The Alder top is a simple project that can be easily made in a short amount of time, yet still make you look like you stepped straight off the catwalk! Easily pair this beautiful top with your favorite pair of jeans, high-waisted skirt, or even your comfiest pair of leggings. This gorgeous top is so versatile it can be worn day to night, at work, around town or even to the most casual of gatherings. We made ours with a super comfy ponte knit, however, this top can also be made out of a knit interlock or pique knit. We are sure that once you put it on you will want to live in it!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 1.5 yards of Chartreuse Stretch Ponte Knit
- 1 spool of 850 Bright Sunshine 100m Gutermann Sew All Thread
- MDF082 – The Alder Top Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
The Alder Top – Free Shirt Sewing Pattern
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.
How to get started:
Let’s prep the cuffs, collar, and lapel pieces!
Step 1
Place two cuffs right sides together (RST) and sew along the outer edges. Repeat with the other cuff.
Step 2
Sew the collar pieces RST, as indicated above. Clip the corner and trim the seam allowance. Turn right side out and topstitch.
Step 3
Place two lapel panels together, RST, and sew as indicated above, right up to the notch on the top curve of the lapel. Repeat on the other side.
Clip the corner and trim the seam allowance. Clip into the seam allowance at the notch you stitched to, but don’t clip past the seam allowance! By clipping at this notch, the lapel will sit flat once it is right side out.
Step 4
Turn the lapels right side out and press. If topstitching, do so now, along the edge you just sewed.
How to attach the lapel panels:
Step 1
Flap a lapel panel over, so its long edge is aligned with the front top edge. The right sides of the lapel panel and front top should be facing. Sew together from top to bottom, stopping about 1/2″ from the bottom edge of the lapel panel . Repeat with the other side.
Step 2
Clip into the seam allowance on the corners of the front top.
Step 3
Determine which lapel panel is going to be positioned outward, and which will be inward.
Step 4
Pivot the front lapel at the sewn corner, so it is now upside down, as shown above.
See how the clipped corner from step 2 is opening up to accommodate that tension!
Step 5
Repeat with the other lapel, and pin everything into place. Sew.
Step 6
Finish the edges by serging or seam grading. If topstitching the seam allowance, do so now.
Step 7
Sew the front and back top together, RST, from the wrist until you get to the lapel panel. Leave those free for now. Repeat on the other side.
Step 8
Sew the front and back top together, RST, at the sides. Sew from the bottom edge until you get to the notch near the wrist.
How to attach the collar & cuffs:
Step 1
Now, carefully attach the collar at the neck. Once you have attached it on one side you will be able to flip it in and tuck the seams into the closed collar. The edges of the collar where they meet with the lapel panel will be tucked into that opening.
Step 2
Fold the cuffs wrong sides together and press.
Step 3
Turn the top inside out, and pin a cuff inside the top’s wrist opening, as pictured above. Sew. Repeat with the other cuff.
Step 4
Complete by making a small hem around the bottom of the shirt and presto! Your new favorite top is complete!
Neat pattern but for the end result to look its best, “pressing is sewing”.
Agreed! To prevent this fabric from rolling, especially in the collar, I do recommend topstitching the edge to make it lay flat.
Theresa, you read my mind. And is the bodice supposed to have pleats where the placket is inset? Or were those an unintended “feature?” I don’t see those on the schematic…I do love the shape of this top and color of the fabric, though!
I will be honest, it was an unintended feature..but if you sew the bottom of the insert the same way as the sides instead of trying to do a french seam like I did you won’t have that problem.
LOL! No worries! If I had a nickel for every time that happened to me…:-P It seems like a French seam would be awfully bulky and sort of unnecessary for a knit fabric. I sew primarily with knits and am a big fan of topstitching (whee! decorative stitches!) for seams that need to be “nailed down” for whatever reason. Your chartreuse top would look super cool with a pop of magenta or purple topstitching. So many ideas, so little time…
Love the jacket. Hope the pattern works for me.
Has anyone tried this with a woven for the main pieces and stretch for the collar and cuffs?
This is one of the coolest sewing patterns I’ve seen in a long time! What an amazing design!
Thanks! Enjoy!
Very cool. Love the exaggerated shape and collar. Also looks wicked comfy!
Lovely and classy! Thank you!
Great pattern! Are the seam allowances included on the pattern, or should I add them?
Seam allowances of 1/2″ are included 🙂
Wow! So nice! I have for a long time now, an idea growing in my mind for making something like this ;)! This top pattern have many options..Make it longer, as a long coat, in outwear fabrics-
Change the pattern, like cutting it in other ways (as diagonal)
Redesign, make it out of a carpet, sheet, or something else, use all your creativity and fantasy..
So thank you very much for this free pattern and tuourtial. I’m Norwegian and I’m sorry for my bad English ;D
Pernille, I’ve been in the US my whole life, never left, and your English is perfect! 🙂 You are so creative! Love the ideas you posted. Thank you!
Love this pattern! Thanks!! Can you please send me some extra time to make it? 😀
Can this be made with a woven fabric?
Hi Ellen – it can, but you may want to widen the sleeve, or add some buttons to get them around your hands. 🙂
Thank you so much 🙂
Hi. I love this pattern. All the stunning details are just fabulous❤️
Are the top open in the bottom seam? Do you know What i mean??? Im always cold and i Think i would get a lot of cold Wind on my tummy What to do??
Love from Denmark
Hi Janne! Yes, this shirt is fairly open at the hem, and since it’s a ponte we left the edge raw. It doesn’t get too cold though – it’s best paired with a high-waisted skirt or jeans so you can tuck it in a bit! 🙂
Did I read that right? 15 yards of fabric? Seems a bit excessive. Hopefully it’s just a typo.
Hi Antonia! That reads one and a half yards. 🙂
Where is the size chart? There isn’t one on the pattern, which is frustrating.
Hi, there! The size chart is in the blog post above, below the pattern download. 🙂
Thanks. The size chart doesn’t always show up for some reason… Oh well. Joys of technology. I screenshot it so I’ll not lose it again.
Lol sorry about that! Technology is a pain. If it helps, we use the same size chart for all of our patterns, so hopefully you can always find it working on one page!
The cuff piece says to cut on file, but there is neither side says fold and both are angled. How is it meant to be cut?
Hi Jeanie, the instructions have been updated and clarified 🙂
I am excited to sew this, but where are the yardages for the various sizes. I see size measurements but not the amount of fabric needed. Can you advise? Thanks SuZ
Hi Susan, we’re sorry for the delay in responding to your question! We get dozens of comments and questions each day, and so many questions get buried and, unfortunately, unanswered. We are now focusing user support on patterns 2 years and newer. We hope this will prevent questions on our more current patterns from going unanswered.
We recommend measuring the pattern pieces to determine the yardage needed. 🙂
Would this pattern work in linen? Thinking this top would look amazing with summer skirts and summer linen pants.
Hello Grace, linen would work very well with this pattern!
First, let me thank you and everyone at mod fabrics for all of the wonderful free sewing patterns you make available to all of us!! But I’m struggling with the instructions for this pattern. I feel like a bunch of steps were skipped. I’m not a total novice sewer, and I’ve made several other garments from your free sewing patterns without issue. Is there any way you can expound on how this adorable shirt is put together please?? I would greatly appreciate it!!
Hello there, thank you for your feedback! The instructions have been corrected 🙂
This, so far, has been easy and fun to put together. Our power just went out so I need to change techniques, but I am loving this process. I think this will be a frequently worn item for me when the weather changes. Thank you for this great pattern! Thanks to the patterns, I finally have a wardrobe that fits, is comfortable, and in colors and prints I adore.