Sewing Tutorial: Blaire Basic Crop Top

The Blaire Basic Crop Top is a fun casual summer crop top is the perfect addition to your wardrobe and can be made in many prints and colours. The style is timeless so can be worn from year to year without dating.
This style is sewn to be completely bagged out with an open-end center back zipper. The front button closure is fake so you wont need to worry about the top pulling open.

It’s a great shape for an intermediate sewer however even a beginner can tackle this if they follow the instructions carefully. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in the comments below if you need. I’m here to help. So let’s get started.

To begin you will need the following things

Materials

• Blaire Basic Crop Top paper pattern
• 0.6m fabric
• 0.6m lining
• 12cm open-end zipper
• cotton thread
• 4 x buttons

Tools

• sewing machine
• iron
• scissors
• pins

Tips

• When choosing your lining colour, it helps to choose the thread at the same time. You want your thread to match your main fabric but also your lining colour. Some thread colours disguise better than others so check a couple of colours.
• Ensure your fabric is washed, dried and pressed before you start cutting. There is nothing worse than washing your beautiful garment and it shrinks, or even more annoying the lining shrinks and the main doesn’t so its all pulled out and shape and is unwearable.

Step 1 

Cut all main and lining pieces accurately on the correct grain, ensuring all notches are clipped and button positions are marked. Please note all seam allowance is marked on the pattern.

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Step 2 

Start by preparing your straps and front placket. Fold pieces right sides together, pin, stitch, then turn through and press well. Set aside. (If needed the seam allowance can be clipped back) 

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Step 3 

Pin all vertical panel seams right sides together on main. Stitched closed and press all seams open excluding front bust seams, clip and press front bust seams towards the center.

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Step 4 

Repeat step 3 with the lining pieces, excluding one side seam on the lining, on this side seam only sew 3cm from the top and 3cm from the bottom. We are leaving this partly open so that we have a space to turn the garment through, to bag out the top later on.

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Step 5 

Pin front placket to the front panel, ensure it is centered then pin stitch down each side to secure in place.

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Step 6 

Then attach your buttons. A dot of clear nail polish on the back of the button stitching can help secure the thread. (Take care on lightweight fabrics)

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Step 7 

Insert the center back zipper buy placing the main and lining right sides together with the zipper in between. Pin in place then stitch closed. Fold garment the right way out and press well.

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Step 8 

Taking the straps prepared earlier, pin them to the main of the bodice (not the lining) and check to see they are the right length. They may need to be reduced or lengthened. If you need to reduce them just cut off the excess. If you need to add length you will need to re-cut and remake your straps.

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Once you have confirmed your strap length is correct you can stitch in place.

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Step 9 

After securing the straps, you can now pin the main and lining, right sides together along the top and bottom edge of the top, then stitch closed. Ensure all panel seams and side seams meet.

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Step 10 

Clip the corners at the top and bottom of the zipper. 

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Step 11

Turn the garment through the right way using the hole left in the lining side seam.

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Step 12

Once turned through, press the top and bottom edges of the garment well.

Step 13

Stitch the opening closed in the lining using a machine stitch. Or for a neater finish, a hand slip stitch.

All done. I hope you love your brand new Blaire Basic Crop Top. How did you go? Let me know in the comments below.

Need a matching skirt to complete the look, try this maxi skirt tutorial or this mini skirt.

I’d love to see your creations, either drop an image in the comments below or tag me on Instagram at @at_the_seams_patterns

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