Hello there! Aren't you excited that spring is finally here!?
This month we have one of our favorite projects of the year, our first blouse! Yay! You can wear it as a V-neck top, or as a boat-neck top/round-neck if you wear it backwards.
This beautiful item can be considered as a wardrobe basic because it really goes with everything and you can dress it up or down however you want. We know each one of you is going to love it! And hey, it is so simple and easy to do. Somehow we're wondering why wasn't this our first project? Huh.
What do I need?
-A t-shirt (just make sure it isn't very tight)
-Scissors
-Fabric (knit or woven, both fabrics work great)
-Thread of the same color as your fabric
-A needle or a sewing machine
-Chalk or a pencil to trace
The fabric you need will be different for each person. Here's what you will need according to the size you normally wear:
XXS: 1/2 yard (45 cm)
XS: 1 yard (90 cm)
S: 1 yard (90 cm)
M: 1 yard (90 cm)
L: 1 1/2 yards (1.40 m)
XL: 1 1/2 yards (1.40 m)
XXL: 1 1/2 yards (1.40 m)
2X: 2 yards (1.80 m)
3X: 2 yards (1.80 m)
4X: 2 yards (1.80 m)
What t-shirt should I use as my pattern?
Your t-shirt should fit perfectly and you must be comfortable wearing it. It's better if it is baggier, you want to avoid any tight t-shirt. (Unless you're working with a knit fabric, it stretches.)
Mine is a little baggy so it allows me to work with a woven fabric (poplin) that doesn't stretch. Try to find something similar for better results.
STEP 1
Fold a side of your fabric into the inside (We are just going to trace half of the top, so when you unfold the fabric you have a perfect symmetrical part + it is a lot easier than tracing the whole thing.)
STEP 2
Fold your t-shirt in a half and put it over your fabric. Right where you folded it and make sure it fits.
In this step, you can decide how long you want it to be and how you want the sleeves. You can really choose whatever you like. Try measuring yourself to see where you want the top to end.
In my case, I wanted my sleeves to be shorter and more feminine, so I fold them like this to create a more delicate cap sleeve.
STEP 3
Now, Trace the contour of your t-shirt, adding 1 or 2 cm of allowance. (I recommend adding 2 cm on the bottom for the hem and 1 cm for the rest of the contour.)
You can also play with the neckline. I opened mine a little because I love how boat necklines look. It's okay if you just follow the one from your t-shirt. (Try to trace the neckline from the front side of your t-shirt, unless you're using a V-neckline.)
Cut the first piece.
*Remember to not throw away your fabric waste. We have a blog post with +20 ideas of what to do with fabric scraps!
STEP 4
Next, we're going to take the piece you just cut and we're going to fold it in half and place it over your fabric. This time don't fold the fabric where you're placing the first piece.
We want to create the V shape, so you need to take the neckline and fold it to create a straight line. You can pin it, so it stays in its place.
Trace the contour and add 1 cm of allowance to the center.
Cut that piece following the trace you just made.
STEP 5
Mirror that piece over your remaining fabric. The front sides of your fabric must be facing each other. Cut another piece following the exact contour.
And that's it! Now let's start sewing!
STEP 6
Start by creating a hem at the neckline on the front, and back pieces. Doing this step first makes the whole thing easier.
STEP 7
After doing the hem, join the two front pieces together, with both right sides of the fabric facing each other, and sew the center stitch. Like it's shown here.
STEP 8
Now, we're going to sew the shoulders together. Again, the front sides of the fabric must face each other.
Once done, let's sew the sides.
STEP 8
We're almost done! Finally, just make a hem on the sleeves and on the bottom and that's it!
Easy peasy! Wasn't it?
And now you have two outfits made by yourself! You can wear this top with your wrapping pants, or with jeans, a skirt, over a dress! Seriously this is so versatile, it's hard not to fall in love with it!
As every month, we are very excited to see your beautiful creations! And if you have doubts or questions, you know we try to respond as fast as we can through DM's on Instagram.
Don't forget this is the perfect top to match with your wrapping pants we made last month! Right now it is my favorite outfit!
We hope you enjoyed this tutorial, let us know what you think! And wear it as much as you can, repeat outfits, and be proud of your new wardrobe addition.♥
All the love,
Lucy & Dani