How To: Silky Blouse with 3/4 Balloon Sleeves

My sewing resolutions for 2020: 1) Not to buy more fabric until I've used up what I currently have and 2) To focus on pieces I need day-to-day, tops (that also work for the office) being a priority. As opposed to for example sequin jackets..

Tutorials take a lot of time & effort to create, and I choose to make mine available for free. If you enjoy this guide, you can support me with a donation that feels right for you, here.

TOOLS:

Fabric, 1.5m (I used a silky crepe)  |  Scissors  |  Pins  |  Thread & sewing machine  (ignore the elastic, I was going in a different direction first)

I. My cut pieces with measurements (2 of each) - with these you'll get a EU36/US 4 top, loose fit.

II. First sewed top sides and sleeve underseams.

III. Then pinned sleeves onto top and sewed them.

IV. At this point I adjusted the neckline just enough for it to fit over my head. I finished it with bias tape.

V. Onto the sleeves. I cut two pieces like this for the cuffs, pinned the short edges together right sides facing, and sewed into a circle..

.. Then folded in half and tried the cuff on to make sure it fit - which it did:

VI. Then I gathered the sleeve enough to match the width of the cuff..

.. And then pulled the sleeve through the cuff, right sides facing, and pinned together:

Then folded the cuff onto the reverse, and folding the raw edge to align with the first seam, pinned on. 

And finally hand-sewed on.

So I had this. Repeated for the second sleeve, and then just needed to hem the top.

Made a matching skirt like this one, and I had a sort of faux dress ✨

xo,

Julia