A hot clothing item for the summer months is the crop top. You see them in all the trendy stores, and probably think to yourself, how easy would it be to make? Well, fortunately they are easy to make, and don't require a lot of fabric.
You can make them out of the majority of apparel fabrics, but in this tutorial I chose jersey knit because it stretches and is a lightweight fabric for the warm weather.
Download the Crop Top Pattern for Free!
Materials
- Jersey Knit Fabric (Robert Kaufman Tangerine Laguna Cotton Jersey)
- Scissors
- Thread
- Pins
- Sewing Machine
- Iron
Step 1: Cut out the front pattern
Fold the fabric over about 20". Pin the front pattern to the fabric. The front pattern's center should be aligned with the fold of the fabric. Cut and set aside.
Step 2: Cut out the back pattern
Fold the fabric over about 20". Pin the center back to the fold line and pin around the pattern. Cut and set aside.
Step 3: Cut out the sleeves
Fold the fabric in half, pin the sleeve pattern in the center of the fabric, and cut out the sleeves.
Step 4: Sew the front & back
- Remove the pins from all of the patterns.
- Line up the front and back sides together and pin. Then line up the front and back shoulders together and pin.
If you're using a fabric with a right side and wrong side, pin the right sides together.
- Zig zag stitch the shoulders and sides with a 1/2" seam allowance.
- Turn it right side out.
Step 5: Attach the sleeves
- Take the edge of the sleeve and line it up with the bottom of the armhole. The seams will be lined up once the sleeve is stitched.
- Pin the sleeves along the armholes.
- Stitch with a 1/2" seam allowance.
- Then pin and stitch the side seams of the sleeves with a 1/2" seam allowance.
Step 6: Cut & sew the bias tape
- Pin and cut the bias tape pattern strips. Make sure they're pinned at a 45 degree angle.
- Insert the strips into the bias tape maker. Use a seam ripper to help guide the strip through at the beginning.
- Pull the bias tape maker and iron the fabric as it's coming out.
Sew to neckline
- Take the 2" x 18" bias tape, fold it over along the edge of the neckline and pin.
- Starting a 1/2" in from one end, straight stitch along the fold line and leave a 1/2" at the other end. If there is more than 1/2" of bias tape left over, trim it down to 1/2".
- Pin the right sides of the bias tape together and stitch.
- Fold the bias tape over, pin, and finish stitching to the neckline. Backstitch at the beginning and the end.
Sew to sleeves
- Take the 2" x 17" bias tape and attach it to the sleeve by folding it over and pinning along the sleeve opening.
- Sew it onto the sleeve the same as for the neckline.
-Repeat for the other sleeve.
Step 7: Hem the bottom
- Fold the hem up a 1/2" and press.
- Pin and stitch along the fold.
- Then fold the hem up 1" and press again.
- Pin along the outside and stitch with a 3/4" seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and the end, and your crop top is complete!
Jen’s Opinion
For a casual look you can pair it with jeans, or dress it up with a skirt. Any stretch fabric is recommended to make a crop top with a great fit, but fabrics like charmeuse, linen, or cotton are also great picks!
