The 10 Minute Top

Whew, I've been so busy getting my new Etsy shop going that I've barely had time this week to do anything else.  But, seeing as how all the forecasts are calling for nothing but hot, hot, hot, sunshine all weekend long I thought I better throw together something to get me outside to enjoy the weather.

Soooooo, today I give you.....the 10 Minute Top!  Actually, if you don't hem it, it's probably more like a 3 minute top but we'll just see how this goes:

Supplies:
1 T-Shirt (something close fitting will work best)
scissors
thread and a sewing machine if you want clean edges


Steps:

Here's what I started with.

No, I don't usually pick up teal blue close fitting long sleeve turtle neck t-shirts, but I saw this on a sale rack for a whopping $2.  And when I see stuff like that I look at it purely as fabric and try to figure out how I can cut it up and make it look better than a $2 sale shirt.

Here's how I did it (hopefully you agree)
Steps:

1) Cut across the back from underarm to underarm.  Be careful to make sure that you're only cutting through one layer.

2) In the front cut along a shape like the outline below.  I measured in approximately 3.5"from each underarm seam and then cut a triangle up to the middle of the neckline. 

3) You should end up with something that looks like this.

Next, cut right down the centre of your triangle.

4) Now you can actually call it a day right there if you want and leave the edges unfinished but I couldn't do it.  The edges drove me crazy so I turned the top hem over 5/8" and sewed it down just to keep my sanity.

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And here is where the fun begins.  You can leave it like this.  Just put it on and tie the two triangle sides together and you have a cute little halter.  Oooorrrrrrrr......

You can cut a strip of fabric and make a long narrow tube from the left over arm pieces and add a little support:

Or you can have fun and add some pretty ribbon or interesting trim instead.  Here I used some Hemp trim to give it a real beachy feel:

This tie isn't permanent, you're just tying the triangle pieces around it.  So, you can change it out whenever you want.  I tried some beautiful beaded trim I picked up in India for a nighttime look:

This could be a great top to take on vacation with you.  Wear it on the beach with some shorts or over your bathing suit and then just switch the tie and put on a skirt for evening and away you go!

If your top isn't really close fitting you can still do this, you just might have to take in the sides or make some darts in the back.  That's still easy peasy and might only add an extra 5 minutes tops.

Don't forget to enter my draw for a FREE vintage sewing pattern .  Get your entry in before midnight Saturday, July 16th.  (psssst: That's only two days away and hardly anyone has entered...so your odds are very good.)

Check out the linky parties at the tab above.  There are so many amazing projects that get posted.  You're sure to get inspired by visiting even just one.

Have a great week everyone, enjoy the sunshine!!!