Have you sewn with neoprene fabric yet? I love it and I can’t get enough of it. I have made Jackets, and dresses and several other fun projects. It’s fun and easy to sew with as a thicker knit it sews like a stable knit, and it has a great shape and body to it as it drapes. After I made Abbey’s first day of School dress with the pleats from the Maggie Mae, I knew I wanted to play with pleats and neoprene again.
Since I had this neoprene left over from the jacket I decided to use it up as a top for Abbey. The black background with the floral says fall to me. The fabric is from Joann Fabric and Crafts, but it’s from last year and has long been sold out. Mood Fabric and Etsy both have great and fun neoprene options. (just search neoprene)
So for this top which is a grown up version of the cap sleeve dress pattern, is basically an easy fitting tee with pleated peplum at the waist. Any knit will work but neoprene is recommended, and rib knit for the neckline.
You will need:
Neoprene Peplum Top Pattern (size 6 25″ chest 47″ height)
3/4 yard neoprene fabric
scrap of rib knit for neck binding
**Note about the pattern, the neck binding and sleeve bands are inset in the bodice pieces you can cut them out while leaving the bodice in tact (just with a hole in the middle) or you can trace them on to other paper. You will also need to cut 2 rectangles for the skirt peplum with the measurements provided.
With right sides together, sew the front and back together at the shoulders.
Then open seam flat. Fold the sleeve band wrong sides together. (so the long ends meet) Then with right sides together, sew the sleeve band to the sleeve edge. Note the sleeve will pivot to almost a V like shape towards the shoulder, sew the band along the V like shape stretching ever so slightly as you sew.
Then with right sides together, sew from sleeve edge curve and sew down the side.
**Tip, when I sew with neoprene I don’t serge it only because it can get a little bulky. I use a simple straight stitch and then I top stitch all of my seams to help keep them flat and then trim away the extra seam allowance. This helps keep flat seams.
Fold the neckband with right sides together so the short ends meet, then sew the ends together. Fold the band in half so wrong sides are together and the long ends meet.
With right sides together, match up the neckband to the neckline. The best way to do this is to find and mark the center front and back of the neckband and the top and match those up. Then stretch to fit the neckband to the rest of the neckline. Then stretch while you sew.
Then sew the two skirt pieces right sides together at the sides. Then with right sides together add box pleats to the skirt evenly all around the waistline. Sew the skirt and waist together.
Then you are done. Quick easy, and so cute!
The neoprene has some great volume to it, and I really love the way it’s soft and yet has body to it.
Abbey already has requests in for me to make a few more.