Introducing the Bletchley Blouse
I'm very pleased to introduce the Bletchley blouse - named in honour of Bletchley Park in Buckinhamshire, home of top secret codebreaking operations during World War Two.
I originally released this pattern, based on McCall 4040 from 1941, as a single-size pattern back in April 2022. This new and improved version has been graded to my full size range, with separate A-H cup sizes. It now also includes both sleeve options from the original pattern.
The Bletchley blouse features front and back yokes, from which the fabric is released in gathers to create a gently blousing fullness, while soft pleats at the waist help reduce bulk under skirts or slacks and give a neat look at the waistline.
Comments (30)
Hi @tuppence Ha’penny Charlotte (or anyone else who can help please… I’d a few months off working on this toile while moving house. Back on it now and in transferring my muslin changes to the paper pattern I got a bit stuck. So if you remember from above I’ve narrow forward sloping shoulders. I made the adjustments you recommended on the yokes and I’d pinched out a dart from the gathers in the front bodice. But I wasn’t sure what to then do with it? I’ve ended up rotating it into a bust dart. Is that the best approach or is there something else I could do that would maintain the pattern integrity better… 🤔 Thank you 🙏
Oh and also, should there be interfacing on the long sleeve cuff? It’s not mentioned…
Is there a video tutorial by chance? I usually sew Gertie patterns and I’m just not understanding these instructions.
Hi Taunya, I don't have the capacity to create video tutorials at the moment, but if you let me know which instruction(s) you're struggling with I'm happy to help where I can!
Hi Charlotte @Tuppence Ha’penny, I’m toiling this now and need to adjust for narrow, forward rolling and sloped shoulders and I’m a bit stuck! 😳 I’ve googled but not found how to do it with front & back yokes. (I’ve done this with other non-yoked patterns.) Especially when the front yoke is so short - how do I adjust the front bodice piece please? Or should I just go smaller on the shoulder/upper bust and then do my other 2 adjustments? It would really help if we had upper bust sizes on the pattern please 🙏 I often grade between 3-4 sizes across shoulder, bust, waist & hip. I chose 22 shoulders, 24G/H bust and 28 waist & hips - the last 2 fit OK. (I just need to move the tucks away from the centre front as not situated under my apex & pulling. Though they fit fine on someone else I’ve seen so think that’s my rounded tummy.) Can you help please? 🤔
For the shoulder yokes, you should be safe just taking a vertical tuck to shorten the shoulder seam; the gathers in the blouse front/back will be ever so slightly denser to fit the smaller space. If taking a tuck affects the width at the lower edge of the yoke too much, you could also try pinching a dart out of the yoke instead. Hope this helps!
hello i want sew bletchley blouse, but can you tell me seam allowance ? i can't find this information in the instructions. thank you
The seam allowances is 5/8" / 1.5cm
Hello, can I have more advice? When I choose a size on a usual pattern, I don't have several sizes like bust A/B or C/D.... what should I do? thank
The cup sizes roughly correspond to bra sizing, so I would recommend starting with the size that matches your bra cup size and make a mock-up to test fit. Hope this helps!
Is this a shirt I can wear untucked? I lost a lot of weight and now have a saggy ‘apron belly’ that I need to hide…
It's primarily designed to be worn tucked in, but could be worn untucked - you can always leave out the tucks at the waistline to give it more of a relaxed fit over the waist and hips, and you may also prefer to add a little extra length.
Blouses of this style are my jam! I can't wait to make this!
This is just the thing!
I saw the older post and I was in love, but it was to small, Thank you for taking the time to grade and do the FBA on that pattern for us.
I'm still not sure how to do a FBA on patterns with yokes and gathering like these.
This is just fabulous
I am SO excited about this pattern. Thank you so much for making it. It will be perfect for the hot, Aussie summer. I can look suitably 1940s but still manage the crazy heat.
Dead. Dying. Deceased. This is amazing and I'm going to make 800 versions
That's approximately how many I've made haha! Have fun :)
yay! i was so hoping for this! thank you. 💖
Been wanting a pattern like this for a while. What method do you recommend for doing the buttonholes?
I usually do hand-worked buttonholes (I can post a tutorial if there's interest?). If you'd like to try bound buttonholes, have a look at the Fatale dress for step by step instructions. Alternatively most sewing machines have a buttonhole function.
Ohhh I’m so excited for this! I had been after this pattern for ages.
I was just looking at a blouse pattern on Etsy the other day similar to this... And here I wake up this morning with this beauty in my inbox....thank you! So cute and I love the gathering at the shoulder area <3 and I have the perfect fabric in my stash waiting for this!
Happy to oblige haha! I love that feature too, it's so typical of early 1940s blouses, and not often seen in modern patterns.
OMG I love this! I was looking at that pattern recently and dreaming of when you might extend the sizing! 💕 💭 🤩 I have a similar blouse I thrifted (though princess seamed) and I love it, now I’ll be able to make my own versions. 😊 (Well when I’ve worked through some of my sewing plans anyway! 😂)
Love this!
This is great!
😍😍 Brilliant, love it 😊