There’s something special about a simple knitted blouse — the kind of garment that feels effortless to wear, beautiful without being fussy, and versatile enough to become a favourite in your handmade wardrobe.
Meet Cerise Blouse, my newest knitting pattern, inspired by warm summer days, childhood memories, and the carefree feeling of sunshine on your skin.
Get the Cerise Blouse knitting pattern on Ravelry →
A little bit of summer nostalgia
The inspiration for Cerise Blouse comes from memories of sun-drenched summers in the 1980s: the Greek sun, the scent of flowers, the sea breeze, and the simple joy of climbing a cherry tree with friends.
I wanted to capture that feeling in a garment that feels feminine, nostalgic and timeless.
The result is a lightweight knitted blouse with clean lines and just enough shaping to make it flattering and comfortable to wear.
And, of course, the colour of the sample had to be cherry red.
About the Cerise Blouse
Cerise Blouse is a seamless, top-down knitted pullover with classic raglan shaping and a beautifully shaped neckline created with German short rows.
The design is intentionally simple, making it a lovely project when you want to enjoy the rhythm of knitting without a complicated stitch pattern taking over.
The body is worked in stockinette stitch, with an elegant rolled neckline and hem. You can also choose between straight sleeves or gently tapered sleeves, giving you the option to customise the look of your finished blouse.
Because the blouse is knitted from the top down, you can try it on as you go and easily adjust the body or sleeve length to suit your style.
Find the Cerise Blouse pattern on Ravelry →
What makes this pattern special?
I designed Cerise Blouse with both simplicity and wearability in mind.
Here are some of the details I love most:
- Seamless top-down construction
- Classic raglan shaping
- German short-row neckline
- Choice of straight or tapered sleeves
- Simple stockinette stitch
- Rolled neckline and hem
- Easy-to-adjust body and sleeve length
- Detailed, step-by-step instructions
- Stitch counts provided for every size
It's a confident beginner/advanced beginner-friendly pattern, making it a great choice if you're ready to move beyond accessories and start knitting a beautifully finished garment.
Sizes XXS to 4XL
Cerise Blouse is designed to be worn with approximately 3 cm (1¼") of positive ease and is available in:
XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL
The finished bust measurements range from 76 cm to 136 cm (29⅞" to 53½"), giving you plenty of options for finding the fit you love.
As always with knitted garments, I recommend choosing your size based on the finished measurements rather than simply choosing your usual clothing size.
Yarn for the Cerise Blouse
The pattern calls for DK/light worsted weight yarn.
For my sample, I used DROPS Belle in the colour Cherry — a beautiful choice for this design. DROPS Belle is a DK-weight blend of cotton, rayon and linen, which makes it particularly lovely for a lightweight summer garment.
The yarn requirements are approximately:
300 (350) 400 (450) 500 (600) 700 (800) 900 g
depending on the size you're making.
Of course, Cerise Blouse doesn't have to be red! I would love to see it knitted in soft neutrals, creamy white, dusty pink, pale blue or even a rich autumn shade.
Needles and gauge
You'll need:
- 3 mm (US 2.5) needles
- 4 mm (US 6) needles
The gauge is 20 stitches × 28 rounds = 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4") in stockinette stitch after blocking.
As always, taking the time to make and block a gauge swatch is important, especially when knitting a garment where fit matters.
A blouse you can make your own
One of my favourite things about top-down knitting is the freedom to customise your garment as you work.
Want a little more length? Keep knitting.
Prefer shorter sleeves? Simply adjust the sleeve length.
Love a more classic sleeve shape? Choose the straight sleeves.
Want something a little more fitted toward the cuff? Choose the tapered sleeves.
The basic design stays simple, while giving you plenty of room to make your Cerise Blouse feel like your blouse.
What can you wear with a knitted blouse?
Cerise Blouse is designed to be a versatile piece that works beautifully throughout the warmer months and into autumn.
Wear it with:
- High-waisted jeans for an easy everyday outfit
- A flowing skirt for a more feminine look
- Linen trousers for a relaxed summer wardrobe
- Shorts for cool evenings by the sea
- A simple dress underneath for an extra layer when the temperature drops
And because it's handmade, you get that lovely feeling of wearing something that you've created yourself.
Ready to cast on?
If you've been looking for a simple, feminine knitted top with timeless details, I hope you'll give Cerise Blouse a try.
It's a relaxing knit, an easy-to-wear wardrobe staple, and a little reminder of those long, carefree summer days.
Get the Cerise Blouse knitting pattern on Payhip →
I can't wait to see your versions and all the beautiful colours you choose!
Save this pattern for later
Found Cerise Blouse through Pinterest? Save this post to your knitting or handmade wardrobe board so you can come back when you're ready to cast on.
And if you make one, I'd love to see your finished blouse!