Hello everyone. Sometimes we just want to simplify our lives. We need to sew up a quick but attractive little top, and we're impatient to get it done. Plus, we want it to be versatile and attractive.
What to do, what to do?
Try a pattern hack. Seriously--simplify the Simplify Your Life pattern, view B. Here's how.
(Do measure the neckline and your head. Mine goes over my head just fine as a closed neckline, but it's good to be sure ahead of time! If needed, sew the neckline facings to the garment with a 3/4" seam allowance rather than the standard 5/8" seam allowance. That makes the neckline just a bit bigger.)
So I just make up my top with the left shoulder looking the same as the right shoulder--with no buttoned opening. Here's how I modify the pattern--so simple.
First, use the patterns for the right sleeve only.
You'll use these pieces for the left sleeve as well, so pay attention to cutting them properly for both sides.
Then modify the neck facing patterns.
Use only the portion of the facing that is not covered by the ruler. I'd trace off the portion not under the ruler that extends from the shoulder seam to center back. Then you'll cut that traced piece with the center back on the fold of the fabric.
Do the same with the front facing. Trace a new pattern piece that extends from the shoulder seam to center front and cut the new traced pattern piece on the fold of the fabric to give you a whole front facing.
Of course, I used some of the exquisite, lightweight fusible interfacings that we stock at Cutting Line Designs. In the instructions for each pattern, we tell you how to preshrink your interfacings and how to fuse them.
Then you'll need the body of the garment. As you can see, we've cleverly extended the center front line all the way from the neck to the hem. How convenient is that? Let's look. You can see that I've marked the left and right of the front pattern piece, and we only need the right portion.
We don't really have to trace this piece, but you can if you want to. To save time, you can just fold the front piece along the center front line. Of course, you'll need to cut this piece with the center front line on the fold of the fabric.
You'll need to follow the same procedure with the back, but with one little change. First, the simple part.
Look carefully. The left shoulder is higher than the right shoulder. Let's fold.
That pesky left shoulder is sticking up. Here's a closer view.
Just fold it down out of the way.
So that's it. I love this top because it can be a basic to go under jackets, and it can be half of a slightly elegant outfit if it is the same color as pants or a skirt. Then in a print it's a standout and can go with a variety of jackets, skirts, pants, or shirts layered over it.
Here's one I made using this pattern hack.
I hope you find this easy change useful. Maybe I'll see some of these on the Cutting Line Designs Facebook Forum!
