Introducing the Regalia Blouse pattern - my new favorite top! This pattern release is here just in time for spring and I couldn't be more thrilled about it! We've had little glimpses of spring weather here in the Pacific Northwest recently and it's getting me excited to break out of my sweatpant and t-shirt rut and put on my bright and cheery Regalias. This blouse is perfect for those in between temperatures we get this time of year and I've been waiting all winter to model my various Regalias blouses again. I love this top because it's a little bit regal with all of its gathers, puffy sleeves and high collar, but it still manages to look effortless and casual with jeans or canvas pants. Wearing a Regalia is about as dressed up as I get anymore but of course, how casual or dressy a garment looks is all about what you make it out of and what you wear it with am I right?! I'm also really excited about this pattern because I've been wearing it for a season already and I think it's my most commented on garment besides my burnside bibs. I am stopped regularly by strangers and asked where I got it whenever I wear one so I'm hoping that you will all love it too.
So details.... The roomy fit of the bodice makes it so comfortable to wear. It's covered up enough for cooler spring and fall weather yet, the looseness of the bodice is cool and airy enough to wear in the summer as well. I love the casual cropped length but also love to tuck it in when it's a bit chillier.
It pulls on over the head and ties at the back keyhole opening. It also features front and back yokes with gathered front and back lower bodices and a stand-up collar.
Ashley in size 22 with a size 18 neck and collar. Ashley is 5'9" with a short torso. This is the short length version #1 (tucked in so it looks like length #2) and short sleeve (B).
Organic linen in celery from The Fabric Store. You can see that the linen versions are a bit looser fitting than the cotton versions. Ashley's cuffs are a bit loose here.
There are two lengths and two sleeve designs to mix and match. Choose between a loose and flowy cropped hem to wear with high waist pants and skirts or a slightly longer tuck-in length blouse with an optional waist tie. The long sleeves (A) are gathered at the shoulder and narrow at the wrist while the short sleeves (B) are gathered at the shoulder and gathered into a cuff that lands just above the elbow. The pattern includes instructions on making an optional tulle sleeve head pouf to add a bit of volume to your sleeves.
Me (Peggy) wearing a size 6, length #2 with waist tie and long sleeve (A). This blouse was shortened 1" and the sleeves are 3/4" shorter. An Indian block printed cotton voile from Bolt Fabric Boutique purchased last year.
An optional Sleeve Head Pouf made of fine mesh tulle gives the sleeves a little extra oomph - but only if you want or need it.
Size 6, length #1 (tucked in so it looks like length #2), and short sleeve (B) made in a block printed cotton voile purchased last year at Bolt Fabric Boutique. I am 5'3" but have a long torso. I pretty much am like a 5'6" person with a few inches off my legs haha.
The Regalia looks best when sewn in a light-weight, woven fabric such as cotton voile or lawn. My inspiration and original vision for the blouse was for it to be sewn in an Indian block printed cotton voile, but I've since found that it also looks lovely in linen and other fabrics like Swiss dot and cotton gauze. Just be aware that stiff fabrics such as quilting cotton will result in stiff gathers and looser weave fabrics such as linen and gauze will result in a slightly looser fitting garment. You can see this difference when you look at the top image model in green linen and then again when she's wearing a block printed cotton version below. The linen cuffs turned out a bit larger than the cotton ones and the overall fit was a bit looser but it still looks great.
Ashley in size 22 with a size 18 neck and collar. This is the short length version #1 (tucked in so it looks like length #2) and short sleeve (B). This is a cotton block print from India purchased from Fabric Spark in Canada.
Another size 6 but we added some length to the sleeves after this top was made. I love these two Indian block printed organic cotton fabrics I purchased from Maiwa about four years ago. This top is perfect for print mixing.
Maple organic linen from The Fabric Store. The fit is slightly looser than the cotton versions.
Ashley in size 22 with a size 18 neck and collar. This long version #2 with sleeve (A) is sewn in a yarn dyed organic linen from Birch Organics. They no longer make this beautiful linen but I found some here on Etsy and we will soon have a small run of it in our online fabric shop.
This pattern is rated as intermediate level due to the "burrito method" of clean finishing the yokes. There will be a YouTube video tutorial coming soon. There will also be a printed version arriving in a few months but right now the pattern only comes in PDF format and includes both standard sizes 00-20 and curvy sizes 16-34. And great news for all of you projector sewists out there! We now include projector files with all of our size layered patterns - including this Regalia Blouse pattern.
I hope you love this pattern as much as I do!
Happy spring and happy sewing!
XOXO,
Peggy