Is it too late to be blogging about summer makes? The weather has definitely not been on our side this year and my summer feels have very much fizzled out, but I still have a backlog of summery things to blog about!

Today I’m sharing the Belle blouse that I mentioned in my last post. It’s another Fibre Mood pattern from their most recent magazine. I loved this pattern immediately for its big ruffle energy!

The Belle blouse has a large double layered ruffle that goes staring from the angled side seam, over the shoulder and back down. It’s acts like a short sleeve! The top is otherwise a simple dartless boxy shape which a keyhole opening in the back neck and the neckline is finished with a strip of bias binding.

I made mine out of a small remnant piece of white broderie anglaise I picked up from Sew Me Sunshine. It was only 80cm wide so I only has enough for the bodices! I was determined to use the embroidered edge as the hem so I used a white cotton lawn for the large ruffle pieces to match.

The construction was more interesting on this one than the norm. It had a panel inserted under the arm to create the side of the bodice which was a nice touch as I’ve often found this style of top often just have really deep bra-showing armholes. The ruffle shape was also interesting as it went in the opposite way to what I would have assumed with the shorter length being the hem and the longer more gathered side going into the seam. It meant the ruffle stayed curved over the shoulder instead of bouncing around!

I made a medium and shorten the length by 2cm.

I changed the hem finishes on all the pieces to suit my fabric, using the embroidered edge for the bodices ad you can see and I also used a rolled hem finish on the ruffles. I felt it was be neater (and easier) to finish the curved edge that way!

It’s a really fun top both to make and wear. Would I make it again? Only if I had the perfect fabric and occasion to wear it! As it is, this might only get a few outings before the summer wardrobe gets packed away!