Retro-inspired and curve-friendly, the Swanton Blouse is your new blouse bestie! To get you inspired to sew your first Swanton, we asked six makers in our community to sew up their own take on the Swanton.
This month’s Cashmerette Club pattern, the Swanton Blouse is a vintage delight that features princess seams in cup sizes C – H, shoulder yokes with gentle gathers, a chic covered button placket, fisheye darts, short banded puff sleeves, or mix-and-match with the two sleeve options of the Vernon Shirt for even more looks. You can also choose from a dramatic full pussy bow, narrow necktie, or a chic and simple collar band.
The Swanton Blouse comes in sizes 0 – 32, and cup sizes C – H, and it’s exclusively available to Cashmerette Club members. Not a member yet? You can join today at the All Access level to get the Swanton – learn more by clicking the button below.
The Swanton is rated intermediate because of the covered placket and collar, but it’s also suitable for confident beginners, especially when using our free video sewalong.
Take a look at these 6 splendid Swantons and let’s get those creative juices flowing!
Laura’s Swanton
Drapey with a lovely vintage print, Laura’s dazzling Swanton shows us just how multifaceted this blouse truly is. Sewn in a 16 C/D in a Viscose soft satin with a vibrant vintage print (that is screaming for a matching hair bow btw), this Swanton touts high quality finishes with vintage drama flair.
Excited by the versatility, Laura is dreaming of an array of looks that she could rock with her star-spangled Swanton including her silver jeans for a more casual outfit or paired with a pencil skirt or trousers for a bit more drama.
Her measurements are 39” high bust, 40” full bust, 36” waist, and 47” hips (100 cm high bust, 104 full bust, 91.5 cm waist, 121 cm hips).
Here’s what Laura shared with us about her Swanton:
“I love the style of this pattern and I can see so many versions, especially for work! I love the different neck ties and collars available as this will work for so many looks. I can’t wait to wear it.”
Follow along with more of Laura’s makes on Instagram at @sewsayslaura.
Mona’s Swanton
It’s a pussy bow dream come true for Mona. A huge fan of pussy bow blouses and princess seams, this Swanton is giving retro-chic vibes with a fun pop of color. Sewn in a size 20 C/D, graded to a 22 at the waist and a 24 at the the hip, Mona went with a patterned rayon, the print is Vessel in the pink colorway, and she used a blue rayon for the ties and sleeve bands. She can’t wait to sport her Swanton with a variety of pencil skirts and she simply adores the fit.
She does have one tip she would give to someone sewing their first Swanton, “The hidden button placket takes a little thinking, but trust the instructions and as long as you end up with an accordion, you’re good!”
Her measurements are 44” high bust, 48” full bust, 44” waist, and 52” hips (111 cm high bust, 121 full bust, 111 cm waist, 132 cm hips).
Here’s what Mona also shared with us about her Swanton:
“I adore it! I’m a huge fan of pussy bow blouses and the princess seams on the front of the blouse make for a superb fit.”
Follow along with more of Mona’s makes on Instagram at @sewagainstthegrain.
Annie’s Swanton
Annie loves options and that’s exactly what she got when sewing her pink floral Swanton. Sewn in a size 10 C/D, she chose a pink floral cotton sateen with a slight stretch that makes her Swanton both sophisticated and comfortable—a match made in heaven in our book. Not only was she taken with her Swanton’s versatility but also with the princess seams and the bow tie option.
Her measurements are 35” high bust, 37” full bust, 30” waist, and 40” hips (88 cm high bust, 93 full bust, 76 cm waist, 101 cm hips).
Here’s what Annie shared with us about her Swanton:
“The instructions were written well and easy to follow. I plan on making my next one in a Halloween print with a matching skirt!”
Follow along with more of Annie’s makes on Instagram at @Epicureanbb.
Cindy’s Swanton
Cindy is serving up a dramatic pewter satin Swanton with a swapped out Vernon sleeve. She sewed hers in a 16 G/H at the shoulders to bust and graded to a 20 at the waist down. Her viscose satin from Minerva gives her Swanton a luxurious feel that she can’t get enough of—and neither can we!
She plans on styling it with a midi length, bias cut skirt, but is also open to pairing it with skinny jeans. Her favorite part of the Swanton sewing process was seeing it all come together, especially with the princess seams which she admits can be a little nerve wracking for her. But it came together beautifully and she feels like it really highlights her curves.
Her measurements are 41” high bust, 46” full bust, 41” waist, and 49” hips (104 cm high bust, 116 full bust, 104 cm waist, 124 cm hips).
Cindy had this to say about her Swanton:
“I really like it! It’s quite dramatic and I’ll need to make sure I wear it as much as possible. The satin fabric and weight gives it such a luxurious feel!”
Follow along with more of Cindy’s makes on Instagram at @cilearnstomake.
Rachel’s Swanton
Rachel’s blue floral Swanton is both versatile and imaginative in the most wonderfully stylish way. Sewn in a size 6 C/D graded to an 8 at the hips, this Swanton sports both a mandarin collar and Vernon lantern sleeves. She also chose a cotton lawn substrate in a navy colorway. With all the details and selections combined, this Swanton is giving us both moody and chic and we’re here for it.
She found the covered placket the most satisfying part of her sew. “Everything just came together nicely and it looks so polished. I loved the princess seams and particularly the number of notches. It made it so easy to fit together without any guessing if you were easing in the curve properly.”
Rachel plans on pairing her Swanton with jeans but may also try it tucked into a maxi shirt or under a pinafore dress for an academic look. Her measurements are 32” high bust, 35” full bust, 28” waist, and 39” hips (81 cm high bust, 88 full bust, 71 cm waist, 99 cm hips).
Rachel had this to say about her Swanton:
“I’m very happy with the fit and style. The princess seams are a classic look and the covered placket is very classy. I’m glad I could mix with the Vernon sleeves for something I can wear in the fall.”
Follow along with more of Rachel’s makes on Instagram at @pigsinpajamas and on her blog, which includes a full review of her experience making and wearing the Swanton.
Carol’s Swanton
Perfectly personalized with polka dots, Carol truly made her Swanton her own and is quite pleased with the result. She sewed her Swanton in a size 22 E/F, graded to a 26 at the waist and 32 at the hips and chose a lovely patterned satin, but in hindsight probably would have stuck with a cotton in order to better manipulate the button placket.
Loving the versatility, she combined various styles to give it her own unique look. She used a wide bow with a tweaked sleeve from the Vernon Blouse.
Her measurements are 46” high bust, 52” full bust, 50” waist, and 64” hips (116 cm high bust, 132 full bust, 127 cm waist, 162 cm hips).
Here’s what Carol had to say about her Swanton:
“It’s versatile. I can style it with jeans for a dressed down look or a with slacks for a more dressy/formal look.”
Follow along with more of Carol’s makes on Instagram at @Carrosi.sews.
Join the Club to get the Swanton Blouse
Want to make your very own Swanton? Join Cashmerette Club today to get this retro-style blouse sewing pattern plus many other patterns, fitting masterclasses, exclusive discounts, and more.
