I got this dress for $1, it was ripped in the back but turned out to be just the seam opening. Anyway, I loved the pink roses and figured it would make a cute top. I had a top from Pinterest that I really like, I found that I already had a pattern that was similar. Just had to make a few changes.
First, I cut the dress apart so it would lay flat to cut out. The Pinterest top had a ruffle around the top with the elastic casing lower. The pattern I had has the elastic around the top of the blouse. I had to add 2 inches to the top, back and sleeves to accommodate the ruffle. I also had to cut the back a 2 pieces, I just stitched the back seam before I stitched the side seam. Then I sewed the shortened sleeves.
I loved the bias ruffles on the sleeves but did not have enough fabric for them. I made gathered ruffles to the shortened sleeves. I don’t like them as much but the top is still cute. I gathered the ruffle on the end of the sleeve. I covered the edges with single fold bias tape around the end of the sleep and the underside of the arm hole. Then turned then to the inside of the top and stitched down the other edge. I also added the tape 1 and a half inches below the top ruffle for the elastic.
I measured my body form to determine how much elastic I needed. I cut the elastic and safety pinned one end to the inside of the top.
The another one to the end of the elastic so I could guide it through the bias tape.
Once the elastic was through, I put the top on my body form and made sure the elastic was pulled well so the “ruffle” had the shape I wanted. Again, I don’t like this as much as the one I was wanting it to be. I wouldn’t call it a fail because it’s still a cute, lightweight top for summer. Hope you like it.
