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The under 60 minutes high, square necked camisole[/caption]
New to sewing or not there is always a way to make something without needing to buy patterns and masses of fabric - and also making it look acceptable! As I have briefly mentioned in some of my previous Calico Laine blogs, I have recently started a dressmaking class and as a result of this i have wanted to try out some ideas I've had for a while, but not had the confidence to do so. On one of the nights my class was on I was unable to attend but still wanted to get stuck into something which would have a quick end result. I bought a lovely high, squared neck cami top just after christmas and have thought for a while that it doesn't look overly complicated and if I chose the right fabric, which had some spandex in the composition (this would make it slightly stretchy so if it was made slightly small it wouldn't matter) and a fabric that doesn't fray, then it should make my life ten times easier. So in todays blog, I will talking you through the steps to make this gorgeous top.
What you'll need:
- 0.6 metres - depending on what size you are (I'm a 10), of fabric to make the front, back and sleeves (our double knit jerseys are perfect for this)
- A reel of thread to match the fabric (I recommend our Moon threads or our Gutermann Sew-All threads)
- A packet of dressmaking pins (I would recommend our Prym Straight Dressmakers Pins)
- Tailors Chalk
- A ruler
Step 1
Firstly, depending on how skilled you are a dressmaker you can either use the top you already have and love as a template, like I have done, or you can take your bust measurements, waist measurements and hip measurements and the length from the nape of your neck or wherever you wish the top to end to create your own pattern. You may want the top to be cropped or slightly longer. I chose to make mine so it sits at my hips.
Step 2
Placing your fabric spread out on either the floor - or if you are lucky enough to have one, sewing table, with the wrong side of the fabric face down, put your top as far up the fabric and using your tailors chalk draw around the garment adding about an extra inch (for hems). The first part you will have drawn out will be for the back of the top and then bring the top to the bottom half of your fabric and draw around it again, this time removing the top just before you need to draw the front of the neck as you will need to make this one lower than the backs.
Step 3
Using your now drawn out top on the fabric as a pattern cut it out, but DON'T throw out the scarps just yet as they will come in handy for the sleeves!
Step 4
Now using your dressmakers pins you will need to make the hems of the neck, underarms and bottom of the top, I folded my fabric in 1 1/2 cm. Once you have pinned both the front and the back you will need to sew the hem in place using your sewing machine.
Step 5
As you have now got two pieces of the top ready to sew together all you will need to do is place them, right sides of the fabric facing together, and manipulate the fabric, for the side seams, so that the raw edges and pin them. Once you have done this you are ready to sew the sides together.
Step 6
At this stage you should have the top completed with only the sleeves to attach the neck from the front to the back together. To make the sleeves, use a ruler and draw out two 3cm by 15cm rectangular strip onto one of your scrap pieces of fabric, once you have drawn them out you will need to cut them out. After the two strips have been cut out, fold them (long ways) inside out and pin them, then sew down the strip leaving a hole on the two smallest sides so that you can turn them back to the right side of the fabric. Now all you have to do is sew the sleeves to the front and the back of the neck on both sides and VOILA.
You don't have to make this specific style but you can use this as a rough guide to make any sleeveless top you own and it should take no longer than hour. If you are now feeling inspired and want to have a go at making your own why not post the end result to our Facebook page!
The under 60 minutes high, square necked camisole[/caption]
New to sewing or not there is always a way to make something without needing to buy patterns and masses of fabric - and also making it look acceptable! As I have briefly mentioned in some of my previous Calico Laine blogs, I have recently started a dressmaking class and as a result of this i have wanted to try out some ideas I've had for a while, but not had the confidence to do so. On one of the nights my class was on I was unable to attend but still wanted to get stuck into something which would have a quick end result. I bought a lovely high, squared neck cami top just after christmas and have thought for a while that it doesn't look overly complicated and if I chose the right fabric, which had some spandex in the composition (this would make it slightly stretchy so if it was made slightly small it wouldn't matter) and a fabric that doesn't fray, then it should make my life ten times easier. So in todays blog, I will talking you through the steps to make this gorgeous top.
What you'll need:
- 0.6 metres - depending on what size you are (I'm a 10), of fabric to make the front, back and sleeves (our double knit jerseys are perfect for this)
- A reel of thread to match the fabric (I recommend our Moon threads or our Gutermann Sew-All threads)
- A packet of dressmaking pins (I would recommend our Prym Straight Dressmakers Pins)
- Tailors Chalk
- A ruler
Step 1
Firstly, depending on how skilled you are a dressmaker you can either use the top you already have and love as a template, like I have done, or you can take your bust measurements, waist measurements and hip measurements and the length from the nape of your neck or wherever you wish the top to end to create your own pattern. You may want the top to be cropped or slightly longer. I chose to make mine so it sits at my hips.
Step 2
Placing your fabric spread out on either the floor - or if you are lucky enough to have one, sewing table, with the wrong side of the fabric face down, put your top as far up the fabric and using your tailors chalk draw around the garment adding about an extra inch (for hems). The first part you will have drawn out will be for the back of the top and then bring the top to the bottom half of your fabric and draw around it again, this time removing the top just before you need to draw the front of the neck as you will need to make this one lower than the backs.
Step 3
Using your now drawn out top on the fabric as a pattern cut it out, but DON'T throw out the scarps just yet as they will come in handy for the sleeves!
Step 4
Now using your dressmakers pins you will need to make the hems of the neck, underarms and bottom of the top, I folded my fabric in 1 1/2 cm. Once you have pinned both the front and the back you will need to sew the hem in place using your sewing machine.
Step 5
As you have now got two pieces of the top ready to sew together all you will need to do is place them, right sides of the fabric facing together, and manipulate the fabric, for the side seams, so that the raw edges and pin them. Once you have done this you are ready to sew the sides together.
Step 6
At this stage you should have the top completed with only the sleeves to attach the neck from the front to the back together. To make the sleeves, use a ruler and draw out two 3cm by 15cm rectangular strip onto one of your scrap pieces of fabric, once you have drawn them out you will need to cut them out. After the two strips have been cut out, fold them (long ways) inside out and pin them, then sew down the strip leaving a hole on the two smallest sides so that you can turn them back to the right side of the fabric. Now all you have to do is sew the sleeves to the front and the back of the neck on both sides and VOILA.
You don't have to make this specific style but you can use this as a rough guide to make any sleeveless top you own and it should take no longer than hour. If you are now feeling inspired and want to have a go at making your own why not post the end result to our Facebook page!