Introducing the Romie and Sam Blouses!

One of the biggest requests we get for patterns here at Seamwork is for blouses or shirts.

This month, we have two blouses for you to sew. They both look good with your favorite bottoms, like pants or skirts. Or, you can layer them a little deeper, under pinafores or overalls.

Romie is a pullover woven blouse featuring a charming Peter Pan collar. And Sam is a collarless button-up shirt designed with striking sleeves boasting four pleats below the elbow.

Keep reading for all the details about these patterns, including fabric shopping ideas, fitting tutorials, and styling inspiration with other Seamwork patterns.

Meet the Romie Blouse

Meet Romie, a pullover woven blouse featuring a charming Peter Pan collar. It has a semi-fitted design with bust darts for additional shaping. The neckline has a distinctive notch with a center front seam and ties. The sleeves are adorned with gathers at the top and a hem band at the bottom. It's hem hits right below your high hip, so you can easily tuck it in if you'd like.

Janiah is wearing a size 2 graded to a 6 at the hip. Her measurements are 31 1/2” (82.5 cm), 26 3/4” (68 cm), 38” (96.5 cm), and she is 5’7” (1.70 m) tall.

She is wearing a striped gauze from Bolt, and the bonus is a Sandwashed Cotton from Blackbird Fabrics.

Laurel is wearing a size 14 from the 12-30 size range. We reduced the waist and hip by 1” (2.5 cm) and reduced the sleeve opening by 1/2” (12 mm). Her measurements are 40.75" (103.5 cm), 33.25" (84.5 cm), 45.5" (115.5 cm), and she is 5’9” (1.75 m) tall.

She is wearing a Pink Gingham Linen Slub from Joann. The bonus is a Washed Linen Gingham from Blackbird Fabrics.

The member bonus for the Romie blouse pattern eliminates the ties and adds a button closure to the center front.

Meet the Sam Blouse

Show off your sewing skills with this pattern! Sam is a collarless button-up shirt designed with striking sleeves boasting four pin tucks below the elbow. It has a relaxed fit throughout, with bust darts for slight shaping and voluminous full-length sleeves that gather into cuffs. All the finishing methods on this blouse offer you the chance to pick up new sewing skills. You'll finish the sleeves with a faced placket that closes with buttons, the neckline has a bias facing, and there's a cut-on button placket up the center front.

Janiah is wearing a size 2 graded to a 4 at the waist and a 6 at the hip. We removed 1" (2.5 cm) from the sleeve length, and added 1/2" (12 mm) to the cuff width. Her measurements are 31 1/2" (82.5 cm), 26 3/4" (68 cm), 38" (96.5 cm), and she is 5’7" (1.70 m) tall.

She is wearing a Cotton Linen blend from Blackbird Fabrics.

Laurel is wearing a size 14 from the 12-30 size range. We reduced the bust by 1 1/4” (3.2 cm) and the hip by 1/2” (12 mm) and reduced the sleeve opening by 1/2” (12 mm). Her measurements are 40.75" (103.5 cm), 33.25" (84.5 cm), 45.5" (115.5 cm), and she is 5’9” (1.75 m) tall.

She is wearing a Cotton Linen blend from Blackbird Fabrics.

Fabric and Fit

Fabric recommendations: When you’re shopping, look for lightweight or medium-weight woven fabrics such as cotton lawn, cotton voile, poplin, shirtings, cotton gauze, chambray, Swiss dot, linen, rayon challis, rayon crepe, and silk. These fabric recommendations apply to both blouse patterns.

Fabric qualities to look for: These blouses work great with fabrics that have a flowing or more structured drape.

If you want a drapey silhouette, look for rayon, silk, or double gauze, which will hang more on your body.

Pick linen, chambray, or Swiss dot for a soft look with more body.

For a more structured silhouette, look for fabric with a crisper hand, like lawn, poplin, or voile.

Consider the details when picking out your fabric. Romie has a Peter Pan collar, so you don’t want anything too bulky. Same with the pleats and gathering at the cuff on Sam. You want something that will gather well but stay structured enough for the pleats.

Seamwork members, take advantage of your member deals this month! You can save up to 20% off your order here.

Fitting tips: A blouse is usually anchored at your shoulders, so it’s most important to get a good fit at the shoulders and make any necessary bust adjustments. Then, the rest of the garment will hang well on your body. Here are some fitting tutorials that will help for both Romie and Sam.