Draped Jersey Circle Top Tutorial

(yep, my sister's wearing pajama pants... i advise that you don't wear it like this, haha)

You may have noticed that I like really, simple shaped clothing. Like, 1-3 pieces total. This is no exception. A total of 2 seams (3 if you add a neckband) and 2 pieces (or 1, if you don't add a neckband). I've seen these EVERYWHERE, and they retail for around $20-$40, sometimes more and sometimes less.

Nordstroms: $32

To me, that's crazy! A piece of cloth cut into a circle for $30?! Anyone can make it, so buy some jersey and get started! One of my easiest, prettiest, most effortless things I've ever made, and I wasn't even sure if it would turn out alright.

Materials: 1.5 yds of jersey of 60" jersey 60" x 54" [it doesn't have to be 60"] (i used 1 yd, but i turned it the other way so that it was 36" at the top and bottom and 60" at the sides, but since it was 4 way stretch it was stretchy in all directions so it didn't really matter. if you have not-very-stretchy jersey i'd get 1.5 yds), thread, scissors, tape measure, sewing machine, an existing t-shirt that fits

1. Fold fabric in half so you have a rectangle that's 60" X 27."

2. Determine how long you want your top. I decided on 24." Cut some fabric off the bottom opposite the fold. So you'd cut 3" off the bottom so you'd have a folded rectangle of 60" x 24."

3. Decide on how long you want the sleeves. I had my mom hold out her arms so I could measure from where I wanted the sleeve, up over her shoulders, and back down. I chose 30."

4. Cut off fabric from the side. You'd get 30" x 24." The fold would be on a 30" side, or however long your sleeve arm span was.

5. On the bottom opposite the fold, cut and curve the corner. Fold the fabric in half, and mimic the curve on the opposite side. Now unfold and even out your half circle.

6. Fold your semicircle back into a quarter and cut out a neckhole. The front should dip deeper than the back. I made mine too big, but I'll show you how to fix it in the end.

7. Take your existing shirt and center it on your circle. Measure about 2" out from the side of the tee and mark with a pin. Repeat on the other side.

8. Measure the circumference of your armpit, divide by 2, and add 3." I got 12," I divided by 2 (6"), and added 3" (9"). Lining up with the pins you placed in step 7, measure 9" down from the shoulder and mark with another pin.

9. Now, lining up with the pins from step 7, sew from the bottom up and stop at your pin, or stop 9" from the top (or whatever your armpit measurement was). Repeat on the other side.

(red: cut, blue: sew, purple: fabric)

10. You can add a neckband here if you'd like. Cut a strip of fabric a couple inches shorter than the circumference of your neckhole, sew the ends together, and fold it in half so you have a double layer tube. Then just stretch it to fit the neckhole, pin, and sew the raw edges together, right sides together. (tutorial for this method here, here, and here, except I don't cut my neckband strip that short in the first tutorial, only a few inches shorter than the neckhole circumference) If you're jersey isn't stretchy, bind the neckhole. There's a good tutorial here (the method at the end). You're finished! You now have a drapey top!

OPTIONAL: If you're like me, and made the neck hole too big, you can fix it easily. What I did was on the back, I hand sewed a running stitch on the center 6" (i marked the middle of the back with a pin and did a running stitch on 3" to either side), then pulled the thread to make a nice, soft, gathered detail. Then I just added the neckband, and voila! I love it! This is what it looks like:

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial! Have a lovely day! o(^__^o)

P.S. Don't be like me and use white thread. Try and get thread that matches the fabric, because even though I've been sewing for a long time, I still can't sew in a straight line.

P.P.S. Isn't my sister a good model?