. Stitch at 1,5 cm seam allowance. Remove the gathering threads.
Measure the circumference of your upper arm and add 3 cm. Cut two pieces of elastic to this length.
Stitch the elastic to both seam allowances of the sleeve, at the wrong side of the sleeve. Make sure to only stitch it to the seam allowances. Mark the center of the elastic - the middle of the hem of the sleeve is already indicated with a marking. Stitch one end of the elastic to the seam allowance of the side seam. Stretch the elastic so the center marking of the elastic matches the center marking of the sleeve. Pin in place and stitch the elastic to the seam allowances, pulling the elastic while you sew. When you reach the center, pin the other end of the elastic to the seam allowance of the other side seam. Stretch the elastic again and stitch it in place until the side seam.
Turn the sleeve to the right side so the wrong sides of both sleeves are together. Gather the head of the puffed sleeve between the markings so it matches the cap of the sleeve lining. Pin all markings together and stitch the gathered sleeve cap at 1 cm from the edge.
All versions:
Pin the sleeve into the armhole, right sides of the fabric together. Make sure the markings match. The single marking indicates the front, the double one the back. Divide the fabric evenly between the markings of the cap of the sleeve. Baste to avoid false pleats and stitch in place. Finish the edges with an overlock or by zigzagging. Press the seam allowances towards the sleeve. Remove the gathering threads of the puffed sleeve.
Hem: press 1 cm of the hem to the wrong side. Press another 2 cm to the wrong side and stitch just next to the edge.
Give your new blouse a nice press!