Pattern and Instructions: The Marlene Blouse
The Marlene Blouse is an instant classic! This feminine 1940s-style button-front top has a puff sleeve (in two lengths), optional pockets, and uses a clever mix of gathers and pleats for shaping—so you’ll never have to worry about pesky bust gaping!
With its blousy effect at the waist, it’s ideal for tucking into your favorite pair of pants or a skirt, but it also works untucked, giving a carefree and casual look.
You'll find the tiled file (for printing at home on A4 or letter size sheets and taping together) and the A0 file (for printing at a copy shop like ThePlottedPattern.com). Please note that we have two size blocks, so make sure to download the correct files for the size you're making. If you have any questions about which size to sew, don't forget to read our blog post with all the details!
Don't forget to share your makes with the hashtags #marleneblouse and #charmpatterns!
xoxo,
Gertie
Comments (113)
helpp please? for steps 7 and 8, how much should it be after gathering? im size 14.
Is there going to be a pattern extension for a pussy bow blouse version please?
Can I say how happy I am to finally see a pattern that I've been wanting? One that's both classic and modest? Thank you so much for this. It will become my new favorite (move over, Rita! lol!)
Anyone wanting inspiration for this too is encouraged to watch Now, Voyager. Bette Davis wears a similar top at about 35 minutes in. The entire movie is worth watching, though. ❤️❤️❤️
lovely blouse
Thank you!!! This is everything I've been wanting: modest, classic and with full sleeves! It will become a staple in my wardrobe from here on out.
This is the exact blouse I've been looking for! Perfect timing!
I'm so excited to make this!
What a pretty classic blouse to go with just about anything. I love the details and how it looks good tucked and untucked.
Loving it!!!
I’ve been waiting for more forties patterns. This is fab.
I love it!
Perfection!!! 🤩🤩🤩
I love it!!!
Love it! Can’t wait to get started
Beautiful design.
Super excited for this one!! RTW button-up shirts are my nightmare.
Wowzers!
This is great! I have a very similar true vintage blouse pattern but it's only one size and doesn't have the different sleeve options. This will save me so much time trying to resize that 40s pattern!
Fantastic, a separate! Horray for separates!
Perfest,
I absolutely love this and will be making multiple versions!
what a dream! cannot wait to make a few of these.
Ooh so pretty!
Gorgeous. I am planning my Fall/Winter capsule wardrobe now.
This is a beautiful blouse! A department store I worked at in the 80s used to sell these blouses. They were the softest buttery polyester fabric and came in so many colours!
Love this! Been hoping for it for so long. Love everything about it, it the blouse pattern of my dreams ❤️
Ah! I love 40s patterns, this is great!
Oh the purple polka dot one is sooo cute!
I love this! The fitted waist is perfect!
This is epically cute! Totally gonna sew several of these! Thanks for a stylish staple! I really struggle with finding interesting blouses and this one really is perfect!
I’m very glad this isn’t a woman’s blouse shaped for men or androgyny. I’m tiny as it is, and I am not shaped like a man. Susie looks wonderful in the bright yellow blouse.
For once I guess right on name and pattern. This is going to be an absolute staple, the perfect blouse 🌹 thank you 🙏
Wonderful! I want to make this and the Lady Dandy Waistcoat to go with it.
Amaaaaazing! Now I just need a tailored blazer or overcoat pattern for the 1940s Lady Reporter ensemble of my dreams...
My friend and I were just talking about how hard to is to pair tops and skirts, I think this blouse will be so great for that sort of thing.
Thank you for providing me with the PERFECT pattern for this button up blouse I've had in my head for this SPECIFIC fabric that I bought for it. YES!!!!
Thank you! 1940’s is my main draw with vintage. 💜💜💜
Love it, love it, love it!!!
This is wonderfully challenging! You've really put in a lot of extra effort in this for Patreon. And I appreciate all the details you put into the photo shoots. Thank you once again for another great Patreon month!
Yes yes yes! Thank you!
I don't know how you do it, Gertie. Every time I start hunting for just the right thing, you release a pattern for the EXACT thing I'm looking for!
This is exactly the kind of blouse I’ve been wanting!!!!! Yay 😍
Love this
Oh, my gosh I love this! My chunky upper arms and I are so grateful for those sleeves 😍
Love this, I'll be making it for sure!
