Isn’t this little Off Shoulder Top so sassy and fun? The best part is you can create one very easily using a commercial pattern or buy this darling inspiration top if you aren’t a sewist. For those of you in the DIY camp, let me show you how to sew an off shoulder top with ric-rac trim using New Look 6507 or the Indie Pattern: Royal Street Top.
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How to Sew an Off Shoulder Top
To make this off-shoulder top you need to gather the following supplies:
-Woven Fabric: I used a seersucker fabric from Joann that I can not find online but think this top may be even better and more like the inspiration top if I bought Gauze.
–New Look 6507 is the pattern I used to create this top. I modified the pattern slightly for this look. Another great pattern option that I own and have sewed before is Seamingly Smitten Royal Street Top. (Truth be told the Royal Street Top is an easier and faster project to put together).
-Ric Rac in colors of your choice. I chose a hot pink, orange and light pink.
You will need your other sewing supplies: scissors, thread, and machine. If making the New Look Pattern you will also need bias tape for the underarms. I linked my favorites for each of these supplies above.
Steps to Create your Off Shoulder Top with Ric-Rac trim:
- Cut Out View B from the New Look 6507 Pattern. You will want to cut only one shoulder flounce (upper flounce piece only). Decide on the length you want the top (I used view D from the pattern) to determine where to cut the pattern for a top length on the front and back pieces for view B . If using the Royal Street Top you will simply need to cut the single ruffle and top pieces, making no modifications. Notice my belly is sticking out more than I would like here, so I will lengthen this pattern for future tops if using New Look 6507. I find Royal Street Top to be just perfect as drafted.
- Sew the top together using pattern instructions for view B until you come to the flounce. Once you have sewn the right sides of the flounce piece together and sewn a narrow hem at the bottom of the flounce, grab a marking pen and your ric rac. Attach the ric-rac PRIOR to attaching the flounce on the shirt.
- Sew your first line of ric-rac on top of your narrow hem line of stitching. This is the hot-pink ric-rac in my top. Simply center the ric-rac over the stitching line and sew a straight stitch down the center of the ric rac. Sew slowly, moving the ric rac as needed to stay on the line. **TIP- I like to start and stop my ric rac at one of the side seams, overlapping them slightly.**
- Using your first line of ric-rac as a guide, use a marking pen to draw in small lines 2 inches above your first line of ric-rac. I placed a mark every 5 inches or so around the entire flounce. Take your next color of ric-rac, for me it is the light pink. Place it on your drawn dots and stitch the second color of ric-rac on your top. Again, sew slowly, lifting and moving the ric-rac as needed to stay on your marks while you sew down the center of the trim. **Sewing Tip- make sure you are changing the color of your thread spool to match your ric rac trim and blend in. I left the bobbin the hot pink thread color for the entire top**.
- Finally, mark another guide line 1/2 inch to 1 inch (whatever your spacing preference- I went with 1/2 inch) above your second line of ric rac. Take your third color (orange in my top) and stitch it onto your top the same way you did for the first two rows.
Then continue attaching the flounce to the top per the pattern instructions and inserting elastic in the casing. When I stitched the casing on my top it was a bit of a hot mess. Puckers galore. I pulled out the stitching and tried again with minimal improvement. However, this top portion is gathered so much once the elastic was inserted I feel as though the puckers are not noticeable. So, don’t panic if your top gives you fits!
While I am very happy with the overall result, I sure wish I would have added some length to the top. I am not a fan of shorter tops and one day I will learn that I need to add length…LOL- these other posts I wrote I felt the same!
Until next time,
Happy Sewing
About 18 years ago I decided to teach myself how to sew. Long before blogs and resources available today which meant it was often disastrous. But I never gave up because I loved it so much. Today I love helping others get started on their own sewing journey. You can read more about my family and I