https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/instant-gratification-top • Posted by Sewing In No Mans Land
A few years ago I broke down and ordered a top from one of my fav stores. I just loved it too much, not to order it. I then headed to bed, at the super late hour of eh he 8:30 and laid there thinking about how much I wanted that new top and how I would have to wait 6 weeks and when it finally got there I would probably have to stretch it out over my preggy belly. I became determined to simply make one myself! It is soooo embarrassingly easy and so fast that I cut out everything to make two more in different colors! I must admit I was very hesitant as I don’t usually sew with stretchy fabric. It makes me nervous, it’s unpredictable, it puckers and tucks. Turns out it is fabulous… as long as you are patient.
A few years ago I broke down and ordered a top from one of my fav stores. I just loved it too much, not to order it. I then headed to bed, at the super late hour of eh he 8:30 and laid there thinking about how much I wanted that new top and how I would have to wait 6 weeks and when it finally got there I would probably have to stretch it out over my preggy belly. I became determined to simply make one myself! It is soooo embarrassingly easy and so fast that I cut out everything to make two more in different colors! I must admit I was very hesitant as I don’t usually sew with stretchy fabric. It makes me nervous, it’s unpredictable, it puckers and tucks. Turns out it is fabulous… as long as you are patient.
I grabbed a tank I already own and used it as a guide. First I folded the jersey fabric and laid my folded tank on back and followed the outline of the back of the tank
The back has a much higher neckline:
(I also made mine a bit wider on the bottom for my ever increasing belly and longer to stretch over it) I then folded the back of the tank so that I could follow the pattern of the front
..
I then laid the two pieces right sides together. I then pinned the heck out of the two sides and shoulder pieces so there was no chance of movement:)
Sew up both sides and across both shoulders. I was really worried about serging it. I thought it would go all wavy and puckered. But I just fed it through steadily and slowly and it only waved a tiny bit, totally unnoticeable
Once you are all done you can hem up the bottom. Again I pinned this, which I have not done in as long as I can remember but it made it an easy job. I also skipped hemming the arm pits as I never plan on wearing this tank without some sort of cardi, you know modesty prevails! Plus that is the fantastic thing about jersey knits is they don’t fray woo hoo! Once you are done turn everything right side out:
Now I cut a LONG (super long) strip of jersey.
I originally cut it about 5 inches wide but it was WAY to wide and I cut it down to about 3. I stitched a gathering stitch all the way down the center of the strip and gathered it up until it was the same length as the circumference of my neckline
I now pinned the ruffle, lining up the center with the neckline of the top.
I then topstitched along the center line, removing pins as I sewed.
Taddah!!! You are all done! How easy was that! I absolutely LOVE how it turned out.