My Bali Closet Peasant Blouse, Is It One To Buy?

The Pattern

My Bali Closet Peasant blouse, is it one to buy? I would say yes, and it can be purchased as a PDF pattern from My Bali Closet on Etsy. 

It offers a pattern for a peasant-style blouse that can be turned into a dress by simply lengthening or adding tiers. 

The Fabric

This blouse was made with black crepe chiffon that I bought from my local market because, it had a wonderful drape. It was also great to sew! 

The Make

This is a quick project, so it’s perfect if you have a half-day or evening spare. The instructions are easy to follow, it is a fabulous top or dress for a beginner to make. 

I firstly overlocked all pattern pieces to prevent from fraying. 

I followed all the instructions, but unfortunately, I didn’t like the method for binding the neckline and sleeves. Folding the fabric in on the front facing was messy and difficult to achieve a neat finish, particularly with the top stitching.

I chose to begin again and attached the binding on the right side of the fabric. I turned the binding to finish on the inside of the garment and hand stitched it into place. In my opinion, it was worth the extra time, even though it took a bit longer. I decided to use the same method to finish the sleeve bindings. 

Alterations and Tips

1. I did not like the finish on the neck binding and so chose to reverse the instructions. I add the binding to the front facing, giving it a neater finish. I then hand sewed the facing on the inside rather than top stitch. 
2. I would recommend the same methods for the sleeve bindings.
3. You can adjust the neckline by shortening or lengthening the binding, depending on how much décolletage you would like to reveal. 
4. The pattern is for 3/4 sleeves, but it works equally well with short or long bishop sleeves. If you do not gather the sleeves then it forms a bell sleeve which looks good too! 
5. For a feminine / boho touch you can add lace to the sleeve hem and base of blouse. 
6. The top although lovely is a little too short for me, even though I am only 5’1”. I would recommend adding some length, especially if you are tall. 
7. I like the 3/4 sleeves, but I chose to lengthen them for an autumn /winter blouse. 

Conclusion

This blouse pattern is now a favourite of mine. It looks sweet when cropped and elegant when long. I’ve already made several versions of this blouse, which I’ll share at a later time. There are so many possible ways to hack this pattern and make it your own.

It’s similar to an off-the-shoulder top or dress, but it’s a little less revealing. Wearing it feels fun and feminine, while also being comfortable.

This is a great simple pattern that I can recommend, and I am looking forward to making a dress version very soon.