Sew Hip Top Tutorial

SO I actually got around to making a tutorial for the Sew Hip Top. But before I start I have to admit a few things. One my camera battery died in the middle so I'm missing one picture. And two I changed it a little bit, only the way the colors go.

In my new version I made the chest and the insert the same color, then I made the outside of the shirt and the straps the same color. 

What you'll need to make the Sew Hip Top

1. Measure your child around the chest. My daughter is 19''. I made the band for her on the hip top 22 inches and its a little tight, so for the new one I made the band 26 inches. It may be a little big but she'll be able to grow into it so thats ok. 

Supplies: (you'll need to figure out what the measurments are for your child)

For a 19" chest measurement

1/2 yard main color

1/4 yard accent color.

4 covered buttons

thread, sewing machine, all the regular sewing stuff,

a piece of fusible interfacing

Of the Main Fabric (apples) I cut a piece at 11 1/2" x 21 1/2" on the fold.

for the straps: Cut 2 pieces 10"x 2"

(show your little one the measurements) =)

Some how I didn't get a picture of the other cuts so here they are:

The Chest piece (red) cut 6"x13" on the fold

The insert (red) cut 11 1/2" x 7 1/2"  on the fold. 

For the buttons: use the button cutting guide on the back of the package to cut out the fabric circles for the buttons.

I also cut a piece of (apple) fabric 17" x 2 1/2" for a bow (that I didn't end up using) I may end up adding it later. 

Here is all your fabric cuts laid out.

Start with your straps. Fold them in half, and sew as close as you can to the edge. 

Then turn them out and iron them flat.

Take the red chest piece and iron it flat. 

Iron the fusible interfacing to this piece. (sorry no picture)

Fold in half and sew then turn inside out (my picture looks off because I forgot the interfacing and had to unstich it and re sew it after I put it in)

Next I took the Apple fabric and cut it in half.

Then I did the same with the red insert fabric

I pinned once piece of insert fabric to the end of the apple fabric

Then sewed them together.

 then I sewed the red insert to the other piece of the apple fabric

and then Sewed the last insert to the apple fabric. (So if layed out the order would be apple, red, apple red.) Then sew the two ends together to form a tube.

This is what your tube should look like

I then did box pleats all the way around the skirt. 

I sewed all the way around the skirt

Sew the chest band onto the skirt. 

I left a 4 inch piece open in the back like above

Then Sew the straps to the back of the bodice. 

Using my button hole foot, I added two button holes on the strap. 

Then I sewed two Button holes on the chest. (on the original I sewed the button holes to the straps and the buttons to the chest, you can do it either way)

Then I hand sewed the buttons on the straps and the back

Last hem the bottom of the shirt. 

And there you go!

I hope my explanations made sense. This is a super easy shirt to make. If anyone makes one I would love to see!

Front

Back (I didn't have any red thread and I was too cheep and too lazy to go buy more)

The Sew Hip Top

I've had this scrap of fabric in my stash for a very long time. Really, a long time. I actually used the fabric to make pantaloons for Rainbow when I was in High School. This fabric is at least 11 years old! Anyway I'm not even sure why I still had it but Tabitha found it about a year ago and fell in love with it. She would carry it around with her everywhere like a little blankie and wrap it around herself. I've been wanting to make something for her, but was afraid I didn't have enough since it was really just a scrap. But last night after ironing it out, I found that I actually had about twice as much as I thought, it was just so wrinkled I couldn't tell! haha!
So why the Sew Hip Top you ask? Because the fabric has the cutest little multi colored hippos and elephants! I know I'm a dork! Thats ok!

I know she doesn't look to excited, but she really is, She just was annoyed I made her take pictures while she was trying to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. 

I tried some new things with this shirt, I made the top band with some fusible interfacing in it to make it nice and stiff. 

Also I've only ever done  button holes once, but they turned out really easy to do and looked nice.

Also this is the first time I did covered buttons. They were super easy to make! and I love the way they look!

I love the way the little inserts look!

I loved making this, but I didn't do a tutorial for it since while I was making it I had to change things along the way to make sure I had enough fabric. 

However I'm planing on making a few more, so I'll make the tutorial for this sometime this week and post it. 

Hope you all have a great day!