At last! I've been hoping for this for so long!
Yes! As a busty lady I am SO excited for the pleats/gathered features. I have been looking for a blouse like this!
Oooo, I'm to excited about this one! Thank you!
gorgeous, just what I need to add in my 1940s reenactor wardrobe. I too struggle with off shoulder styles even though I love the look. This is more a high end everyday blouse. Super!
A blouse! Finally! Thank you!
So pretty! Love the tucks at the waist -they will make sure that the fabric is gathered evenly around when tucked in (a pet peeve of mine). And I love the style idea with the wide belt!! As always, Gertie and Charm team spoil us! Thank you 💋
I was waiting for this exact blouse
OH MY GOSH! It's amazing 😍
Yaaaaas! I have been dreaming of a top that wasn't sleeveless or off the shoulder so I could wear it to work. This is it and I'm wicked excited!
This is perfect!!
This is wonderfully similar to some of my vintage patterns. Perfection!
i dared not to dream. but this is it. this blouse. it’s everything. OMG THANK YOU! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Wow I love it!
I'd love to see this attached with a skirt as a dress 👗 😍.
Oh, I love this! I've been hoping for a style of blouse like this!
You stop it right now!!!! 💕💕 (PS…this is a positive comment… something we say in my friend group when someone has done something FABULOUS!!)
I love it!
Amazing. Been waiting for this one for such a long time 😩💕
Oo that’s lovely! Can’t wait to hack it into a dress… Is Susie wearing Lucille’s?!? Does this mean we might be getting their expanded size range too!!!!
I think Susie is at the top of the smaller size range if I remember correctly :( so probably not
This is exactly the kind of blouse my granny wore in the 1940's, and she is my style icon!! Thank you Gertie!
Oh my god ive been asking for this for so long 😩 😫
Thank you so much for this!
Yes!!! This is my dream!!!!!
I don't normally wear button down shirts, they just don't seem to look right or fit my style... THIS is it! This is GORGEOUS.
This is fantastic!! Thank you Gertie and team!
This is fabulous and would be great with the Lucille pants. Any chance they will be added to the 18+ block like all the other trousers?
Fingers crossed for this!
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION❤️
Absolutely stunning just what I have been looking for a basic for my collection
FINALLY!!! I’ve been waiting so long, and this is perfect timing to start sewing long sleeves for fall! Thank you so much!
I was looking for a top to go with an outfit I'm making. This will be perfect. ❤️
Is it weird that I want to try manifest a pussy Bow for the fifteenth?
OMG I would love that!
This is adorable! I can't wait to make it!
This is everything I've ever wanted in life! I've never hit print so fast
I LOVE IT!!!
Gorgeous! Completely gorgeous and also super practical. Love separates 😍
I don't really wear 40s clothing but I will definitely wear this .very cute
This is gorgeous!!! Thank you Gertie!!!
Oh, I love it so much!! This is amazing! Thank you, Gertie!!!!
Loooove. And the pants you’re wearing in the first pic?! 👀👀👀
The Lucille Trousers! ❤️
Love it!
This is amazing, I love this so much. Exactly what I was hoping for, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Yess!!! I love this so much! Going to make like a hundred of these - they’ll be so useful in my every day wardrobe (with just a touch of glam!) thank you!
Oh yes, this is gorgeous! Files off to the printer…
Gorgeous
I knew it!!!! Love it! Perfect for autumn with a nice pantsuit!
gorgeous!
Yes yes yes!!
So cute!!
I love this! I am back in a professional this month and this is a perfect pattern! I can’t wait to make this one 💜
Iconic! Love it!
I can’t wait to finish the project I’m working on, so I can start this one! 😍😍😍
Yes! I love this so much!
I've wanted a blouse with a yoke at the back forever, looking forward to making it.
Yes!!!!!! I’ve just today been hunting for some new blouses for work. This is perfect!!! Thank you so much 🥰
Yes! I’m so excited for this!
Yes! I really like this one!
YES!!! Yeeeeeees!!!!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
PERFECTION!!! Can’t wait to make this - absolutely going to be a wardrobe staple!
I just love this! Thank you so much!
In love ❤️
Ooh I really like this blouse!
It's perfect! School starts in a week
Love it