Cotton is a great fabric to start sewing with! It's one of the easiest fabrics to sew and care for. It's also easy to find in beautiful colors and patterns! I picked up this plaid fabric last summer at a garage sale. You'll need a yard to 1.5 yards of fabric to start with.
How to measure and cut:
Width- Take half of your hip measurement (measure around the fullest part of your hips and then divide by two) then add 5-8 inches.
Length- Measure from the top of the shoulder to the desired hem length (choose if you want it to be a cropped top, a long top or a dress) and add 1.5 inches. Use these measurements to cut two pieces.
Straps- Cut 2 rectangles 45x2.5in. Fold right sides together (lengthwise) and stitch a tube closed on one end only. Then, flip the tube, press flat and tuck the open end in. Press and stitch tube closed.
To make: 1. With right sides together, stitch both side seams starting 7-11 inches down from the top. This creates the side seam and the armhole opening at the same time. Once finished, press the seam open and topstitch the seam allowance of the armhole (see photo below). To do this, start from the top of the left panel, stitch down to where the closed seam begins, lift the foot and turn the corner to make a right angle. Stitch across to the right panel and once you have reached an equal distance from the center of the seam, lift the foot and turn the corner again to stitch up the front panel. Repeat on other side.
2. Choose and stitch which hemline you prefer. We chose a double folded 3/8" seam.
3. To create the casing at the neckline, stitch or press 1/4" seam down so the raw edges are finished once turned again. Once this fold is made, fold over again leaving enough room for your straps to be pulled through (we did a 1/2" seam). Stitch down on both front and back panels creating two casings.
Feed your straps through the neckline casing and tie on sides! ♥
This is a great practice piece! This pattern can easily become a dress too. Try this pattern with different fabrics, you might even want to add pockets and hand stitched details!
TIPS FOR SEWING COTTON:
-Choose a light weight to medium weight cotton, don't start too heavy because heavy fabric is harder for the machine to handle.
-Start with solid colors, patterns can be tricky to match and seam together.
-Learn to straighten the grain of your fabric. (
resource)
-Always pre-wash cotton because it will shrink.
-Start with patterns like tent dresses, tote bags and skirts!
-Work up to patterns with sleeves and collars.
-Cotton is great for beginner sewers, so have fun!
Have fun sewing your first top or dress! xo. Elsie
This sewing basics series was created in collaboration with Missy Creed of Momentum Fashion. Missy is a talented seamstress who sews for Red Velvet!
what a great idea!its going to be the first thing i make on my new sewing machine!
Posted by: Cassie M | January 16, 2012 at 11:58 PM
simple and colour full =)
following your blog :), hope u will follow back!
xoxo
http://sreebindu.blogspot.com/
Posted by: sreebindu | January 17, 2012 at 12:13 AM
Very cute - could actually pull that off. :-)
Posted by: tinajo | January 17, 2012 at 12:37 AM
I cannot wait to try this! Very sweet x
www.holesinmysocks.blogspot.com
Posted by: Hannah K Chapman | January 17, 2012 at 12:55 AM
I am love love loving the sewing tutorials! They are definitely inspiring me to start sewing again! Thanks for the motivation!
Posted by: Savannah Jual | January 17, 2012 at 01:41 AM
bright idea.. very nice!!
xox ela,
Clor Me Ela
Clor Me Ela
Posted by: ela | January 17, 2012 at 01:49 AM
Very pretty!!!
http://missbobino.blogspot.com
Posted by: The life after | January 17, 2012 at 02:26 AM
very nice ! thank you for the tip to straighten the grain of the fabric !
Posted by: l'Ange mimosa | January 17, 2012 at 02:27 AM
this is lovely:)
Posted by: Maria | January 17, 2012 at 03:26 AM
I´ll try that, when I´m through with this semesters exams.
Posted by: Malina | January 17, 2012 at 03:35 AM
I have made such a top once, but unfortunately have hardly worn it since it kept sliding downwards on the straps - how could you prevent the fabric from doing that??? Please let me know!
xoxo, Femke http://labutton.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Femke | January 17, 2012 at 03:42 AM
Love the tutorial!! I'm trying it as soon as the weather changes! :)
Thanks!
Laura :)
http://miprimeramaquinadecoser.blogspot.com
Posted by: Laura | January 17, 2012 at 04:06 AM
i love it, it's simple yet very classy: this fabric is absolutely great! thanks for the tute :)
Posted by: Earendil | January 17, 2012 at 04:16 AM
You have *NO* idea how excited this makes me!!! I've never sewed a garment before (tried once but stopped mid-work after I did something wrong and didn't have the energy required to fix it. Ha! :)) and I haven't really planned to try sewing clothes again any time soon. But now I'm SO excited!! I can't wait to try this out! Thank you SO much! Eeeeek!
Posted by: fafuna | January 17, 2012 at 05:12 AM
I love these sewing tutorials! My 9 year old daughter got a sewing machine for Christmas and we are learning together. This is the perfect first project. Thank you do much!!!!!
Posted by: Rochelle | January 17, 2012 at 05:20 AM
Love it and i diffently gonna make this thanks
Posted by: patricia | January 17, 2012 at 05:28 AM
I love your colourful blog and all the unique creations that just keep pouring out of your brain...
WEMAKEPLANS
Posted by: Annie | January 17, 2012 at 05:43 AM
what a brilliant DIY, I've been wanting to make a dress or top like this for a while but I'm no good with inventing something without help, so this will be very useful! :)
Posted by: Anna | January 17, 2012 at 06:00 AM
oh my!! I ADORE that fabric!!
Posted by: Lisa | January 17, 2012 at 06:13 AM
Love your work! I've made tops like these too. I've also refurbished vintage t-shirts that are to big that have great images on them into these kinds of tops. Keep the good stuff comming!
Posted by: Christine | January 17, 2012 at 07:38 AM