Cindy from Cation Designs celebrates her one year blogiversary with a free downloadable pattern to make her Swing Top, a drapey blouse with a wide neck and raglan sleeves. It’s a modern day adaptation of a blouse worn by a Sybil and Edith on Downton Abbey. Wear it tucked in (shown here), belted, or hanging loose. She suggests making it from a lightweight, drapey fabric such as silk or rayon. The pattern will fit BurdaStyle sizes 34-38, Big 4 pattern companies sizes 8-12, or RTW clothing sizes 2-6. Go to her post for the download and tutorial.
[photo from Cation Designs]
Hello, I love this style blouse. I am a bigger size than this, how would you adjust the pattern for a bigger size? I can do some modest altering, but I would appreciate any tips. Thank you! Deb
If it were me, I’d go find a blouse in my closet that has the right fit/ease. I’d trace the major pieces (front, back sleeves) on to pattern paper (or wrapping paper if you don’t have pattern paper). Then, I’d print out the free pattern so I could see the general shapes of the pieces I need. I’d redraw those shapes on a larger scale on the pieces I traced from the blouse that fits. Add seam allowances to the new lines and sew up a muslin to test the fit. It’ll take some trial and error, but I think you can do it. –Anne