Creative articles about sewing

Time to shine! Sew along Part one: Megan Blouse (free pattern in October)

Sew along Megan blouse

Are you going to sew along with me this October? We are going to make the Megan blouse from the Inspiration Magazine 1 of 2021.

The Megan blouse is a shirt blouse, slightly oversized with beautiful details such as the large pointed collar and pockets with flaps. With the embroidery options and cool buttons you can make it a super feminine version. A nice basic piece for the Time to Shine! capsule wardrobe.

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The sew along

The sewalong consists of five blogs in which I take you from start to styled finish. A blog is published every Friday in October. In the blogs I will share my experience with the pattern, the cool options and possible hacks. We start this first blog with an explanation about the pdf pattern and what it involves, but also which fabric works well with this Megan blouse.

The blogs:

  1. Pattern and fabric choice
  2. Cut and prepare
  3. Instructions and tips
  4. Embroidery options
  5. Hacks

A successful toile

Free PDF Pattern

This month (October 2021), during the sew along, the “Megan” blouse pattern will be available as a free download on the BERNINA site. When you click on the link below you can download the ZIP file with the pattern after signing up for the newsletter.

You can download the pattern and the work description here

 

Extract sewing pattern zip file

With the download you will receive a ZIP file with:

  • the information about supplies, the cutting and the instruction for making
  • the pattern for sizes 36 – 48 in size A4 and A0 (see explanation about printing below)

As a precautionary measure, we already provide the following information: by clicking the download button, the ZIP file will be automatically downloaded to your computer. You will then need to unzip the folder to get to the PDF pattern. In Windows, the option often appears right at the top of the toolbar, but you can also right-click on the file and click on the menu item “Extract all”. On a Mac, you can extract ZIP files with the left mouse button.

Usually, download files are automatically saved in a download folder; this depends on the operating system, the device you are using and the settings of the device. If you download the file from a smartphone and can’t find or extract the file, try doing it on a desktop computer.


Missed the free download?

Are you too late to download the free pattern of the “Megan” blouse, but would you like to make it? No problem! In the Inspiration webshop you can order thet complet Inspiration edition (incl. printed pattern sheets). You can also order the pattern of the blouse separately as a PDF.

Print and stick the pattern

Open the correct print size option. Choose A4 if you are going to print it at home. You can have an A0 format printed by a print/copy shop or if you use a beamer for your PDF patterns. You can print the A4 pattern with a conventional printer. Make sure you print the pattern using the “actual size” setting. Use the check square on page 1 to verify that the printout is the correct size. First print this page and check. Is it correct? Then you can print the rest.

With a view to sustainability, I do not print the instruction file, you can easily read it on screen.

Print A4 at home

Choose ‘true size’

Check the square

To make the A4 sheets into a complete pattern, stick them together. You can use glue or tapes. Cut the left and top edges of the A4 sheets, leaving an adhesive edge, which is handy when you work with glue. With tape you can cut off all the edges if you wish. Or if you want to save time, you can just trim the corners. In this pattern the pattern lines are also on the adhesive edges. After cutting, line up the corners and marks. It’s definitely faster

You’ll need: glue or tape, paper scissors and pen/marker

Option 1: Cut off the adhesive edge on the left and above. Option 2: Cut off all the edges

Glue

Make sure that the markings align and the pattern lines run properly

Option 3: Cut only the corners

Match the corners and the markings

Cut pattern

After pasting, you can cut the pattern pieces to size. Copy the direction of the sleeve pleats onto the pattern. When the pattern lines of your size are not obvious, because there are many lines overlapping each other, mark your size. This makes cutting out the pattern easier.

As with all patterns, it is important that you measure it. In my case the sleeves are too long and I shorten them by 4 cm in the middle of the sleeve. This way the split and pleats remain intact. Then I adjusted the outer lines.

Copy what you cut off

Shorten the sleeve in the middle

Stick the parts together

Adjust

Note: You draw and cut the pockets and the split strip for the sleeve to size yourself.

Fabrics

The fabric recommended by Inspiration Magazine is shirt fabric. That is very broad of course. I think it’s important that you go for a thin/lightweight fabric. A fabric with a weight up to 150 g/m2 if you want a drape blouse. If the blouse can have more body, you can go up to 190 g/m2. The fabric must be easy to iron and retain structure, for example for the collar and the flaps. I think cotton, a cotton blend or a fabric with ‘cotton properties*’ works best.

* easy to iron, retains shape, not a whole lot of wrinkles

My trial version Megan is made of 100% viscose (110 g/m2). That is of course quite easy to iron and with interfacing it also reasonably retains the shape of the collar and flaps, but Viscose wrinkles a lot. If you go for a Viscose with print, it is less bad than a uni colour. Learn by doing.

The second version I make during the sew along will be satin, 100% Polyester (90 g/m2). I’m very curious how that goes. A first test with embroidery (for blog 4) went well. Ironing  will be a challenge, we’ll see.

Embroidery test satin

It would be lovely if you go for a fabric with an eminent weave structure. Then you can use that as an extra detail. For example the strip in the middle of the back.

Shopping list

  • 1.8 – 2.0 m shirt fabric, 150 cm wide
  • Vlieseline G 710
  • 8 buttons, 15 mm (more buttons and smaller is also possible)
  • 1 decorative button, 18 mm

Optional accessories

  • BERNINA embroidery machine
  • Glue spray
  • Water-soluble embroidery fleece
  • Narrow Lace Foot #10
  • embroidery threads
  • Free embroidery pattern

The Megan blouse in this sew-along is made on the BERNINA 590 Crystal Edition with embroidery module.

Image of BERNINA 590 Crystal Edition.

BERNINA 590 Crystal Edition

It’s your time to shine! Experience the beauty of the B 590 Crystal Edition. With an incredible inspiration kit including dazzling Swarovski® crystals, extra feet and exclusive embroidery designs, this limited edition will let your artistic side shine. The handy trolley set and embroidery module make this Crystal Edition complete!

Learn more

Follow the making of the Megan blouse also on Instagram. I’m excited!

 

Love,

 

Marlies

@madebyLIESL

Free sewing pattern & tutorial: Megan Blouse

Difficulty level: Intermediate
Used Material: cotton, mettler threads, satin, shirting fabric
Used Products:
BERNINA 590
BERNINA 590
Reverse Pattern Foot #1
Reverse Pattern Foot #1
Buttonhole Foot #3
Buttonhole Foot #3
Blindstitch Foot #5
Blindstitch Foot #5
Edgestitch Foot #10
Edgestitch Foot #10
Button Sew-On Foot #18
Button Sew-On Foot #18

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  • Nan Rumbolt EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Hi, I’m looking forward to this sew along. I would like to use denim as my fabric. Would this be an issue working with this pattern?

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