Wardrobe by Me Piper Blouse

Bishop sleeves and the option to have the neckline tied or open.  Tied here.

Wardrobe by Me updated her Piper Boho Tunic pattern (affiliate links).  It now features three views.  I tested view B with Bishop Sleeves, a simple slit inside facing, gathers on the front bodice at the shoulders, a curved hem, and a neck-binding tie. (I received the pattern for free in exchange for my test).  

View A offers long sleeves with a roll up tab, a simple slit inside facing, chest dart, front elastic shirring, and a tunic length hem.

View C is a dress with long sleeves with a roll up tab, an exterior placket, chest dart, high side slits.  

Any view can be made sleeveless with the included armscye binding piece.  You could also easily switch out the various hemlines for any of the versions (they are all on the same pattern piece).

Pattern Features

• Size 0 to 22  or 30-54 European sizes (I've included the size charts at the bottom of the post)
• Layers
• 3/8" (1cm) seam allowances, 3/8" + 3/8" hem allowance
• A0 Pattern Page (no need to piece together individual pages)
• Pattern Piece chart (to determine what pieces you need for each view)
• Style Illustration
• Metric and Imperial Size Charts with body measurements, finished garment measurements, and fabric requirements
• Illustrations with brief clear and concise instructions--not a detailed step-by-step how to sew guide, designed for an intermediate sewer or a beginning sewer who is willing to search for technique instructions outside of the pattern.  (This is my favorite type of PDF tutorial, but I know it is not for everyone)

Onto my actual blouse.

I bought my Art Gallery Rayon from my local quilt shop Sew Special Quilts.  They offer tons of quilting fabrics, but their apparel selection has grown a lot in the last few years.  The print is called Meadow Dim and I just love it for this style of blouse.  Even though this is a long sleeve blouse the rayon was really light and airy in the Texas heat.

The blouse requires interfacing for the facing and I have recently started using Pro-Sheer Elegance Light which is sold by Fashion Sewing Supply and I don't think I will ever go back to Pellon. When I used Pellon interfacing, even the light weight versions, my plackets or facings ended up being stiff and standing out.  With Pro-Sheer I can barely tell that I added anything to my fabric.  It is perfect for a light flowy blouse like this one.

Pro-Sheer Elegance Light Fusible Interfacing

If you have read my blog before you probably know I'm pear shaped and I always blend sizes to fit my measurements.  I'm a size 8 bust, 10 waist, and 12 hips for WBM patterns.  This is a pretty simple adjustment to make with a French curve.  The picture below shows my new pattern piece line drawn over the drafted side seam of the Piper Blouse.  I make sure I start at the same point on the front and the back pieces, so that they end up matching when I sew them together.  For someone new to sewing it is much easier to fit your shoulders and then adjust everything lower, so that is why I start with the 8 and blend out to the 12 instead of starting with the 12 and trying to take in the bust and shoulders.

If you'd like a video on how I blend sizes let me know and I'll be happy to make one.  I've considered making a post dedicated to blending sizes for a pear shape, but think that it is something best demonstrated with a video.

I'm only 5'2", so I did remove about 1/2" from the waist of the pattern piece (from both the front and back of the bodice).  I did not remove any length from the sleeves, I think my arms are proportionally longer and I never remove length from arms.

Otherwise I sewed up the blouse according to the instructions and really loved watching it come together.   I like finishing all exposed edges of pattern pieces before constructing the garment on the sewing machine, so I ran my overlocker around the shoulders, armscye, and side seams before beginning.  I was able to use my edge stitching foot for the neck binding and my regular presser foot for the rest. 

I love how this blouse has a lovely loose feel, but maintains a feminine shape.  So many blouses are oversized and make me feel frumpy when I go out.  

If you struggle with curved hems I recommend trying this tutorial for hemming a shirt tail.  I had to use it for the bishop sleeves.  By sewing a guide seam I was better able to manipulate the fabric for the small hem.

Here are a few more pictures that my husband and son were kind enough to take.  Maybe some day I'll figure out how to make my camera focus better from the tripod, but for now I'll have to continue resorting to bribery.

Happy Sewing!