Pleating the gathers on the Gathered Neck Blouse

The whole idea of pleating and stitching fabric to create volume in a style triggered this version of The Gathered Neck Blouse. This style is one of my ‘go to’ tops for summer and this is an update I love.

Cut out the blouse front and back and the bracelet length sleeves. Stitch the front and two sleeve pieces together as instructed in the original pattern. Then chalk small marks, 2cm and 3cm apart, repeated along the neckline edge from one sleeve along the front to the other sleeve (Step 1). Pinch the notches spaced 2cm together to form 1cm pleats (Step 2), press and stitch down by 2cm (Step 3). Do the same on the sleeve cuffs.

The neckline and cuffs are finished with narrow, 18mm bias binding. First attach the back to one of the sleeves. Open out the binding and stitch to the right side of the neck and cuffs. Stitch the remaining open sleeve and back seam together. At the neckline fold the bias binding to the wrong side, press and stitch down. Pin and stitch the underarm seams then fold the cuff binding over, press and stitch as the neckline. Hem the blouse and all done!

Fabric from Ditto