Só French
Introduction
Charlotte: A few weeks before I moved to Paris for the very first time, I was wandering through a vintage hall in Amsterdam with friends. The place was packed with junk, treasures, and that horded vintage vibe (and smell). I was trying on blouses, debating over a simple white one, when the shop lady looked at me and said: “Wow, you look so French in that.” … Immediately sold!
That blouse became my Paris uniform. White blouse, jeans, done. It was perfect in every way: the fit, the feel, the simplicity. Only, laundrettes in Paris aren’t known for their gentle touch, and soon my uniform started to fall apart. It was mended once, then twice. And finally, I asked my mom: “Could you please make a copy of this blouse for me?”
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We call it the Box Blouse because of its boxy fit. Turns out, this blouse works in every color, every pattern, every button combo you can imagine. I now own a full rainbow of Box Blouses, my prided possessions, and still an element of my uniform. Luckily for my observers, the variety in my collection spiced up my OOTD's a little. ;)
The Pattern
Martine: I remember Charlotte telling me about a favorite blouse that was getting worn out and becoming very fragile. Could I repair it? But then she said something that instantly caught my attention: “Well, actually, the best thing you could do is make me a new one.”
There’s no better way to get your mom’s full focus than asking for something right in her skill set. A love for Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte wouldn’t have done the trick. I’m no baker. But copying her favorite blouse? Absolutely!
And honestly, it’s often not as hard as you might think to copy the pattern of a beloved garment. There are a few simple ways to do it. A little pinning, tracing, and patience will take you a long way. (We show you how [here].)
The Fabric
This pattern was the start of a series of blouses that never seems to end. Partly because it works so well with leftovers that are too small for most tops or shirts. I’ve probably made it over twenty times by now. Sometimes I think Charlotte and I should do some research on all of them, or even make a patchwork version from snippets of each.
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In my opinion, the best fabric for this blouse is a lightweight cotton: soft, breathable, and easy to sew. But while writing this, I can’t help thinking how great it would look in a heavier denim as well. The blouse doesn’t need much fabric, which makes it perfect for using up old scraps. The dark pink one in the photo is from an old tablecloth, the white and blue checked one with crazy buttons was a button-down shirt, and the light pink with embroidered holes in it was an underskirt that we found in my grandma’s stuff.
Execution
This is a great pattern to learn. You’ll practice cutting economically (yes, we’ve puzzled pieces in from scraps before), zigzagging, sewing straight seams, or even working with a serger. Upcycle from an old shirt, and you can skip making buttonholes. The biggest challenge? Finishing the neckline and armholes, but don’t worry, there are lots of options, and we guide you through them.
Dreaming of starting a sewing project? This pattern is the perfect start: small, clear, and fun. And if you already sew, use it to sharpen the skills you want to improve.
The original version is a size S, but we also made a medium. You can download both through our webshop. The box blouse is a jewel of leftover processing.
We wish you as much fun with this as we have. But even more, I wish you fun with copying your own favorite garments/clothes.
Styling
The Box Blouse is simple in its base, but that’s exactly what makes it so versatile. Change the fabric, go crazy with buttons, add length, play with sleeves. Every version feels different and personal. And we are even more curious to see what you will come up with!
> Looking for ideas? Check out our Pinterest board for endless inspiration.
>> Ready to make your own? Find the pattern in our webshop.
>>> Want some extra help or company while you sew? Book a spot in one of our workshops and we’ll guide you through it.
