Make a Crop Top

Crop tops have been around for decades and don't seem to be leaving the stores anytime soon. If you have every wanted to make your own, then you are in luck because these tops are easy to create. Whether you wanted to save money, choose your own fabric, or create your own style, you can make your own fashionable crop top.

Steps

Transforming an Old Top

1. Gather your materials. Head to a fabric store and pickup several items to help you transform an old top into a new crop top. Here are some basic things you will need:
   • Fabric scissors
   • Chalk
   • Sewing pins
   • Sewing machine
   • Flexible measuring tape
   • Elastic fabric band (optional)
2. Pick the top you want to crop. Just about any top can be successfully transformed into a crop top.
   • T-shirts work the best for loose crop tops.
   • Summer tanks work well for fitted tops.
3. Determine how cropped you want your top to be. Put on the top you will be using. Fold the shirt up and play around with different lengths until you find one you like. Then, add about one inch of extra length to compensate for the hem, and pin it in place.
4. Crop the shirt with fabric scissors. Lay the shirt down on a flat surface. Be sure that the shirt seam lines are even and there are no wrinkles in the fabric. Next, cut the shirt in a straight line or curve the hem. The style of cut is up to you.
   • You can also cut two longer triangle pieces at the front of the shirt that you can later use to tie together into a knot for a tighter fitting look.
5. Cut the collar and sleeves. If you want to change the neckline or sleeves, trace out your cut lines with chalk. First, flip the top inside out, and make chalk lines along the area you want to cut.
   • Be sure to leave an additional inch of length if you choose to hem your cuts.
6. Hem the bottom. Use a sewing machine and hem your top by folding under the bottom about one inch. Be sure to fold the top inward to hide the hem. Do the same for the collar and sleeves.
   • If you want to leave the shirt without a sewed hem, that is up to you. Just beware, if you decide not to hem the top it could fray over time or after being washed.
   • If your shirt is made from a stretchy material, make sure to hem using a zig-zag stitch so your shirt will still be able to stretch.
7. Add elastic to the bottom. If you want the top to have a tighter fit around your waist, add elastic to the bottom before you hem the top.
   • Purchase an elastic band from a fabric store that is about 1/2 inch wide.
   • Sew it along the bottom of your top by laying it flat on the inside of the material towards the bottom. Leave about 3/4 an inch at the bottom that you will fold over the elastic and sew closed.
8. Try on your new top. After you hem the bottom, your top is finished.
   • Add rhinestones or other embellishments to make your top even more unique.
   • If you want to make the top shorter, you can take out the hem with a stitch cutter and do it over.

Making a Crop Top from Scratch

1. Gather your materials. To make a crop top from scratch, you will need to head to a fabric store and pickup several items. Here are some basic things you will need:
   • Fabric scissors
   • Fabric marker
   • Sewing pins
   • Sewing machine
   • Flexible measuring tape
   • Newspaper
   • Fabric
2. Purchase your favorite fabric. It is best to use fabric that has a little bit of stretch such as cotton. However, you can choose whichever type of fabric you want.
   • You will need about 1/2 yard of fabric.
3. Take your measurements. In order to cut your fabric to the right size, you need to record your basic measurements in inches. Use a flexible measuring tape, and measure your waist, bust, and back length.
   • For your waist measurement, measure around the smallest part of your waist and add one inch.
   • For your bust measurement, measure around the center of your bust and add one inch.
   • For the length, start from you shoulders. The length will vary depending on how long you want your crop top. Be sure to add two extra inches for hemming or altering.
4. Divide your measurements. Since you will be measuring around your body, you will need to divide your waist and bust measurement in half to compensate for each piece of fabric. When you cut your fabric, you will have a front and back piece that you will later sew together.
5. Cut out a crop top pattern on newspaper. Before you cut your fabric, cut the shape you want your crop top to be on the newspaper first. You need to cut the pattern to your unique measurements. Here are the measurements to keep in mind:
   • Shoulder to shoulder
   • Length of top
   • Neckline
   • Bust line
   • Waist line
   • Armholes
6. Hold up your newspaper top. This will allow you to check out the cut and fit of your soon-to-be crop top. Each piece should come to the middle of each of your sides underneath your arms and have additional room for the seam.
   • Leave the length longer than you anticipate the final product being so you can leave room for error.
7. Cut your fabric. Use your newspaper cut out as an outline when cutting out your fabric. Place the newspaper flat onto the fabric, and trace it with a fabric marker or pencil.
   • Remember to cut out two identical pieces that you will later sew together.
8. Sew your fabric. Lay each piece on top of one another with the "wrong sides" facing out. Sew along the edges about a quarter of an inch in.
   • Don't sew the bottom of your crop top together. Each piece needs to be hemmed individually at the bottom opening.
   • Finish the bottom hem. To hem the bottom, simply fold in the bottom fabric about 1/2 inch. If you want the crop top to be shorter, cut the additional fabric with scissors and then hem it.

Adding Alterations for a Better Fit

1. Make darts along the arm hole for a tighter fit. Before you sew your two pieces together, draw a horizontal line on the inside of your front piece under the armhole. Your line needs to be about six to eight inches long.
2. Create a triangle. From your horizontal line, you need to draw two more lines that angle away from the tip of your horizontal line. Start from the inside of the line and angle out back towards the armhole. It should resemble a triangle when you are done.
3. Fold the fabric. Take each angled line, and fold them onto the horizontal line. Use a pic to keep the fabric in place.
4. Sew the folds. Using a straight stitch, sew along the edges of your fold. This will create a more form fitting shape around your bust line.

Tips

• It's recommended that you make your top a little longer than you want, so as to leave room for error.
• Use a non-permanent or semi-permanent marker or chalk to mark where you'll crop your shirt. This way, if you accidentally get it on an unwanted part of your shirt, it will come off in the wash more easily than permanent ink.
• If you're making a curved hem, use fabric scissors instead of a fabric cutter, as the scissors will be easier to maneuver.

Warnings

• Be careful, as fabric cutters and scissors are very sharp!
• Make sure you have permission to cut your top before doing it.

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Sources and Citations

See also

• Make a T Shirt a Tank Top
• Make T‐Shirts to Sell
• Alter a Shirt
• Make a Halter Top
• Make a Sleeveless T Shirt from an Unused T Shirt
• Measure Your Neck Size and Sleeve Length
• Make a Poncho
• Hem Shirts
• Make a Cloak
• Modify Your T Shirt

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