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Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
6h00

A wrap over top with a tied waist and twisted straps.
I promised my friend Jenny that I'd make her a top for her birthday and this is what I came up with. It's the first top I've ever made and I love it so much.

I hope this tutorial makes sense, I really didn't know how to explain the steps well. Any questions, just ask!

Posted by Cat Morley from London, United Kingdom • Published See Cat Morley's 1146 projects »
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  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 1
    Step 1

    I started by cutting the front top bodice part. This is a basic tank top shape, wide enough to fit across your bust comfortably (remember to leave a generous seam allowance).

    Cut out two, one for the front and one for the lining. I choose to line my top with the same fabric, but you could use lining fabric.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 2
    Step 2

    I then marked my darts across the bust, drawing directly on to the silk with a pencil.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 3
    Step 3

    Pin the dart lines together, making sure it's giving you a nice shape when you drape it across your chest.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 4
    Step 4

    Sew the darts together. Repeat this, adding darts to the lining fabric.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 5
    Step 5

    Lay the lining fabric on top of the front, with right sides facing and pin around the outside. Sew around the outside, leaving the bottom edge unstitched, and fold the right way out.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 6
    Step 6

    The back of the top is the same shape as the front, with a high neckline and no darts, and you need to make this in two halves.

    Cut out four pieces, your two front sides and your two lining sides.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 7
    Step 7

    Pin the front and back sides together, wrong sides facing and sew around the edges, leaving the bottom edge unstitched.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 8
    Step 8

    Fold these right side out.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 9
    Step 9

    Now you want to sew these two halves together with a wide basting stitch.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 10
    Step 10

    Press the seams open and line the zipper up.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 11
    Step 11

    Sew the zip in place and the unpick the basted stitch.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 12
    Step 12

    You now have the front and back of the bodice of your top. It gets easier now...

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 13
    Step 13

    We'll now make the bottom part of the back of the top.

    Cut a large rectangle of fabric, measuring 12" tall x +5" wider than the width of the top back part of the top.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 14
    Step 14

    Fold over an inch at the bottom edge for a hem and sew in place.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 15
    Step 15

    Line the top back and bottom back up and mark the middle on the bottom piece.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 16
    Step 16

    Working out from the center, find the middle points between the center and the edge of the fabric and make a gather at either side.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 17
    Step 17

    The bottom part should now be about the same width as the top part.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 18
    Step 18

    Sew the gathers in place.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 19
    Step 19

    Lay the bottom part on top of the top part, so that the bottom edges are lined up and sew along the bottom edge.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 20
    Step 20

    Now we're going to work on the bottom part of the front of the top. This is going to be in two parts, which will overlap.

    Cut another rectangle, with the same measurements as the back part. This will be the right hand side of the bottom of the top. Make a 1" hem at the bottom, like you did with the last piece.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 21
    Step 21

    Fold over the left hand edge by 2" and sew in place.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 22
    Step 22

    Sew about 4 gathers, spaced equally apart.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 23
    Step 23

    We want to make the left hand flap have a tilt to it. Sew cut a rectangle to the same width and a heigh of 12" at the shortest side and 14" and the taller side. Fold the fabric up and sew the hem in place. Sew 5 gathers along the top edge.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 24
    Step 24

    Lay the front bodice part down and then lay the left hand bottom edge on top, so that the bottom edges are in line. Then lay the right hand side on top (because we want it to go behind) and pin in place along the bottom edge.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 25
    Step 25

    Sew in place and then fold down. It should look like this.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 26
    Step 26

    You now want to make two ties for the front of the top. These should measure 20" x 2". Pin these in place at either side, so that they lay over the seam in the middle of your top.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 27
    Step 27

    Make another for the back and pin in place.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 28
    Step 28

    Lay the back of the top on top of the front, so that the right sides are facing and make sure all the ties are sticking out by at least an inch at either side. Pin around the edges.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 29
    Step 29

    Try the top on to make sure it fits nice and sew the edges.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 30
    Step 30

    Now for the straps. Twist the front strap over about 4 times and then pin to the back strap.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 31
    Step 31

    Fold the middle of the bust under and pin in place.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 32
    Step 32

    Stitch the bust and sew the straps together.

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 33
    Step 33

    Tie the front ties in to a bow and you're all done!

  • How to sew a hand sewn top. Candy Floss Carnival Top - Step 34
    Step 34

    Accessorise with a Vivienne Westwood brooch.

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Comments

Pirahna
Pirahna · Chicago, Illinois, US · 4 projects
Gorgeous!
Reply
aurelas
aurelas · 3 projects
I am dying to try this with a red plaid!
Cat Morley
Cat Morley · London, GB · 1432 projects
That would be beautiful. I'm on the hunt for a pretty plaid to make myself one with.
Reply
SarahOliveira92
SarahOliveira92 · Joinville, Santa Catarina, BR · 12 projects
I'll try. Tongue
Reply
mariaearlene
mariaearlene
the color n shape are great
Reply
Nanzaa LOW
Nanzaa LOW · Bangkok, TH · 51 projects
Love the color ^^ good job
Reply
Leyyah B.
Leyyah B. · Bessemer, Alabama, US
Do you have a link to the pattern?
Reply
~fabi.alvarez~
~fabi.alvarez~ · Carolina, Carolina, PR · 1 project
im so gonna make this
thanks!
Reply
Erika R.
Erika R. · New York, New York, US
Beautiful ! Wow ! You are insanely talented !! Trying to get over my fear of the sewing machine.... worried about destroying fabric.. broken needles.. and all the foot attachments and thread breaking on bobbin... arrgh !
Reply
Erika R.
Erika R. · New York, New York, US
Beautiful ! Wow ! You are insanely talented !! Trying to get over my fear of the sewing machine.... worried about destroying fabric.. broken needles.. and all the foot attachments and thread breaking on bobbin... arrgh !
Reply
Claudia H.
Claudia H. · Greer, South Carolina, US
I love it!!
Reply
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