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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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.

Thanks so much in advance for helping us out.  You can use any credit card and you don't need a Paypal account, although you can use one if you have one.

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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Brenda Jerles
Brenda Jerles

A great shaped top for those of us with a tummy. Especially in the hot and steamy summer months, here in the South!

Sheryl Thomas
Sheryl Thomas

Love this top. Plus sizes with sleeves would be great. Can’t wait for the curvy teddy!

Ruth
Ruth
Reply to  Sheryl Thomas

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.

Pegg Macko
Pegg Macko

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!

hilary lane
hilary lane

I thinks it’s beautiful thank you.

Vicki
Vicki

Lovely top, what other fabrics could it be made in. Would also love some sleeves.

Lily McRae
Lily McRae

I would like sleeves too. Thanks for all the great patterns.

jlboop

I’ve been hoping you would post a top pattern like this! Thank you so much!

Jackie
Jackie

Please do one with sleeves!!!

VSW
VSW

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.

Doreen
Doreen

Me too like sleeves

Christine
Christine

I was wondering about a flared summer top, and this showed up in my email today. Thank you!

Janet Worth
Janet Worth

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!

Janet Worth
Janet Worth
Reply to  Mayra Cecilia

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!

Betty Ott
Betty Ott

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?

Kathie Williams
Kathie Williams

I would love the Teddy and the top to hide the belly roll please and thank you!!!

Daphne
Daphne

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 .

Sharron Woodward
Sharron Woodward

Sleeves! I never go sleeveless anymore due to my aging sagging upper arms.

Cat
Cat

Will you make an optional pattern for those of us who like short sleeves, please?
I would love to make one of each.

Linda Sammeli
Linda Sammeli

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!

Florine Bynum
Florine Bynum

CUTE!

Joyce
Joyce

Love the top could you use a light weight knit?

Maureen Williams
Maureen Williams

Looking forward to making this in all kinds of fabrics. Would love to see the top a la Channel!

Carla Edwards
Carla Edwards

Flutter sleeve option, please.

mary sergeant
mary sergeant

hwo do I know what size to use? is there a size chart somewhere?

Elizabeth Storck
Elizabeth Storck

Cute pattern and would prefer sleeves. Also, that Channel style pattern for my muffin top would be a plus!

Sharon Moore
Sharon Moore

love it do you have measurements of pattern?

Pamela
Pamela

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?

Linda Liberty
Linda Liberty

When will you include Women’s Plus Sizes?

mccindy

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.

Marchita L Sutton
Marchita L Sutton

Thanks! My daughter will love it and I have some floral fabric on hand!

Sewshesewstoo
Sewshesewstoo

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”.

Pauline
Pauline

Love this top! I would also love to see the Chanel Style top for the curvy, roll around the belly button woman!

Cathi
Cathi

I like the flowy part of this, but can’t handle showing bare arms. The Chanel top you mentioned sounds good.

Karen
Karen

I would love to see this in plus sizes & with sleeves. Thanks!

Jaclynne
Jaclynne

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 🙂

Mary
Mary

Thank you. This would be great as a summer dress. How would I make it longer? Thanks!

Cyndye
Cyndye

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.

Benedicte Reiter
Benedicte Reiter

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.

Val House
Val House

Love the pattern, could I make it in a stretch fabric?

desidear
desidear

Great pattern! I found everything I needed except sizing. Do you have a chart?

Donna Griffin
Donna Griffin

I love this and would prefer sleeves! Thank you for sharing.

Janet Brown
Janet Brown
Reply to  Donna Griffin

I would prefer sleeves

Patricia Timberlake-Turk
Patricia Timberlake-Turk
Reply to  Donna Griffin

How much would you lengthen to make a dress

Jacki Prettyman
Jacki Prettyman
Reply to  Mayra Cecilia

I think that’s a great idea!

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