The square pintuck top

I made this top for one of the giveaways at the blogger meet and greet last week. I was sad to see it go! Hence, why I made a second but in a watermelon pink. This top took me less then an hour to make, and for a perfectionist, that is quick. Remember the pintuck skirt...you can get a lot of help from that tutorial too, especially if you are going to use a stiffer fabric like cotton.

Currently Beck is on the counter spreading butter (while licking the knife every other time) onto a very burnt piece of toast, this was only after he emptied the honey bunches of oats out onto the floor. And now he is saying "shhhhhhh" to prevent me from disciplining and leave him to destroying the kitchen. The price I pay to quickly write a post.

Supplies:

1 Yard of Fabric (I used a poly chiffon - sheer) 

Pins

Fabric marker or chalk (both optional, you can use pins if you don't have these)

Scissors

Sewing machine

Matching thread

Ruler

Instructions:

 

1. Cut the front and back to the same dimensions as the square top - but the front piece will be an additional 7" (6 inches for the pintucks and 1 inch to be on the safe side).

2. Mark the pintucks with a fabric marker, chalk or pins 2 inches apart starting 1 inch below the armpit. I laid a long plastic ruler straight across, and made marked 6 lines 2 inches apart. Add more lines if you want more pintucks.

3.  Pinch the markings together to make a pintuck. I pinned, then ironed the pintucks together first. Sew along the markings so the 2 inch pintuck will become 1 inch wide.

4. Pin the back piece to the front piece WRONG sides together and sew the sides seams together (starting from the ends of the sleeves to the bottom of the shirt). Make sure your pintucks are pointed down. We are going to do a pretty french seam, so there is no ugly fraying or serging needed. 

5. Flip inside out and sew the sides one more time, concealing the raw edge. This is a french seam!

6. Hem the sleeves by turning the shirt inside out and sewing one quarter inch hem. Then flip it one more time this time a half inch, then sew a top stitch around the sleeve end. The outside will just look like a top stitch (straight stitch reaching across the sleeve end) while the inside looks hemmed. Iron!

7. Cut the bottom by lining up the side seams and cutting a shirt and wide half U in both the front and back of the top.

8. Hem the bottom of the shirt while its inside out and sew a quarter of an inch. Make sure not to stretch the fabric or go to fast, I have made many mistakes rushing it….take your time. I usually fold the fabric in a quarter of an inch, a few inches at a time (shown in the pic) to prevent mistakes. Fold over one more time and sew a top stitch. Iron!

9. Repeat with the neckline. Usually you will have to sew a smaller hem with this.