Tutorial: From Curtain to Crop Top

When we moved in, our previous owners left us with a couple of lace curtains that they said had been left by the owners before them. I don’t know why the owners before us decided to keep them, but I kept them because I have a fear of giving something away and then realizing one week later that I actually really could have used that thing I gave away (did I just define a hoarder?)

Luckily, I really was able to put the curtain to some good use and got my Maria (from “Sound of Music”) and Gizelle (from “Enchanted”) on and made some clothes.

The best part is that it cost me… nothing. Just time.

shirt: me // skirt: me – tutorial coming

You will need:

1 curtain

Model shirt

Pattern Paper

Measuring tape

*sew with a 1/2” seam allowance unless otherwise stated
*if you’re concerned about your fabric fraying, zig zag stitch all of your seam allowances after sewing the seam

Try your model shirt on and decide how long you want the shirt to be. Measure from your neckline to that point and add 2.5”. Fold your model shirt in half and align the fold with the pattern paper edge (label that edge “fold”). Trace around the shirt with 1/2” buffer for seam allowance (except for the neckline which you will trace with 1/4” seam allowance). draw a line away from the pattern paper edge at the length that you want the shirt (plus 2.5”) to the side seam. Don’t trace around the sleeve just yet. Follow the armpit to shoulder seam with 1/2” buffer. Make a front bodice piece and a back bodice piece.

Now align the fold of the sleeve with the edge of the pattern paper (label that edge “fold”) and trace with 1/2” buffer. Extend the length of the sleeve 1.5” for the hem.

Pin your pattern pieces to your fabric, aligning the “folds” on the pattern with the fold of the fabric, and cut. *It is ALWAYS a good idea to label your pattern pieces.

Cut a section of your crop top out, as shown in the photo above. Cut just below the armpit all the way across and all the way across again about 7” below that (you can try your shirt on and decide if you want it wider than that or not). Cut the sections out on the front and back, trace those two pieces on another piece of pattern paper, or lay them flat on the curtain fabric and cut around them so you have two identical section pieces for the front and back.

Place the middle section pieces one on top of the other and pin the top edge to the top portion of the crop top, right-sides together. Sew together. Do the same for the bottom edge to the bottom portion of the crop top. Repeat for the bodice back. Pin the bodice front to the bodice back with right sides together at the shoulders and sides and sew.

Pin the underarms of the sleeves with right-sides together and sew. Then sew the hem of the sleeves.

Turn the bodice of the top inside-out and slide the sleeve inside so that the sleeve and the bodice are right-sides together. Pin, and sew, then sew the hem of the bodice. Clip around the neckline about 1/8” in, especially at curves, and pin down 1/4”. Sew that, and you’re finished!

^^keep your eyes open for a tutorial on how to make this super simple high waisted maxi skirt^^
model photos courtesy of Mariasha Rowland Photography

Happy Sewing!