Refashioned Top Tutorial: ModCloth Knockoff

Here is a follow up to my refashioned outfit post with a tutorial on how to create the Modcloth top knockoff.

This top was inspired from this Modcloth top: 

Source

and began like this: 

Step 1. Find a button up blouse in a couple sizes larger than you normally wear. Begin by cutting off the collar, sleeves (2 inches below the seam to allow enough fabric for your new sleeve), cut out the shoulder pads if your top has them, and finally carefully cut up the side seams.

Step 2. Put the top on backwards with the buttons in the back. Use a piece of chalk to draw in a new neckline. Take the top off and cut out close to the new neckline, leaving a small seam allowance.

3. Step 3: **This step is not shown but I used bias tape to finish my new neckline.** Next take the top and put it on yourself or a dress form inside out. Pin up the sides to create your new side seams. You should pin from the sleeve edge all the way down the side. Make sure you do not make the top fitted. You want to have a blousy effect and you will be pulling in the waist with shirring. Sew the new side seam. Then try your top on right side out and draw a chalk line where you want your waist shirring to begin. 

Step 4: Take off the top and begin drawing a line all the way around the top using your waistline mark. My mark was about 8.5 inches up from the bottom edge. However, when I went around to the back I noticed it would be too close to the button, so I drew my line at the 9 inch mark instead. Once you have a line drawn all the way around your top, thread your machine with elastic thread in the bobbin. (You will have to hand wind elastic thread onto your bobbin.) Begin stitching all the way around on top of the line you drew. I pull the fabric somewhat taut as I sew this line. It will begin shirring up if it is done correctly. Once I get back to the beginning of the line, I simply keep stitching in a spiral pattern to create another line 1/4 inch below or above my first line. Keep stitching around the top until you have the desired effect. My top has 5 lines of shirred stitching. 

Step 5: Finish your sleeve hem. You can either fold up the fabric 1/4 inch, press, and 1/4 inch again, press and stitch or use bias tape created from the left over sleeve fabric to finish the edge. I actually did it both ways and I am not sure which I prefer. They were both somewhat difficult with the slinky fabric so I would say go with whatever your preferred method is for finishing a sleeve hem and take your time. Finally, we need to cut out the bow for the front. Use the collar you cut off in step 1 and cut it into two pieces. I cut one smaller than the other. One piece ended up being about 9 inches long and the other about 7 inches.

Step 6: Cut a rounded bow shape out of your two strips of fabric. Turn them inside out, placing right sides together and stitch close to the edge leaving an opening to turn them right side out. Turn it right side out and top stitch it all the way around to close the opening. Next stack the smaller bow on top of the larger one and pinch it together in the center. Hand stitch the cinch in the center to hold it together. Then use an extra piece of fabric (I used a small rectangle shape from the original sleeve cuff) and wrap it around the center of the bow over your hand stitching. Hand stitch it together in the back of the bow.

Step 7: Pin the bow to the front of the top and hand stitch it in place. Finally I added a snap closure at the back top edge of my blouse. And that's it. You have a new fun top! 

It really was an easy refashion and it only took about an hour. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at 2ndstorysewing at gmail dot com.

Shannon