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.
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.
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.
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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Our patterns are still free, but now you now have the option of making a small contribution if you like our work! We'd really appreciate it and it will help is keep going with new and fun designs like this. Even a dollar or two really goes a long way.
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Pattern Layout
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!
A great shaped top for those of us with a tummy. Especially in the hot and steamy summer months, here in the South!
I can imagine, sticky and warm, just like Singapore or Panama City.
Love this top. Plus sizes with sleeves would be great. Can’t wait for the curvy teddy!
Thank you very much for this pattern. I hav e a hernia that needs to be hidden and I think this will do it. Only thing I do need sleeves. Flutter sleeves would be very nice. Please tell me how to get the pattern for them. My arms are too old to be flaunted.
I will share them soon I have drafted the pattern I just need to grade the sleeves from 8-20.
I think this is great and I embrace sleeveless! I am working on my arms and they will probably never be perfect, but I hate sleeves in the warm weather!
Me too…
I thinks it’s beautiful thank you.
My pleasure, lovely place you come from.
Lovely top, what other fabrics could it be made in. Would also love some sleeves.
Any fabric that drapes well with a loose weave. I would stick with natural fibers.
I would like sleeves too. Thanks for all the great patterns.
Noted!
I’ve been hoping you would post a top pattern like this! Thank you so much!
My pleasure Judy:)
Please do one with sleeves!!!
What a fun top. I would love to see some sleeves, dye to “chicken wings” on my arms and would love to see a “muffin top” disguise as well. Love your site, emails, patterns and instructions.
Me too like sleeves
I was wondering about a flared summer top, and this showed up in my email today. Thank you!
Cheers!
Love the flow of this top ! I am a size 18-20 ,confident beginner sewer. Could the neckline be adjusted to a more of a scoop neckline ?Any suggestions on how to achieve this ?
Love the weekly newsletter/emails!
HI Janet, yes that would be very easy. Paste the pattern together and place the should on your shoulder, and see if you re happy with the depth of the scoop neck. If you are busty I lower neckline showing a bit of cleavage would be very attractive 😉
Hi Mayra, so nice to get such a quick reply….doesn’t always happen on many other sites. I am looking forward to giving this pattern a try.Thanks for all you do for all us sewers!
Hi Janet, the comments section is the best way for me to notice you and get to know your opinion, suggestions and most important what you need. So let’s keep in touch:)
I’ve enjoyed several of your patterns and this time wanted to pay a small amount for the beautiful pattern you are offering. I was unable to pay thru paypal. Tried several times. Finally downloaded for free. How can I send a donation for all your hard work?
Hi Betty, thank you for your intentions, once the PayHip window shows up the first thing you need to do is change the amount of money from 0.00 to what you would like to donate. This must be done before you press the “Buy now” blue button. Kind Regards,
I would love the Teddy and the top to hide the belly roll please and thank you!!!
I love this but I need some cover for my upper arms at my age. I would love to see a flutter sleeve please. Also thank you for this wonderful site. I love reading it and am planning on doing some of the patterns .
Sleeves! I never go sleeveless anymore due to my aging sagging upper arms.
Will you make an optional pattern for those of us who like short sleeves, please?
I would love to make one of each.
Noted!
This is adorable! And thank you for the back story on Tina. As a more ‘mature’ woman with her grandmother’s biceps, I would love any kind of sleeve option, preferably a mid to 3/4 length. Thanks for all you do!
Noted! It is my pleasure Linda.
CUTE!
Love the top could you use a light weight knit?
Looking forward to making this in all kinds of fabrics. Would love to see the top a la Channel!
Noted!
Flutter sleeve option, please.
hwo do I know what size to use? is there a size chart somewhere?
Thank you, Mary, forgot that small detail. I don’t work on Sunday, so I will load it tomorrow.
Cute pattern and would prefer sleeves. Also, that Channel style pattern for my muffin top would be a plus!
Noted!
love it do you have measurements of pattern?
HI Sharon, under the tool section.
I like it also but do not wear sleeveless clothing (at my age, I’m doing you a favor!!) Would it be easy to add sleeves?
Yes, it is easy.
When will you include Women’s Plus Sizes?
What size are you after? I do not include Plus sizes becauese I dont have a way to test them. I will however republish this pattern in sizes 22-26 but it will not be tested, so if you make it do let me now how it went.
Sure wish it came in larger sizes. By the time I have to redraw after I print and tape the pattern it becomes a 2 or 3 day top.
Thanks! My daughter will love it and I have some floral fabric on hand!
I could not get PayPal to work this time… I will pay more for the next pattern I get from you. I know you need the funds to “keep the lights on”.
LOL, indeed I do, I am getting by with candlelights.
Love this top! I would also love to see the Chanel Style top for the curvy, roll around the belly button woman!
Noted!
I like the flowy part of this, but can’t handle showing bare arms. The Chanel top you mentioned sounds good.
I would love to see this in plus sizes & with sleeves. Thanks!
That’s pretty and I like the longer length 🙂 Like Donna, I would like sleeves (in my case, so I wouldn’t have to bias bind the armholes …). I’d also be very interested in the belly roll hiding Chanel-ish top! Thank you ALWAYS for your generosity in sharing your hard work with us and for such pretty patterns 🙂
Noted Jacklynne, kind regards,
Thank you. This would be great as a summer dress. How would I make it longer? Thanks!
Hi Mary, follow these instructions and you will have a lovely summer dress.
I love the look of this pattern and can see making a bunch for hot Texas summers. But will have to fish around and see what kind of sleeve I can put on it. That way I can wear it in public. These arms are no longer for public consumption.
I would love for pattterns likthis one to cone in plus sizes as well. When are you going to do that?
It is an ingeneous pattern for those of us with too much weight with the A-line.
I will give it a try, next time.
Love the pattern, could I make it in a stretch fabric?
Yes you can. Just need to take the bust dart away if your fabric is very stretchy or you can leave it if it is medium weight with a 20% or less.
Great pattern! I found everything I needed except sizing. Do you have a chart?
Not yet, will publish soon.
I love this and would prefer sleeves! Thank you for sharing.
I would prefer sleeves
How much would you lengthen to make a dress
Depends how tall you are, I am very short so I added 6″ and place pockets on the sides, it is my favorite walking around dress. From Beach to dinner.
I think that’s a great idea!