PATTERN: Rita Blouse Bishop Sleeve Expansion
Update! We've now added sizes 18-34 on this sleeve Expansion, as well as on the Rita Blouse itself. Hooray!
Ooh la la! This bishop sleeve expansion for the Rita Blouse really brings the drama, especially when made in lace. You all have been asking for this for years so I'm happy to be finally making your statement sleeve fantasies a reality! You can make this blouse in any of your favorite Rita fabrics, but I thought it would be fun to make it in something really different. Plus this means that I can share my lace sewing tips with you!
Watch the video in the previous post to see tips for sewing the bishop sleeve blouse in lace, and then download the pattern and instruction files below. There are separate files for the instructions, the A0 size pattern (to print at a copy shop or online printer like pdfplotting.com), and the tiled pattern (to print at home on letter/A4 paper and tape together). All material and supply sources are in the instructions as well.
Post your finished project with the hashtag #ritablouse on social media!
P.S. The Rita Blouse and this Bishop Sleeve expansion were expanded into our full Charm size range (2-20 and 18-34, with cup sizes A-H) in October 2022.
Comments (92)
is it correct that the rita blouse is not available here in patreon?
Do you think these sleeves would work with the boardwalk dress?
I’m in the Inner Circle and I don’t have access to all patterns, do I have to purchase the pattern?
The blouse itself is a Charm pattern (sold on the website). This pattern is just the expansion of that pattern. I believe there are only a small handful of patreon patterns that are just expansions of Charm patterns. As an Inner Circle member, you have access to all patreon patterns as well as any new Charm patterns that are released while you're an active Inner Circle member.
Just a heads up. The link in this post for the Rita Blouse gave my computer a virus. 😕
Thank you very much!! You all are so good to us :)
Where do I find the Rita pattern at? Thank you
https://charmpatterns.com/shop/rita-blouse/
I haven't gotten any notification about the Rita being expanded, even though I could use it.
It's on the Charm website! https://charmpatterns.com/shop/rita-blouse/
I am confused, i just got this email, i bought the Rita blouse pattern last year when it was just up to 20, but need the 18-34 now. Do i need to buy the pattern again?
The same for me 😟
The link to the Rita Blouse seems to be a dead link. Please advise. Thanks!
Here you go: https://charmpatterns.com/shop/rita-blouse/
How have so many of you added comments already? I literally just got the email! Wow. Gertie, love, love it! So excited. Thank you.
Does this sleeve expansion also fit the Joan wiggle dress? 🤔😍😍
Howdy Charm team!! The instructions seem to not be accessible (by phone or laptop). Anyway these can be made printable again? My fall Rita I’m cooking up is in need of some sleeves. I’m sure I can figure it out without them but would love to read through the how-tos as prescribed just incase my assumptions are off 💗🪡🧵
I can’t open the instructions 😢
The bishop sleeve tiled and the instructions won't open. I click the link and nothing happens.
Yeah the instructions link won’t open. I’m excited to try this!!
My measurements are outside the original size of the Rita blouse, there is a mention that an expansion will be coming soon. When will that arrive.?
I can’t seem to download the instructions for the Rita sleeve expansion. Can someone help? I was able to get the pieces but not instructions ... won’t open for me.
I love this sleeve, thank you, but for some reason the instructions link won’t work for me, is there some other way to get them ??
Hi @Gertie I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong please? I've printed out and made up the Rita sleeve expansion and I did test out the 1 inch box. The sleeve is HUGE... Now I know it's supposed to be gathered at the top and bottom, so fair enough. But... The instructions say we need an extra 1 yd/0.9m of fabric. So I went off and purchased 1m extra of the fabric - a teal viscose twill - I'd put aside to make this with. But there's no way I'll get 2 cuts of this from 1 m??? I printed off the 3 largest sizes and the smallest of those measures 78cm in length and just under 1m at it's widest point. Is this a typo in the instructions or have I done something wrong?
Would love to see a babydoll top/dress expansion for the Rita Blouse :) Saw this image on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.se/pin/762163936916505336/ Looking at the top left, blue top and the green dress below, and thought of the Rita, leaving the bust and original sleeves as is, it might be possible to widen and lengthen the waist panels for a empire waist variation? With the right fabric it could be a sweet companion to the Rose dressing gown!
Oh and look how cute the one in yellow is with the cropped bottoms too! *love*
Sent this with the Rita to the printers today! I've got a gorgeous textured swiss dot fabric that is SCREAMING to be a Rita!. Great extension, thanks Gertie!
you look like a Spanish woman
Looks so lovely. Look forward to try out the blouse. 🌹
Perfect for the embroidered mesh I just acquired!
