Boxy top tutorial with buttons up the back

Top: self-made pants: 7s watch: present from Erin (love her) shoes: vintage/thrifted  bracelet: milk&honey

I love these boxy shirts because they can be great for layering, comfy, cute, and can be dressed up or down. I had a hard time figuring out what to wear this with, I first had a jean top under it paired with a high waisted wide leg paints with some nude high heels peeping through. I just played it safe this time so you could get the jest of the shirt. Next time I would make the neckline a boat neck, I would have liked it a tad more.

A couple awesome thrift finds in this post...the riding boots and the knit heart fabric. Score! I died when I found both, I guess that's a bit dramatic, but really. And this milk&honey bracelet! Don't get me started...darling. I just wish I had the matching necklace.

Supplies:

1 yard of fabric - stiff knit or soft cotton or a sweater

boxy or loose shirt

7 buttons

sewing machine

thread

scissors

 

Instructions:

1.  Lay a boxy top you have down on top of some knit fabric, and cut out the shape. If you don't have a boxy top, adding a good 5"-7" of to waist would be good or at least a few inches wider than your chest (if you are a bit chesty). 

Cut out the sleeves by measuring around your bicep area - so a few inches lower than were your shoulder seam would land plus an inch for seam allowance. Then make it the length you like plus and inch for seam allowance.

2. Sew up the side seams of the top by pinning them right sides together, Leave 4 inches of the top un-sewn at the sides and leave openings for the seams (half the width of your sleeve). Then sew up the shoulders leaving and opening for the neckline.

3. Fold the sleeves in half, right sides together and sew up the side to make a tube. Try it on and make adjustments if needed. I tapered mine just a little so it was more fitted near the bottom of the sleeve.

4. Pin the sleeve opening to the shirt opening, pinning right sides together. Sew together.

5. Hem the sleeve bottom at least 3/4"-1".

6. Align the side seams together and cut out a neckline. I decided to go deeper than this. Remember you will be hemming 1/2"-3/4".

7. Hem neckline 1/2"-3/4".

8. Fold the front flap at the bottom in half (2") so right sides are touching. Then sew up the side.

9. Turn that piece right side out.

**Repeat with the other side, but the back flap will be hemmed only an inch vs. 2 inches so the back will be longer.

10. Roll the edges in (take the selvege from the left over seam allowance and fold that) and sew down crossing over the side seam of the shirt to secure it.

11. This is what it looks like.

OPTIONAL:

12. Line the side seams up and pin the center back. Sew it in an inch.

13. Iron it open centered over the middle seam.

14. Add buttons!