Inspired! A cropped lace top

Inspired! A cropped lace top

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• 5.27.2014

I finally caught up on my April and May magazine-reading the other weekend, and saved several pages for my (hard copy, pre-Pinterest) inspiration binder. I get too many of them and they usually pile up for several weeks until they get overwhelming, and then I have a marathon session of flipping through for outfit ideas as well as sewing ideas and inspiration!

Usually I tear out ideas for dresses I want to make, but this time around I also found this pretty eyelet lace top. I don't often sew boxy, looser-fitting things (or tops at all), but maybe this one, with the simple lace and cheerful, bright whiteness, was more appealing - and I had some fabric in mind! Plus, it's unlined, so very fast to make!

I didn't have eyelet, but I did have this geometric-ey floral lace c/o WholePort!

And I didn't have a pattern for a boxy cropped top, but I did have a simple sheath dress pattern (I used Simplicity 2584, which is out of print, but you could use any basic sheath dress pattern, ideally with side bust darts for shape).

Aside from cutting the dress shorter (to just below the waist), I knew I was going to use a bias binding at the neck, so I cut down 5/8" from the neckline on the front and back pieces, since that amount was meant for seam allowance and would have been turned under.


It's great sewing with chunky lace that doesn't require a lining or hemming!

On the bottom edge I used the "selvage" of the yardage, but on the sleeves I had to trim carefully around the bottom edges of the curved flowers. But still, this went together SO fast - no hemming at all!

Grab some thick/substantial lace and try it yourself!