So, has anyone else pulled out their warm weather clothing bins and switched out their sweaters with their tank tops? No? Oh good. I feel better about myself now… I'm always a bit lazy about switching out seasonal clothes because I don't want to put away all my sweaters and then have a freak snow storm in May (like we had last year, believe it or not). But, when I was perusing my closet, deciding what to keep out and what to store for summer, I came across a chambray button-up shirt and thought, "Hmmm, that little guy would make a cute summer crop top." And thus this DIY project was born. This sewing project is a pretty simple one, so even if you are a beginning sewer, believe me, you've got this one in the bag.
Supplies:
– button-up shirt
– fabric scissors
– sewing pins
– standard sewing machine
Step One: Cut off your sleeves 1" from where the sleeves attach to the main body of the shirt.
Step Two: Fold in your fabric 1/2" and pin it in place. Remove one pin at a time and fold in another 1/2" and replace the pin. Continue this until the hem has been doubled-folded all the way around on each side.
Step Three: Turn the shirt inside out and sew all the way around each armhole with a 1/4" seam allowance.
Step Four: Once your armholes are finished, mark with a pin where you want your crop top to end on the sides of your shirt. Continue the line of pins straight across the front until you get halfway to the buttons, and then curve the line of pins downward so you'll end up with a "tail" that's about 5-6" long. Cut with fabric scissors 1" below your pin line. You can use the remnant piece you just cut off the shirt as a guide to cut the other side so they match perfectly (just flip the fabric shape over and pin on top of the uncut side to use as a cutting guide). Once your front is cut, use the scissors to cut straight across the back of the shirt.
Step Five: On your curved edges, make little notches that are about 1/2" deep (this will help a lot when you fold in your hem).
Step Six: Repeat the same process you did with the armholes. Fold the first 1/2" under and pin, then remove one pin at a time and refold it another 1/2" until the whole bottom hem is double folded. Use your sewing machine again to sew the hem with 1/4" seam allowance, and you're done!
So cute, right? I'm really into crop tops with high-waisted bottoms at the moment, and there's just something about a tied, sleeveless, button-up shirt that is so summer to me. It always reminds me of Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island, just hanging out on a sun-filled tropical beach. Since this was a pretty quick upcycle, I definitely plan on making a few more of these by the time summer officially hits. Do you have any shirts that need a summer makeover? xo. Laura
Credits// Author: Laura Gummerman, Photography: Laura Gummermand & Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with Stella from the Signature Collection.
52 Comments
Ohmygosh this is cute!! And so perfect for summer! Do you think a curvy girl could pull this off? (maybe with high-waisted shorts?)
xoxo Mandy
http://www.mandyleighblog.com
Well, I live in Texas..so YES, we’ve been wearing tank tops for weeks now. π
Love what you’ve done with that top.
About how long would you say it took you to do?
~darlene
Cute!
Where on Earth did you get those lovely pants?
Super cute!! I agree- definitely tank top weather here in texas! Woohoo!
Wow – this is super cool!!!
I love this!
β₯ Naomi Starry Eyes + Coffee Cups
Reason number 846 why I need to learn how to sew!
Super cute, fab how you have done this
Lauren
livinginaboxx
I love it!!
I have one tip for you when it comes to sewing that might make things easier, put the pins in so that the machine will run right over them when you are sewing instead of you having to pull them out as you go. So, I guess the easiest way to explain it would be to put them so they are horizontal instead of vertical. I hope that makes sense and helps. I am a seamstress by trade so I just thought I’d pass on a helpful bit of knowledge. Cute top though!
Super cute! I just need to learn to sew… haha
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
Ha! I was just searching for a good crop top tutorial this week. You guys read my mind!
Stephanie
http://www.vainandsimple.com/
So adorable! I love it! Also, those shoes!!! Where are they from?
xoxo
Taylor
seriously, so cute! i love it paired with those high waisted bottoms π
xo jac
thesunshinedistrict.blogspot.com
Definitely! With crop tops you just pair them with bottoms that are as high or as low as you want, so you control the skin that shows (if any). Go for it!
Laura π
I would say just an hour or two π
Laura
H & M π
Laura
That is totally true! I think it’s just an old habit for me to do the other way, but I should start to do that more, thanks!
Laura π
They are Steve Madden π
Laura
I would love to do this to a vintage polyester blouse/shirt I own, at least get rid of the baggy sleeves! Do you think this method would work as well for polyester/ other fabrics?
I love tied in the front crop tops and this will be perfect to cut to a specific length on my petite frame. Thanks for sharing!
http://everydayingrace.blogspot.ca/
Damnnnnnn girrrrrrl! This is hella cute!
It’s 93 degrees here in LA – ya we are all in our summer clothes. If I had a pool I’d be in it.
Great tutorial, I like the way you cut off the sleeves and rolled in for a hem. I want the model’s pants!
As always – well done!
I love this! And you look amazing in that outfit. I will definitely be trying this soon.
love pairing crop tops with high waisted pants! an easier way for curvy girls to wear crops!
–Leeda
at this volume
I have one of these i bought from a vintage store and you nailed it!
http://www.dancingthroughsunday.typepad.com
This is so cute! I really like how you styled it, too. When I wear tops like this, they tend to look too “western”… and I feel like a cowgirl poser. Nothing wrong with that look, it just isn’t my style. π I’ll have to save this for future inspiration.
-Jess
So cute but I was distracted by the adorable bracelet? Where can a girl get that?
So Cute!
And, as a curvy lady, I love tying shirts at my waist over a dress – super flattering!
My only sadness with this tutorial is that winter is well and truly on its way here in Australia! Though maybe I’ll just do the bottom on a flannelette shirt for layering π
Love high waist ankle pants! So very chic. Fantastic DIY!
such a great idea! thanks for sharing!
feliciasadeli.wordpress.com
Love this idea for summer. Great DIY as usual π
Jessica
the way to my Hart
Very clever!
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I need those pants! And living in Hawaii (Aloha!) this is a perfect project to make over some of the button downs I already have that are getting zero use here. Thanks for the sun-spiration!
Boom Boom Pow…Love this DIY! Fabulous…
charity
http://www.lifeafterbaseball.net
Very nice, too bad I don’t know how to sew π
http://www.fashionpartyblog.com/
I LOVE this!! I have a longer torso and crop tops usually end up being too short and show off too much tummy. Heading to my closet now to see what shirts I can cut up!
xo
Diana
http://unusuallylovely.com
You look lovely! I’m totally loving those shoes though! π
It should work for any fabric, it’s just that some really thin fabrics (like a chiffon) can be tough to work with, but a poly blend should be fine π
Laura
I think those were from Aldo a while back π
Laura
i love how this turned out!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
Absolutely LOVE what you’ve done! & a great post to share your creativity π
x
Amazing!
Thanks for posting this! I asked a few posts ago if you could post more fashion diys… And you did! Thanks so much, Laura! xx
Its SOOO cute!
You’re so hot Laura! What a bod!
holy man, i wanna do this to all my denim button downs now. brb!
I like it where did you get the top?
Nerdybeautifulunique.blogspot.com
I love this! I miss doing DIY projects and I definitely miss sewing.
This is a great idea and I would love to try it.
xx
Cool idea! I will do the same π