Hi Gayle,

A lightweight linen blouse seems like it would be a great candidate for a bias cut, as the bias grain drapes so nicely over the body.
Here’s a great article on sewing blouses on the bias grain that might help:
https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2008/11/06/bias-101

You can also reach out to other sewists on the National Sewing Circle Facebook page to ask if anyone else has any personal experience with this (and any other questions you may have!)
https://www.facebook.com/nationalsewingcircle
Nicki
National Sewing Circle

Another way to help stop your hem stretching as you sew is to first tack your hem to some tissue paper leaving yourself plenty of hem allowance.Then sew a holding stitch a fraction below your finished length . Tear of your tissue paper being careful not to damage your stitch line. Then turn up your hem allowance just above your stichline The first stitch line will make this easier to follow. You can do one of two things here. Either stitch with a small straight stitch or for a shell effect stitch over the fold with a zig zag stich . Play about with this on some scrap as different size and width zig zag with produce different effects. Then with small pointed scissors trim the seam allowance away close to the stichline. I hope this makes sense. Enjoy