The peplum top tutorial

Loving this top! Like I said in the post before, this is such a flattering top because it hugs the natural waist and quickly flares out to create the look of an even smaller waist! And who doesn't want that?! It is such a fun top for the summer and for the fall. 

I got this fabric from my mother-in-law's garage a few months ago before it hit the garage sale. Oh yes! Love a free fabric score, particularly when it is from the 80s. I swear the 80s has the funniest and funkiest fabrics. 

Oh and yes...that is some awesome spit-up on my knee.

 Other versions....

Quick peplum top I've made here & tutorial here. Refashioned peplum top tutorial here. Pregnancy peplum top tutorial here. 

Supplies:

1 to 2 yards of knit fabric

knit top that you like the fit of (make sure it has the same amount of stretch as the knit fabric)

sewing machine

thread

scissors

pins

ball point needle

marking tool or pins to mark

Instructions:

1. Lay the knit top you like the fit of on top of the fabric. Make sure the knit fabric stretches from left to right. Cut the outline of the shirt on the fabric, you don't need to go past a little below the natural waist of the shirt, make sure to include half inch of seam allowance on both sides. Make the sleeves as long as you like. Cut out a long piece of fabric, stretches from left to right. The longer the fabric the more gathered it will be, mine was twice as long as my waist side because I like it to be pretty gathered. The thicker knit fabric, the less length you want so it doesn't just create bulk. Make the width of the thin piece to be as long as you want, depending on how long you want it, include half inch of seam allowance. I made mine 8 inches.

2. Pin the cut out fabric right side together, RST, and sew the shoulder seams and side seams. Leaving the bottom, neckline, and sleeves open.

3. Line up side seams and shoulder seams, then cut out a deeper neckline.

4. Hem the neckline a quarter to half inch. No need to fold under more than once because knit doesn't fray.

5. Hem the sleeve the a quarter to a half inch. No need to fold under more than once because knit doesn't fray.

6. Gather the top of the bottom piece to the peplum top to fit your natural waist, but allow overlapping by two inches on both ends, so another 4 inches.

7. Cut a curve into both ends.

8. Hem the bottom peplum piece by rolling a quarter inch then another quarter inch. Sew on the upper edge of the hem.

9. Looks like this.

10. Pin and sew with vari-overlock stitch or zig zag stitch the bottomto the top of the peplum shirt, RST. Overlap the ends of the bottom piece. 

**Optional - you can sew elastic onto the raw edge of the joined bottom and top piece.