Friday 18 April 2014

Easy to Sew Top

 Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric
This is just about as easy as sewing a top can get. It's inspired by a lovely easy maxi dress pattern from Sweet Verbena. I've made two of those dresses, here I am in my blue one, enjoying a glass of Sangria on holiday!
The other one is made from a patterned fabric, I'm on holiday in this picture too, but here you can see more of the dress! (Funny how the boys are standing in exactly the same way, I never noticed till now)
This is such a lovely dress to wear on a hot day, perfect of holidays.
Anyway, I had some left over jersey fabric from making the patterned dress, a long strip 248cm x 36cm (98" x 11"). It was a bit of an awkward size piece but enough to make a top, I just had to tweak the pattern to make it work.
Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric
I cut the fabric in half so I had 2 lengths both 124cm. This is how I decided the length of my top. If the fabric had been longer I think I would have made the top a little longer too. I would also have matched the pattern, but there just wasn't enough fabric to do that this time.
If you want to make a simple top like this, this is what you do:
Fold your first piece in half (so it's 62cm x 36cm, doubled up with the fold at the top) and pin along the right side leaving a 18cm gap at the top folded edge. This will be the arm hole.

Do the same for the other piece but this time pin the left side.
I did all this pinning with safety pins. That way I could try it on and adjust the size of the arm & neck holes before I stitch and I wouldn't stab myself with a bunch of pins. 
Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric
Then take the unpinned edges and, right sides together, pin the font and back seams. (again with safety pins if you want to try it on first)
Leave a gap 20cm from the top, this will be the hole for your neck. If you want the neck lower, just leave a longer gap. I really recommend doing all this with safety pins and trying it on. You want to make sure your head fits through!

Once you are happy with the size of your arm and neck holes replace the safety pins with regular pins.

Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric

This is what the neck hole will look like.
Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric

Put a double pin at the point where you are going to stop, that way when you are on the sewing machine you won't go whizzing past the point you have so carefully measured.

Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric

Once you have stitched all 4 seams it will look something like this.
Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric
That's it, you are done, easy eh! Turn it inside out and try it on. I think this is a "tuck it in" kind of top for me, although it might make a great maternity top too, or a whooshy floaty top if that's your thing.
Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric
Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric
If it were a little bit longer then it would be a great tunic with a belt too. Oh the possibilities!
I wore this to work the other day with my new bright blue jeans and green cardie.
Easy to sew summer top from jersey fabric
I just wanted to show I do have other clothes (I always seem to be wearing the same jeans in my photos!) 

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Crochet Owl Brooch
Crochet Owl Brooch
I'll be linking up to all these great link parties, why not pop by!
Sum of their Stories
Sum of their Stories

Hello, I'm Julie. I love making things and this is where I share my enthusiasm.

21 comments:

  1. What a great idea! Thanks for the tutorial x

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  2. A very flattering top. Looks great on you, Julie!!!

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  3. I've featured your flattering top today, Julie...
    http://www.threadingmyway.com/2014/04/threading-your-way-features_19.html

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    1. Wow Pam, that's lovely thank you. I was checking out some of the other tops you have linked up just this morning, lots of fantastic inspiration!

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  4. What a fun fabric. The top is so easy to make. Probably can make it dress length too. Hmm...Visiting from SITS.

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  5. Julie,
    Love the top and that tutorial too! I've made myself a dress using Sweet Verbena's pattern last summer too! It was so much fun!

    ~Zhenya
    http://beingzhenya.com
    Stopping by from SITS Share Fest :)

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    1. Hi Zhenya, thanks for stopping by. Sweet Verbena tutorials are great aren't they, she has a lovely way of making it all seem so easy!

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  6. Cute top! I love the fabric. I like sewing projects that are quick and easy and turn out great like this. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. This is great! I am mostly a craft sewer, but am going to try this! The top turns out so cute. Thanks for posting the tutorial. Good instructions - easy to understand.

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    1. It was super quick so I hope you give it a bash. I love wearing things that I've made, it's nice to know it's completely unique.

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  8. A fabulous way to use up leftover fabric - and so straightforward too.

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    1. Thanks Lucy, I hate wasting those leftovers that seems so big yet so small because of their awkward shape. They just sit in a suitcase in the loft calling to me quietly "make something from me, make something from me!"

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  9. I guess you use knit fabric for this since there are raw edges left?

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    1. Yes Jamra, it's a jersey knit so the edges are just raw. They tend to roll in a bit which is ideal - more luck than judgement on my part - but that is what made it so super quick and easy.

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  10. Great tutorial! Thanks! I hope to make it this summer!

    Becky@bybmg
    bybmg.blogspot.com

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  11. Great tute! You should come join us at the Inspire Us Thursdays: Sew Needle Stitch Hook link party on The Inspired Wren.

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    1. Thanks for the invite Ren, I've linked up now. What a lot of lovely projects you have linked up this week, and your features are lovely. I'll definitely be back again soon.

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    2. YAY! Thanks for linking up.

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  12. We are featuring your awesome project today at Your Designs This Time!
    http://www.elizabethjoandesigns.com

    Thanks for sharing with us!
    Emily & Erin

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