Summer Top Pattern, An Easy Two Hour Project Named Tina

summer top pattern

Tina is a summer top pattern, is the easy two-hour project I'm sharing with you this weekend.  The trend this summer is to wear bike or yoga shorts.  Personally, I find it awful, however, I can appreciate the practicality of this trend.  It allows people to bike everywhere and teamed up with the right top and a small jacket it can even make it as an outfit for casual Fridays at the office.

summer top pattern

My daughter would tell you that this trend is new, but for us that have been through the beginning of the '90s as young people, we knew this trend in lime green, turquoise, and hot pink.  At last, this time, we have come around to black.  What to wear with this trend?  An A-line sleeveless top that you can make in two hours.  This summer top pattern comes in sizes 8-20 and will cover your bottom.  Made in a very flowy silky fabric it can be the perfect companion for riding back from the office.

This summer top pattern should be a staple in your collection.  Cinched around your waist with a belt, tucked in with a pencil skirt or just on top of bike shorts or capri pants will be a very practical item in your wardrobe.

I have used a combination of rayon and cotton with great drape, I purchased the fabric while in India so I don't have any idea where you would get a similar print but I have put some good alternative suggestions from Fabric.com below.

The top has a scooped neck and biased armholes.

summer top pattern

A bust dart to give it shape around the chest while it falls gently in an A-line shape around the rest of your torso, making it a little longer will give a very easy to wear summer dress as well.

summer top pattern

Materials

  • 1 to 1 1/2 yards of silk, rayon or cotton batiste
  • 2 to 3 yards of bias tape
  • Thread to match

Tools

  • Sewing machine
  • Needle size 70

Size Chart and Finished Measurements

Size              Bust  
8                    34          (86.4 cm)  
10                  35 1/2   (90.17 cm)  
12                  37           (94 cm)  
14                  39           (99.1 cm)  
16                  41            (104 cm)  
18                  43           (109 cm)  
20                 45           (114 cm )  

Fabric suggestions from Amazon.com

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

The knowledge of how to apply bias to armholes and necklines, french seam, and sewing darts are essential skills.

How To Download And Print The Summer Top Pattern

Please use Adobe Reader, print in landscape mode, and do not scale.

Pattern Download

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Download Pattern HERE

Pattern Layout

summer top pattern

How To Sew Your Summer Top

The construction of this top is very easy.  I have used the tutorials that we have already written for you to save myself about 16 hours of work, plus why repeat what we have already shown you.

Step One: Sew The Dart

Step Two: Sew The Shoulders

I used a french seam, but you can either use the zigzag in your machine or an overlocker.

Step Three: Sew the sides

The use of a french seam is ideal if you are using silk or cotton batiste for this top.

Step Four: Apply The Bias Tape To The Neck, Then The Armholes.

Step Five: Make The Hem

So who is Tina anyways?

Tina was a roommate I once had for a couple of months in New York City.  She was a bike messenger by day and studied chemistry at night.  She practically lived in her summer top and bike shorts.  According to her, the top brought her luck, so she had me make her some in a few in different colors.

She had crazy hair and a lean body due to the hours of biking.  One day she had a terrible accident which coincidently happened when she was not wearing the top and ended up suing the guy who ran her down.  The payout was in the millions.  I heard a few years ago she took the money and went to France to study Chemical  Engineering and opened a controversial lab for animal testing of blood pressure medicines and diabetes.

How did I find out about her?  That is another story for another day, but I can tell you that the world is very small despite the 7 billion of us on it and that there are just a few degrees of separation between all of us.

I hope this summer top pattern brings you luck as it did to Tina. Let me know if you would like this top with flutter sleeves, or you rather see my take on a diaper bag, a curvey friendly teddy or the ultimate top to hide a roll around the belly button in the style of Channel.

Until Next time, happy sewing!

recycling old placemats

summer top pattern


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Robin E
Robin E

I’ve been a long time subscriber and love your postings with sewing tips. I’d love to make the Tina but would appreciate tips for how to adjust for plus size.

Priya
Priya

The fabric suggestions from amazon are missing, please can you add them? I’m a complete beginner looking for a pattern and stumbled across this. I was just going to buy the first fabric that was suggested as I know nothing about fabrics or best places to buy them.

Tammy Mattson
Tammy Mattson

What is the Sean allowance for this pattern, Mayra? I have members asking.

Claudia
Claudia

Mayra, thank you for this adorable pattern. I’ve downloaded and printed it, but I am struggling with it. Several questions, please: Sheet 5 won’t align no matter how I try to match the pattern lines. Operator error or a flaw in the design? Please advise. (I sent you photo and PM on FB.) Also, this is my first experience with your patterns: How are they supposed to go together? Along the black/grey lines or with the grey squares overlapping or abutting? The instructions aren’t clear. Finally, are seam and hem allowances included, if yes, how much? Thank you.

Vivian
Vivian

I would love to see both the sleeve option and the roll concealing top please !

Christina
Christina

I would love an elbow length flutter, but the belly concealing Chanel sounds great too! I love your patterns, can’t wait to sew this one up.

Rolonda Tucker
Rolonda Tucker

I would like the Tina top with flutter sleeves. I enjoyed your Tina story.

Thank you for the free patterns, tips… I’m a long term subscriber and look forward to your emails.

C. Dufort
C. Dufort

I love this top. I covers everything that needs to be, except for the upper arms of older people like me. Is there any way I could add elbow length to this top?

Peggy
Peggy

Would love to see the top to hide a roll around the belly button in the style of Channel.

Dee
Dee

I enjoyed the backstory of the Tina top! But, you really piqued my curiosity when you asked if we wanted to hear about/see a curvy teddy in the style of Chanel! I do need to disguise that tummy area. Meanwhile, I’ll give Tina a go, but will forego the bike and stick to rowing in the bedroom- especially during the Arizona summer.

C
C

Great pattern! Would love to see an added sleeve!
Thanks!

Georgene Bricker
Georgene Bricker

I would like to see top with flutter sleeves it is a very nice looking sleeveless but I like the top of my arm covered
Thanks
Will watch for your next email for flutter sleeves

Barb
Barb

Flutter sleeves? Yes please!

Lynn Day
Lynn Day

Is the pattern for the sleeves available? Where would ai find it?

Nancy C Lepri
Nancy C Lepri

Can you make this summer top out of cotton knit?

nancycl
nancycl
Reply to  Mayra Cecilia

Thanks, much! I love knits so much more as they are very comfy!