Always keen to embrace a trend, we decided to use a gingham fabric when bringing this gorgeous design to life. Featuring a flattering tie belt that will cinch you in at the waist and statement armholes that promise to keep you cool, this offering from Posner & Posner won’t just be a joy to wear, it will also act as a masterclass in stitching buttonholes, working with bias strips, and creating hems.
1 Download the templates, then print and follow the cutting guide. Snip two pieces of fusible interfacing, 4.5cm wide and the same length as the centre front, then apply to the centre front on the wrong side. Press under a narrow turning along the raw edge of the front band and stitch close to the edge. Fold each front along the fold line towards the wrong side to create the button band. Press the fold, but don’t stitch.
2 Press a 5mm turning on to the wrong side of both the long edges of the casing. Repeat this process at each of the short ends of the casing and stitch close to the edge. Pin the casing in place along the lines marked on the back of the blouse and stitch close to the edge at the top and bottom of the casing, but not the sides. With right sides together, pin the front and back at the shoulder and stitch. Neaten the edge and press the seam towards the back.
3 Press a 5mm turning on the long edges of the bias strips. Pin the unpressed edge of the bias strips to each armhole, right sides together, and stitch in place with a 5mm seam allowance. Press the bias strip away from the armhole. With right sides together, pin the back and front at the side seam, leaving a