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No-Pattern Circle Blouse Top | Debbie Shore Sewing Pattern

Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps

Follow Debbie Shore's step-by-step tutorial to create a loose fitting custom-fit top that's perfect for the summer!

This loosely fitting ‘cold shoulder’ blouse is simply made from two semi-circles of fabric, joined along the top of the arms. A lightweight fabric such as lawn or viscose works best as it will drape beautifully, or a sheer fabric would make an elegant summer top if worn over a cami or a strappy dress.

Fabric 60in (152.5cm) wide should accommodate up to a 72in (183cm) bust. If you need larger than that, cut the fabric lengthways instead of widthways, but make sure the print is non-directional in this case!

You’ll also need a little bias binding to finish the neck, which you can cut from the fabric left over after you’ve shaped the front and back pieces (see Working with Stretch Bias Binding for guidance). In this case, cut two 1½in (4cm) wide strips of fabric at a 45-degree angle and join them together (see the video). Alternatively, you can use ready-made binding.

Calculate your pattern size:

To calculate the width of fabric needed, first measure your full bust and add 8in (20cm). Divide this measurement in half. For example, if your bust measurement is 44in (112cm), add 8in (20cm) = 52in (132cm). Divide by two = 26in (66cm).

Now add fabric for the two ‘sleeves’. I added 24in (61cm) for two sleeves, each 12in (30.5cm) long. This makes the new measurement 50in (127cm). This is the width of the rectangle you need to cut for the front and back pieces, and for the length of the rectangle, simply divide your measurement in half. If you are struggling with the maths, see the video for examples using two other sizes.

Note: the seam and hem allowances vary, so refer to the steps for these.

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You will need:

Equipment

• Sewing machine
• Long ruler (yard stick) or tape measure
• Erasable marker pen
• Scissors or rotary cutter and cutting mat
• Optional: rolled-hem sewing-machine foot
• Optional: dressmaking pins 
• Optional: a few safety pins

Materials

• Two rectangles each measuring the width of fabric you’ve calculated (see the introduction, above), by half this measurement: for a 44in (112cm) bust, this would be 50 x 25in (127 x 63.5cm) 
• 25in (63.5cm) of ¾in (2cm) bias binding: there should be enough fabric left from your fabric to cut two bias strips 1½in (4cm) wide for this, which you need to join into one long strip

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