Anthea Blouse Hack

The Anthea Blouse by Anna Allen is a big favourite in the sewing community. Basically every content creator I follow defaults to the Anthea Blouse, and I really wanted to give it a try. There were a few things about it that didn’t quite strike my fancy – especially the high neckline and super dramatic sleeves. I thought these features were key to the blouse, so I had resigned to never make it. Enter this hacked version by Anna Allen. 

The day I saw the hack was the same day I bought the pattern. I loved the scoop neckline and shirred sleeves. I made a few adjustments to make the hack more “me,” including removing the extra frill along the neckline and reducing the sleeves significantly. I really love dramatic sleeves, but my broad shoulders don’t suit them.

I made my blouse from this beautiful, soft cotton lawn by Robert Kaufman from the London Calling collection. Unfortunately it’s sold out from the store that I purchased it at, but I’m sure you could find it elsewhere. I love the structure that this fabric offers, while still having the tiniest bit of drape. I made my wearable toile from a very drapey fabric and I much prefer the sturdiness of a cotton lawn.

My absolute favourite feature of this blouse is the shirred sleeves. I’m really into shirring at the moment. Me and everyone else since Tilly and the Buttons released the Mabel Blouse. I have that one cut out and ready to be sewn! 

This blouse will be a staple in my wardrobe this summer. If you’ve also been hesitant to try the Anthea blouse, I really recommend this hack. It made it much more wearable for me. If you want to reduce the fullness in the sleeves, this is a great place to start. 

Happy making, 

Jackie

A little disclaimer: This blog is very small, so it almost goes without saying, but I am not affiliated with any brands mentioned in this post.