https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/bubbly-top-from-t-shirt • Posted by Caeli L.
I didn't quite know how to call this, but since it kind of looks like a bubble top, I settled for "bubbly top" :) The flower was inspired from Stacie G.'s tutorial "Flowers for a shirt". Thank you Stacie! This is my first how to, so any comment on to be clearer or helpfull are most welcome. (Sorry in advance for my so-not-perfect english!)
I didn't quite know how to call this, but since it kind of looks like a bubble top, I settled for "bubbly top" :) The flower was inspired from Stacie G.'s tutorial "Flowers for a shirt". Thank you Stacie! This is my first how to, so any comment on to be clearer or helpfull are most welcome. (Sorry in advance for my so-not-perfect english!)
Measure yourself right above your chest and hips (or wherever you want the bottom of your top to rest) as shown in the image.
Now grab your t-shirt and cut a tube from it as in the image. The tube should be your above chest measurement + 15 cm ( 6") wide and approximately 50 cm (16") long, depending on how long you want your top to be. Don't forget to add some seam allowance! (Please note that we'll be adding later a rather large stripe of fabric at the bottom, so don't worry if it seems too short now.) IMPORTANT: keep in mind that the bottom seam of the t-shirt will be very helpfull, so don't cut it from the tube.
Grab the pieces you cut out from the t-shirt. Flip over both pannels and sew on both side to form the tube.
Do you remember me telling you to keep the original bottom seam of the t-shirt? Well, for the ruffly effect,we will now insert some elastic in the casing formed by that seam (this will be the upper part of the top). The elastic should be your above chest measurement - 3 cm (1,5"). Use a safety pin to get the elastic through the casing. Oh oh... You'll find the casing is closed on both side. No worries, just open two small holes (they won't fray, don't worry) on each side of the tube's side seam so that you can pass the elastic band through them. Once you've reached the other end of the elastic, sew them together.
So, if you're doing it right, by now you should have something like this.
Grab the t-shirt again and cut two pannels. The sum of the two pannel's lenght should match your hip measurement. The pannels should be 12 cm (5")high.
Sew pannel's ends together and then fold it in half lenghtwise to obtain something like shown in image. (I used a different color for the bottom because I love red and black together, but you can keep the same fabric and color all the way through)
This is the most difficult part, gathering both pieces. As you can see, the detached bottom part is not as wide as the tube's bottom. This will give the bubble effect to the top. Flip the top over so that the wrong sides (as in the inside of the top) are facing you. Using a zig zag stitch, gather the bottom part to the top, stretching lengthwise ONLY the bottom stripe as you're sewing.
If you now have something similar to this, congratulations! The worst part is over! Try it on to see if it fits. If you like to keep it simple you can wear it just like that, but if, like me, you like to add something special to what you do...
... add some embellishment! I used zig zag ribbon (two rows on the sides) and sewn this lovely flower with some black fabric scraps and some contrasting red thread, using the above mentioned tutorial by Stacie G. I hope it was clear enough!