The Billow Blouse sewing pattern by The Assembly Line is all about volume. It’s gathered at the rounded neck with elastic for a comfortable fit and features billowing raglan sleeves with elastic cuffs.

To elevate this blouse further for the festive season, The Assembly Line has created a collar extension add on, available to download for free over on the TAL Sewing Journal by clicking here. 

This sewing pattern add on takes you through the steps to replace the elastic neckline and sew on a collar with ties instead – wrap it around your neck once and tie it into a bold bow, or wrap it twice for a sleek necktie knot. 

Please note: This is a free pattern extension, not a full sewing pattern. You'll need the Billow Blouse sewing pattern which you can buy by clicking here. Please also note that the pattern extension is only available as a digital download.

We've take our Envelope Cushion Covers a stage further with this make and introduced top-stitched pieced panels on the front to give a more designed look. It's also a great way to use up those smaller fabric off-cuts too!

For the front of our make we've mixed together our Organic Cotton Cross-weaves in Lt Blue and Natural, a remnant of Nani Iro's Mountain Views in Grey together with a piece of Liberty Manning from our stash. For the back pieces we've used Robert Kaufman's 8oz Washed Indigo Denim on the reverse side.

• Cushion insert, for the purposes of this tutorial we've chosen to make a cover for an insert measuring 40cm X 40cm, but feel free to make whatever size you prefer
• Assorted fabrics of a similar weight for the front panels; and for the two back panels, 2 pieces each measuring 42cm X 30cm.
• Matching Cotton Thread, for our make we've used our Organic Cotton Thread in Beige
• Dressmakers Scissors
• Tape Measure
• Sewing Pins
• Sewing Gauge (not essential, but it makes turning a hem so much easier and quicker!)
• Bamboo Point Turner

To make :

Pre-wash your fabrics before starting.

Next you will need to decide on the sizing of your front panels; for ours we've split the cover in half through the centre and then divided each of these halves further roughly into one third and two third pieces, as above, giving us the following measurements:

• 2 larger pieces =  22cm X 28cm (20cm X 26cm when finished)
• 2 smaller pieces = 22cm X 16cm (20cm X 14cm when finished)

Cut out your front panel pieces, and then you'll need to cut the two back panel pieces measuring 42cm X 30cm.

Starting with the front panels, pin the right sides together for each of the two sides. Stitch with a 1cm seam allowance. Press the seams open and finish with a zig zag stitch.

We've then top-stitched either side of this seam, as shown above, but this is optional.

Next, pin together the right sides of the two stitched side panels, stitch with a 1cm seam allowance. Again, press the seams open and finish with a zig zag stitch. And if desired finish with top-stitching either side of this seam too.

With the front of the cushion cover finished, each of the back panels need to be hemmed along one of the 42cm sides. To do this first turn a 1cm hem, pinning as you go (as shown below) and press into place; turn this hem again and iron to create a double fold hem.

Top stitch this folded hem on the right side of the fabric, close to the turned edge.

Next place the front panel piece right side up on your work surface. Then lay one of the back pieces right side down onto the front panel, with the unfinished 42cm side lined up with the outer edge of the front cushion piece, as shown above. 

Then take the second back panel piece and again place it right side down onto the other fabric pieces, as with the other back piece, the unfinished 42cm side lined up with the outer edge of the front cushion piece. See our "How to Make an Envelope Cushion Cover Tutorial" for images to illustrate.

Pin these back pieces in place. Then stitch round all four sides of the cushion cover with a 1cm seam allowance, at each corner sink the needle down, lift the foot and pivot the fabric 90 degrees.

Trim the seams to 5mm, and trim the corners, as shown above, to ensure a neat finish. We finished our seams with a zig zag stitch, but again this isn't essential.

Turn your cover inside out, give it a good press and there you have it, your own bespoke cushion cover! 

With Father's Day fast approaching, it's in just a few weeks on Sunday 21st June, we thought now would be a good time to do our first make! And what better than a set of hankies for you (and your children) to make for dads everywhere, we all know they love a good handkerchief!!

These are super easy to make, but the fact that they're made by you, will undoubtedly make them all the more special, and be much appreciated, by the lucky recipient!

We've brought together four of our favourite 100% Organic Cotton Crossweaves and Woven Ginghams, to create a Fat Quarter Bundle just for Dads - Make Your Father's Day!

You will need:

• Lightweight woven fabrics such as our Organic Cotton Ginghams and the Combed Cotton Poplins by Robert Kaufman 
• Cotton Thread; again we're gone for our Organic Thread
• Dressmakers Scissors
• Tape Measure
• Sewing Gauge - not essential but in our experience it really does make turning a hem so much easier!
• Sewing Pins
• Iron
• Sewing Machine

To make:

Firstly wash and dry your fabric.

Then, cut a square of fabric to the required size, we've made ours 40cm square, but feel free to make them larger or smaller.

Fold over 7mm on all four sides and iron the fabric.

Repeat once more and iron again. You'll now have a double hem.

Once the fabric has cooled, unfold all the edges. Use the fold lines as a guide to trim the corners by carefully cutting a triangle to prevent the corners from being too bulky. You need to be careful not to cut too close to the corner of the handkerchief when the hem is turned as you don't want it to fray.

Re-fold, making sure to tuck in any frayed edges. Pin the corners to secure it for sewing.

 Select your thread for sewing. Depending on the "Dad' that you're making them for you may want to make a feature of this and use a brightly contrasting thread, or select a more muted tone that sits across all the fabrics, we've decided to go subtle for this make and used our Slate thread!

Then using a straight stitch, stitch 5mm in from the outer edge of the handkerchief. 

At the corners make sure you leave the needle in the down position, lift the presser foot and pivot the handkerchief 90 degrees to ensure a crisp corner, sew all four sides in this way.

 And there you have it! One fabulous handkerchief to "Make Your Father's Day"! Though of course these handkerchiefs would make an idea gift all year round, including birthdays and Christmas.