Summer Sun Top - Free Pattern and tutorial

Mad Quilter's 

Summer Sun Top

Size: 12 months

Requirements:
1 fat quarter of quilters cotton.
25cm of 2cm wide elastic
50cm double fold bias binding
General sewing supplies.

Pattern.
Download and Print the pattern from HERE
I host my PDF's at MediaFire this is a free fileshare and sometimes there can be difficulties downloading the file. If this is the case, you can leave me a comment with an email address and I will email the file to you. Please remember I am giving this pattern to you for free so be polite. Gosh I shouldn't have to say that but I do sometimes get a not so nicely worded request. 

Cutting:

 Cut two of the pattern pieces from the fat quarter.
And two strap pieces 6cms wide by 26cms long.
The length of the straps isn't that important as it will be gathered over the elastic.

 Cut two pieces of elastic 12cm long.

 Fold the straps in half lengthwise and stitch with a 6mm seam along the raw edge.

 Turn the straps through. I find inserting a safety pin into the seam allowance and pushing it through the tube is an easy way of doing this.

 Insert the elastic into the strap using the safety pin.

 Move the elastic in the tube so that there is a 3cm end without elastic in it. Secure the end of the elastic in the tube with some stitching.
Part of the strap does not have elastic in it. This is to reduce the bulk when you add the straps to the top.

 Gather the fabric of the strap up on the elastic. Leaving  3cms of fabric without elastic in it, secure that end of elastic in the casing.

 If you are going to embellish the top now is the time to do it.  Embellishment with a little fiddling can be added when completed.
With right sides together. Pin and sew the side seams of the top.

 Time to finish the arm hole shaping.
Apply the bias from the front. Open up the bias and align the edge to the edge of the top. Sew along the fold.
Fold the bias to the back, so that no bias tape is seen from the front.

 Pin the bias into place.

Now take it slowly and from the front sew about 6mm from the edge.
Use your hands to help keep the fabric from puckering as you sew around. Little wrinkles can be steamed out.

 Finishing with bias encloses the raw edge and makes for a nice finish to the garment.
Finish both armholes like this.

 Finish the hem.
I use some lace in this version.

You can also make a ruffle with the extra fabric from the fat quarter. As I have done on this top.

 Fold over the top edges of the top 6mm and then over again1.5cm and press.

 Insert the ends of the straps.
Sew along the folded edge catching in place the straps.

 Flip the straps up and sew along the top catching the straps in position.

 Do the same on the other side.
And your top is complete.

I offer all my free patterns with the same Copyright:
It's ok to share these patterns for free
It's ok to make things from these patterns to sell
It's not OK to sell my patterns
It's not OK to claim my work is yours.

And I have now added a little how to make two types of dresses
from this simple pattern HERE

And now you can follow THESE instructions to draft this any size you want!