Summer Blouse Pattern – Simple Elegance At Your Finger Tips

This summer blouse pattern is a way of remembering a friend and a gift to the many ladies that have been asking for a blouse that can cover the forearms.  There are five big requests I get when the weather starts to get warmer. One of them is a blouse that is fresh, simple, elegant, and able to be worn with shorts, a mini or maxi, jeans or culottes — while at the same time being warm enough that a cool evening breeze won't be uncomfortable.  It's a big task for one piece of clothing, but not impossible in my opinion.

Today is the birthday of my friend Auleris.  We have not seen each other for many years, but last I heard she'd made her way back to Panama and still remains a nun.

There are some people who were born to follow a path and have known it their whole lives.  Auleris is one of those people.  Her passion for God was so strong that she knew she wanted to commit herself to serving others and serving God since before she even graduated high school.  Her work has taken her all over India and South America before finally returning to her own country.

I met Auleris at the library in the small town where I grew up.  I noticed that she was doing a Biology paper which was due the next day and she was writing it by hand on the back of paper that already had writing on it since she had no money for even paper.  I told her if she did not have a Biology book she could borrow mine or come to my house and do homework together.  She said thank you and we didn't speak again for about two weeks.

One cold rainy night, I heard someone calling from the gate.  It was Auleris, completely soaked and carrying a bundle of clothes in her arms.  She had run away from the home she was staying in.  You see, her real home was on a farm, a two-hour walk from the school where we went.  So from Monday to Thursday she would stay at the home of an uncle and return home on Fridays for the weekend.

That rainy night her uncle had come home drunk and had tried to touch her.  When she ran to her aunt she did what many do, and blamed the young girl, then kicked her out.  That's how Auleris ended up at our gate.  My mom took her in and for the rest of that school year, she stayed with us.  The following year I literally gained a sister.

Auleris had very few clothes, not wanting to carry so much from her far away home.  Since we had school uniforms it wasn't such a big deal.  But, one day she asked me if I could show her how to sew so perhaps she could make clothes for herself. This summer blouse was the first thing we did together.  Her only request was that it needed to cover the arms, yet be flowy and cool under the sun.

Aurelis ended up earning a scholarship to university and made it all the way to a master's degree at the University of Barcelona.  Soon after she took her vows and went to live in Calcutta, India under Mother Teresa's guidance, rescuing girls from prostitution, teaching them reading and writing, and sewing.  To my surprise, she told me she found another friend of mine at the nunnery — but of her, I will tell you another day.

The Summer Blouse Called Auleris

This blouse has balloon shaped sleeves,

Bias tape around the neck allowing you to leave the neckline open or closed with a bow.

A boxy shape for comfort.  I recommend using natural fiber fabrics such as silk, cotton batiste, lawn, linen, or rayon.

Materials

• Two yards of 54″ of natural fiber fabric.  See my recommendations below.
• One pack of (3.5 yards) of 1.5″ ready-made bias tape or make our own
• Thread to match

Tools

• Rotary cutter
• Sewing machine
• Serger

Fabric Recommendations From Fabric.com

Experience Level:  Intermediate Beginner

You need to have an understanding of grain line, cutting layout, straight stitch, bias tape application, and sewing a dart.  Please read the top five mistakes to avoid article before you start this project.

Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cutting Fabric

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Pattern Download

Pattern Download

How To Print And Assemble Your Summer Blouse Pattern

Please use Adobe Reader which is a free program.  This is all you need.  Print the pattern in Landscape mode and do not Scale.

Pattern Layout

Finished Measurements

This pattern has no seam allowance or hem please add your own.    Please allow 4 to 6 Inches at the bust for ease.   Take the given measurements below and subtract your bust measurement to find your size.

Size	Bust	Hips	Length
S	41″	43″	21″
M	43″	45″	21 1/4″
L	44 1/2″	46 1/2″	21 1/2″
XL	46″	48″	21 3/4″
2XL	47 1/2″	49 1/2″	22″

How To Sew Your Summer Blouse

We will start by sewing the bust dart then the chest opening.

I will be showing you the easiest way, but if you are an intermediate seamstress you can easily make a facing instead.  Advanced intermediates could even attach a placket and bottoms or a lovely lace zipper instead.

Sew The Dart

This is pretty self-explanatory, but if you have never done it please read this tutorial that goes on detail on how to sew a dart to perfection.

How to Sew Darts – How to Sew A Skirt Series

Sew The Bias Tape At The Chest

Follow this tutorial on how to apply bias tape on a V-neck, except that the pattern does not include the v-neck.  You will have to decide how open it will be at the chest.  All I can tell you is that the more chest area you have the bigger yours should be.  Draw a very long and narrow V on the neckline for the result on the main picture.

Cut in the middle, then place the bias tape at the edge.  From here follow the tutorial exactly as it is written.

Sew The Shoulder Seams

Simply sew the shoulder seams.

Attach The Sleeve And Sew The Sides

The sleeve has two notches.  One in the middle of the sleeve and one on the side.  The one on the side indicates that that is the front of the sleeve, the one in the middle you need to match with the shoulder seam.

Sew the sleeves and serge, then sew from the wrist to the hem in one go.

Apply Elastic To The Sleeves

This is not the first time I have shown how to do this sleeve.  I have used it in the secretary blouse, and the office hours blouse.  You can refer to those projects too for additional guidance.

Make a band with your elastic and thread it to the sleeve.

Thread the sleeve through the elastic.

Place the sleeve through the arm of the sewing machine.

Place the elastic close to the edge and for the edge over the elastic no more than 1/2″  and sew.  You will need to pull the elastic as you sew.  This is very easy and very fast.

Hem The Blouse

I am simply running the hem on the serger then turning 3/8″ (1cm)

That's All

I hear from Auleris from time to time.  The last time I saw her I finally asked: what does your name mean?.  She answered saying “It comes from Euler, which means the most beautiful equation”.  She is a very inspiring woman, still beautiful to this day both inside and out while remaining one of the most humble.  She remains a nun helping young girls and is still a good friend.

I hope you liked this summer blouse pattern that's named after her. We'll be making a few adaptations to it in the future with it so you can try different variations.

Need another easy to make summer blouse pattern?  See the popular Linen V-Top Pattern linked below.

Linen V-Top Pattern – Spend Late Summer With Style

Until Next Time, Happy Sewing!

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