Which crop tops to sew for summer?
Like every summer, the crop top is back in our closets. Worn loose or fitted, it’s a short, versatile top that can be worn with a skirt, pants, dungarees… It’s particularly pleasant to put on when temperatures rise.
Here are a few ideas for making this trendy piece yourself!
An upcycling crop top
The quickest and most eco-friendly option if you fancy having more crop tops in your closet is to recycle old t-shirts you no longer wear and cut them up.
Thisupcycling approach gives a second life to clothes that have been lying around in closets for too long.
To do this, simply take a loose or fitted t-shirt, put it on and mark a line where you want to cut it. You can use your belly button as a reference point, if you want it to be visible. Or the top of high-waisted jeans, if you don’t want to reveal too much skin. Remove the T-shirt and draw a straight line along the garment with a ruler. Cut and either zigzag stitch or double-needle hem to prevent the jersey from rolling up on itself.
A fitted crop top
To beat the summer heat, the crop top is your ally! It’s not particularly complex to assemble, especially if you’ve already sewn a t-shirt and are used to jersey.
One of its advantages is that it requires very little material, so you can come and use that stretch fabric coupon that’s been sleeping in the closet for years.
To sew this super-comfortable piece, you can follow Atelier Adriette’s Roxana pattern. It also includes a long version for sewing variety. It can be sewn in a single color or in two different shades, choosing a contrasting belt color.
An open-back crop top
The Antéros top from Mangue-chocolat is ideal for midsummer. It has a wide, breathable shape, a fully open back and a short cut. And it’s very easy to sew, making it accessible to beginners who are just starting to tame their sewing machine. This doesn’t stop it from being embellished with pretty details that make it easy to personalize: a button on the back of the neckline, sleeve cuffs…
When it comes to fabrics, you can choose natural fibers that are particularly pleasant to wear in hot weather. Linen or cotton(cotton gauze, cotton voile, cotton crepe, fine cotton jersey…). You may also prefer a more vaporous synthetic fabric, such as viscose, to give the garment a dressier touch.
A short, oversized t-shirt
If you prefer your T-shirts loose-fitting and slightly oversized, you can sew the Gaël and Sew pattern. A big plus: this pattern is also suitable for pregnant women. It allows you to sew a loose-fitting crop top that can be worn with high-waisted jeans or a close-fitting skirt.
This is an easy-to-make project, which can be accessible to beginners who want to familiarize themselves with jersey. You’ll need to choose a fairly fine, flowing jersey to obtain a casual piece with a lovely fall.
A romantic, bohemian crop top
The crop top doesn’t have to be a casual piece to be worn like a t-shirt. You can also sew a dressier, bohemian-inspired version, following theApolline Patterns Venice pattern.
This short blouse, tightened at the navel by an elastic band, plays with volume effects by introducing balloon sleeves, gathers and a square neckline.
For a vaporous piece that’s pleasant to wear when the mercury rises, choose a cotton poplin. You may also prefer linen, or cotton decorated with broderie anglaise… This piece goes particularly well with a floral print. Or a soft, pastel color: lilac, light blue, soft light yellow…
If you feel like wearing this garment for an occasion, you can also choose a silk organza. It will be more expensive than its cotton counterparts, but will add a dressier touch to the ensemble.
Have you ever sewn a crop top? Is it a piece you’d like to have in your wardrobe?
