Make the Annie Blouse

Make the Annie Blouse

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Introduction

The Annie Blouse is a PDF Pattern available for free to all our newsletter subscribers. Sign up today to receive your personal download link!

Annie is a stylish woven blouse pattern with long sleeves and a pretty shirred neckline detail. Make her as an everyday staple in a solid colour or create something special by pairing Annie with a vibrant print.

Join Lisa in this free Stitch School workshop as she takes you through the whole process of sewing up our Annie Blouse, sharing all her hints and tips along the way.

What's in the class?

With step-by-step video tutorials, this free workshop will show you how to sew the Annie Blouse pattern from beginning to end. You’ll learn how to attach a facing, how to put in the sleeves in a woven garment, and how to use shirring elastic to create the pretty ruche effect on the neckline. It's a chance to try out the Stitch School experience for free!

Sewing Level

The Annie Blouse is a Confident Beginner sewing pattern.

Sizing & Fabric Requirements

The Annie Blouse pattern is sized between UK sizes 6-30 and is split into two different blocks, sizes 6-20 (B cup) and sizes 18-30 (D cup). See the sizing charts for details on fabric requirements:

Fabric Suggestions

You can make your Annie Blouse in a range of woven fabrics: cotton lawn is perfect for beginners, viscose or crepe are a great choice for more experienced sewers who are comfortable working with fabrics that have more drape.

Welcome

Hi there, and welcome to the Annie Blouse Workshop here on Stitch School!

PDF Pattern & Instructions

 

To get your own copy of the Annie Blouse, all you need to do is to sign up to our newsletter! When you sign up you'll be sent your own unique download link to the pattern & instruction files.

If you've already signed up to our newsletter and don't think you've received the Annie Blouse pattern then firstly search your email inbox (and spam folder!) for 'Sew Over It Annie Blouse' and it should pop up. If it doesn't, then please email us on info@sewoverit.com and we'll be able to help.

If you'd like us to print your Annie Blouse for you then we can do so with our copyshop printing service. You can find it here.

Choosing a fabric

Supplies

 

You don't need many supplies to sew up the Annie Blouse - just the basics!

You can find the scissors that Lisa's using here, or learn more about basic sewing supplies (and extra special supplies) here on Stitch School.

Staystitching the back neckline

 

The first step is to staystitch the neckline of the back bodice piece. We're following step 1 in the instruction booklet.

For more detail check out our 'How to staystitch a woven neckline' tutorial.

If you're sewing an Annie Blouse from our 18-30 sized pattern then the next step is to sew in the bust dart, which is covered in the next lesson.

If you're sewing an Annie Blouse from our 6-20 sized pattern then you can skip the next lesson and head straight to 'Finishing the facing edge'.

Sewing the dart (for sizes 18-30)

If you're sewing an Annie in sizes 18-30 then this lesson is for you! If you're using the 6-20 size range then skip forward...

For more resources on darts, check out these Stitch School tutorials:

  • How to mark and sew a dart
  • How to raise or lower a bust dart

Finishing the facing edge

 

We're all back together now, finishing the long edge of the facing, following step 3 in the instructions.

You can finish a raw edge with an overlocker, or with a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine. We've got resources to help you with both!

Attaching the facing

 

Following step 3, we're now attaching the facing to your bodice front.

If you'd like to learn more about facings then look no further:

Sewing the shoulders

 

Step 4 is sewing the front and back bodice pieces together at the shoulder seams. We'll also be finishing the seams and pressing them to the back of the garment.

If you need a hand with any sewing basics, then why not check out our Beginner Sewing section on Stitch School. It's great for anyone learning to sew, or for experienced sewers to have a little refresher!

Preparing the binding

 

This lesson follows step 6 in the instruction booklet, you're prepping your binding ahead of sewing it the Annie neckline.

We love a bit of bias binding here at Sew Over It, and on Stitch School there's a heap of videos to help you master it, starting with making your own:

Attaching the binding

 

Take your time sewing on your bias binding to get a nice finish on your neckline.

To learn more about bias binding, different ways to apply it or different places to use it then why not check these out:

Or if you fancy really putting your skills to the test, why not try out our Alderley Top Workshop - a gorgeous bias cut cami with bias bound edges and straps

Pressing & topstitching the binding

 

The last step in this part of your neckline is to press the binding into place and topstitch it down from the right side of the blouse. We're up to step 9 in the instructions if you're reading along.

To get a neat finish we're rolling the seam to the inside of the garment. If you need a quick refresher, why not check out our 'how to roll a seam' tutorial. Or perhaps brush up on your topstitching with these tutorials:

Sewing the shirred neckline

 

The shirring detail on the neckline of the Annie Blouse is a really unique detail, it also gives you a chance to try out a new skill! We're at step 11 in the instructions.

If you're falling in love with shirring then why not look up two more uses of shirring elastic:

Sewing the side seams

 

A nice easy step after sewing that neckline - in this lesson you'll be whizzing up the side seams.

Did you know, if you need any fitting resources for Annie or any other pattern then Stitch School should be your first place to look. We've got everything from full bust, small bust, bicep adjustments and more, along with discussions with Julie (one of our fitting experts) and classes on how to draft your own perfectly fitting pattern block. Check out our Fittings & Alterations section for the answer to your prayers!

Preparing the sleeves

 

Working from step 17 in the instruction booklet, we're now moving on to preparing our sleeve pieces.

We've got lots of resources about sleeves here on Stitch School, starting with:

If you're really interested in getting the perfect sleeve for you then you can also try our sleeve drafting Masterclass: How to make the perfect sleeve!

Inserting the sleeves

 

It's now time to insert the sleeves into your Annie Blouse. Lisa's got all the best tricks and tips for this!

If you're a fan of speedy hacks or sewing techniques designed to really up your sewing game then why not delve into Stitch School's Dressmaking Techniques section to learn some new tricks.

Sewing the hems

 

You're on the final steps of sewing up your Annie Blouse! Time to hem your bodice & sleeves.

To find out some speedy hemming secrets check out 'How to hem: our best techniques' or deep dive into more videos about hems, starting with:

Conclusion

 

As Lisa quite rightly says... ta dah!! Take your newly finished Annie Blouse and show it off to the world!

Share your make with us on Instagram by using the hashtag #SOIAnnieBlouse, or perhaps join our special Sew Over It Stitch School Facebook group to talk to fellow sewists about what they're learning.

Where next?

If you've enjoyed this Annie Blouse Workshop then why not check out the rest of Stitch School. With Tutorials, Workshops & Masterclasses that can be bought individually, or two different subscription levels there's a way for everyone to learn more in the way that suits them best.

Check out our What's New page to see the latest content, browse through all the Stitch School classes to get a feel for what you can learn, or sign up to a Subscription to get stuck in.