Love this, I can access the patterns but not the instructions? Every time I try to scroll down it’s blocked by the bottom menu? Thank you the web browser worked 😊
What type of device are you on? Can you download on a computer rather than a mobile device?
Just got this pattern figured out for my shape! What perfect timing!
MY GOD! Those are bad-ass sleeves!!!!! Am I allowed to say “Bad-ass” on Patreon?
Holy heckmonkeys! I've been holding on to the most perfect piece of black Guipere lace for YEARS. Now I know what to use it for ❤
Love this! I was planning to make my first Rita blouse this spring. am curious if anyone has any suggestions for PDF printing in Canada?
I know you asked this a long time ago, but sewyyc in Calgary does PDF printing Canada-wide, and is fantatic!
Could this be made in stretch lace? I have a whole stash of it and I love this pattern!
Beautiful! I have the choice of repurposing my wedding dress lace or cutting up some old lace curtains. 🤣 Or will have to order new lace..
Love this! But the supply links included in the instructions PDF aren't working. 😞
You can't access any of them? The second two are working fine for me. I can fix the first one later--but since it has both the store and the product name you should be able to find it without the link!
And ohhh this is a absolutely striking blouse, and thank you for the content.
I hope this doesn't sound silly. Can you make the rita blouse bodice out of cotton lawn and just make the sleeves out of lace?
Sure. You could also underline the lace with something opaque just in the bodice area.
I love it! It looks so different! Gertie, can you share the lace you used?
All materials are in the instructions!
I’m giddy over this!
I love this laced version, it is so striking ! :)
I bought the Rita pattern today even though I know it wont fit me. 😬 Perhaps I can figure it out to grade up because I love this! I also bought the coat pattern today. Im right on the edge of her highest sizes so I hope this works out. I just love this sleeve in lace!!!
In one of her lives, I asked if there was any information about possibility having the Rita done for bigger sizes like the newest patterns have been done. She responded that they are working on that :) So hopefully soon we can get the Rita Blouse in bigger sizes, especially for those of us who are still learning how to grade up :)
Love this thank you 💋 😍
This would be perfect with the top from the Jane Pattern!!! I made a Jane set for my daughter for Viva last year in 2 pieces so it can be worn as separates. I think I will make this for her to go with it!!!
That's a genius idea I bet it'll be amazing!
What an amazing surprise to wake up to! I have almost the exact same lace sitting in my collection, but I've never had the confidence to sew with it. Now I have a super cool project and some amazing construction tips. Thank you!
So pretty! I may have to buy the Rita pattern now!
Thank you Gertie!!! I’ll be printing this today as I homeschool both my kids!
Thank you, Gertie!
Yay Thank you for this new choice!
Love this!
Love this so much! I have several lengths of pretty chiffon from mystery bundles that I didn’t really know what to do with, now I do! Question, if we buy the Rita pdf now will we get an update when the expanded sizing comes out?
That is my hope . . . but I honestly haven't thought through how that scenario will work practically so stay tuned!
Thank you so much for this!! I have the perfect stained glass print fabric, salvaged from a gathered skirt, that would look great for the bishop sleeves!
Beautiful!!! Thank you.
Can we just use the bishop sleeve pattern piece from the princess coat? I don't want to print it again if it's the same sleeve.
It's very much NOT the same sleeve :)
amazing, and i thought patreon would make me buy less patterns, now i need rita in my life xD well done Gertie!!
Yes yes yes :), so happy, have some sheer fabric I wanted to sue for Rita but didn't know how, rita is my go to top. love it
I love this!!!
I just bought the Rita pattern! So excited to see even more possibilities.
This is so beautiful!!! 😍😍😍
Wowza
Yaaaas! I am all over this 🖤🖤
The Rita pattern has been sitting on my cutting table to work on, so happy I had held off cuz now it’s going to have these sleeves! 💜💜💜
Yeeees 😍 i'm also gonna try three quarter sleeves 😃
Do it!!!!!
Omg I knew I should have bought the Rita 😅
PDFs are still on sale! ;) Use code STAYHOMEANDSEW.
Beautiful!
Fantastic! Love the Rita but need sleeves. Going to start filling my wardrobe! Thanks ❤️
Gorgeous! I also spy a skirt that I really hope to see a pattern for ;)
Coming soon!
Is the bustier one of your patterns?
Nope! It's by What Katie Did.
This is amazing!!! Thank you
Yeaaaaah!!!
love love love
Wow this is absolutely stunning! Great work!! X
Wowowowowwwwww <3
Yay!! Can’t wait for my Rita pattern to come! :-)
It’s so beautiful!
Wow!!!! I am in love with the blouse!!!! Thank you so much Gertie!
Oh my gosh!! This is a game changer