Puff sleeves are clearly in and they are going nowhere fast, there is no denying it and here at Nerida Hansen Fabrics we are big fans. Our Puff Sleeve Blouse regularly makes an appearance on a staff member, as it is a top that can take you from a day in the office to drinks at the bar to shopping at the Sunday market.

Rhi Tomholt (@rhi___made) thought it was time to give the top some added spice and create a slightly different version.

She was set loose with the sewing pattern and Nerida Hansen Dalmation in khaki on Tencel linen and here are her instructions on mixing it up.

Rhi's tips:

I hacked it to have a split at the top and a tie neck. 

*I cut the front bodice as a pair instead of on the fold - and added 1cm seam allowance when cutting. I also cut 2 lengths of bias binding instead of 1. 
I then finished the centre front seams on the overlocker and marked how deep I’d like the split, then sewed the front pieces right side facing from the bottom to the split, backstitching a few times to strengthen the bottom of the split.  
I then folded the top part of the split over 1cm and topstitched to keep in place.

I continued making the top as per the instructions, up until binding the neckline. I started binding from the centre back and left some overhanging the front to make the ties. I repeated on the other side, sewed it into place and sewed close the binding for the ties.