Wanting to spice up your wardrobe with a chic new top? The Wilder top is an easy sew and an easy style! It’s perfect for that on-the-go look; simply throw it on over a pair of jeans or use yours as a beach cover-up. Today’s version was created using a double cotton gauze, but you can also try a lightweight cotton voile, linen, or poplin. If you want to be a little scandalous with the sheer trend, you can also use an organza! Let’s take a look at how you can alter this already-easy pattern to have a bit more volume at the wrists.
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 2-3 yards Talamanca Fragrant Lilac Double Cotton Gauze
- 1 907 Dahlia 500m Gutermann Sew All Thread
- MDF198 – The Wilder Top Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Alternative Recommended Fabrics:
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. See chart below for sizing specifications. Note, this specific pattern is available up to a size 30.
On this pattern, the sleeve didn’t have as much volume as I wanted, so I used the slash and spread method to add some. This method is often used to decrease or increase volume in a pattern.
- Get a piece of pattern paper that is bigger than your pattern
- On your sleeve, measure from your hemline to almost the armpit. Then mark both sides with a horizontal line at the top; this should be parallel to your hemline.
- Connecting those two lines, draw a light straight across your sleeve
- Measure the entire distance of the sleeve, divide it in half and mark it. From the middle, measure two more dots on either side of your center line for a total amount of five dots.
- From all your points, draw lines straight down to the bottom hemline.
- Cut straight across the top of the line so your sleeve is separated from your pattern
- Starting at the bottom, cut straight up on those lines leaving a ¼” or so left connected.
- Tape your top corners and start spreading. One this pattern alteration, the distance between the spreads were each 3.5″.
- Redraw your new cut lines using a straight edge and French curve.
- Sew your new Wilder Top pattern using the same instructions as the original!
