Sleeveless Jump Rope Remix

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Cherie

I recently posted about this refashion/remix of the Jump Rope Dress (a pattern by Oliver + S). Well I loved it so much that I made another one!

Yuki wore this shirt in my post for Vintage May yesterday too.

I made a few changes since the last one and I like it even better! Except I’m still quite attached to the fabric from the first one. But the fabric for this one was inspired by the Vintage May series going on over at Skirt as Top and Craftiness is not Optional. It was originally from my mom’s stash and she’s not even sure where she got it from – she said it might be from my grandmother’s stash! Vintage for sure, either way.

So you’ll need to start out with the Oliver + S pattern for the Jump Rope Dress. The pattern comes with two views, both super cute dresses. I made View A recently and it was my first Oliver + S pattern. Their patterns are great because you learn some really solid basics like in this case, how to make a button placket and a collar. When I was putting the dress together, I noticed how cute it was without any sleeves. So here’s an easy way to remix the pattern to make the perfect summer top.

You’ll need the pattern pieces for the collar, placket (2 pieces), and View B dress pieces, front and back. Before your cut your fabric, we’re going to make some changes to the pattern. We’re first going to adjust the armhole. I took off about an inch from the shoulder.

Then we’re going to shorten it from a dress to a shirt (though this would make a mighty fine sleeveless dress too). Make a new line about 1/2 an inch below your desired shirt length. I used the bottom of the pattern to make a similar curve to the original.

Now you’re ready to cut out your pieces. 1 dress front, 1 dress back, the 2 placket pieces, and 2 collars. You’re also going to need a rectangle for a pocket (mine was about 3.5 x 6 inches for a size 2T top) and 2 strips cut on the bias for finishing the armholes.

To prepare your pocket, fold the two sides and bottom in and press.

Fold the top down twice, press and top stitch.

Follow the Oliver + S directions for creating the placket. Then attach the pocket to the shirt front by top stitching along the sides and bottom. It’s always a good idea to do some extra stitching at the top corners for extra reinforcement.

Follow the pattern directions to sew the shirt front and back together at the shoulder and make and attach the collar. With the shirt inside out (right sides together), sew up the sides of the shirt.

Prepare your bias tape by folding it in half lengthwise and ironing it. Fold the two edges in to meet the center fold and press, creating fourths.

So I totally forgot to take pictures of the of the armhole finishing steps, but there are a ton of great tutorials out there, like this one.

Now just hem the button of the shirt, make some buttonholes and sew on your buttons and you’re done!!

It’s the perfect summer top! I really like the A line shape of this top compared to the first one. The only thing that I regret is that in an attempt to make the process faster I skipped the interfacing in the collar and placket. I would NOT recommend it. The collar is all limp and wimpy and the placket would look sharper with interfacing. I learned my lesson.

I love having this basic pattern that I can remix in countless different ways. Maybe a sleeveless dress? Or a short sleeve shirt. Or I can mix and match lots of different kinds of sleeves. Or I can make it for a boy. Ooh, or add a knit waistband!?

Oh dear. I’m getting carried away, aren’t I? Anyways, I hope you have fun remixing your Jump Rope Dress pattern! And have a great loooooooooong weekend!

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Guest Post for Vintage May!

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Cherie

I’ve been looking forward to this day for so long! I’m guest posting over at Skirt as Top for Vintage May!

I had the hardest time thinking of a project for this series, because there are so many wonderful vintage-inspired possibilities. But I finally decided on a suspender skirt for my daughter based some outfits I found in old family photos! Go check out my inspiration, the suspender skirt I made for Yuki, and a full tutorial HERE!

And if you like her vintage fabric sleeveless top, come back tomorrow for a little how-to for this remix of the Jump Rope Dress pattern by Oliver + S.

Thank you, Kristin and Jess for hosting a great series! If you want to check out the vintage awesomeness, take a look at all the Vintage May posts on Skirt as Top and Craftiness is not Optional. It has been so much fun!

Vintage Inspired Plaid Summer Tank

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Cherie

I barely had any time to work on a signature look for Project Run & Play this week, but I wanted to submit something. So I made this top that was inspired by the Vintage May series that Skirt as Top and Craftiness is not Optional is hosting. I’m not sure what decade this is from, but it reminds me of something my mom wore, so my guess is 60s or 70s? Maybe even 50s? What do you think? (I don’t know my fashion eras at all!)

It is a refashion from this pretty hideous blazer thing I picked up at the thrift store. I’m not sure what was going on with the blazer (it had three huge pockets on the front and shoulder pads too!), but I loved the purple plaid fabric.

Do you recognize the pattern? It’s a remix of the Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress pattern! When I was making Yuki’s Jump Rope Dress, I noticed after the first few steps that without sleeves or a skirt, it made a pretty cute top! So that’s pretty much what I did.

First I had to pick the pockets off the jacket and then cut out the front pieces, back piece and sleeves. I didn’t have two pieces large enough for the front and back of the shirt, so the back of the tank top is actually pieced together (you can see the seam running down the middle in the next picture).

I cut the 2T size pattern, lengthening the shirt and followed the directions exactly for the placket and collar. I shortened the shoulder length (though I could have gone even shorter) and cut the arm hole a little larger. I used homemade bias tape to finish the arm holes and hemmed the shirt so it’s curved up on the sides. I added a little pocket on the chest made from one of the original pockets that I had picked off.