Tied Crop Top DIY

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.