Another Sewing Group Project

Last time, I showed you how the Threads wrap was made. For our next project, some of the girlsin my Sewing Group want to make this little poncho-like top. Peggy Sagers demonstrated it on her webcast on Jan 23. She called it the Yoga top.

Here are my versions.

This is really a very simple garment to make. I added a neckband on mine but you could just turn the seam allowance under at the neckline instead like Peggy did..

Materials: 1 1/2  to 1 3/4meters (yards) of  fabric such as sweater knit, fleece ,stretch lace or     something that drapes nicely.
                2 large buttons for the front and 2 smaller buttons for the back.
                 matching thread

For my top I used a wool knit that is quite heavy.

Step 1... Cut a 3" strip of  fabric crosswise  hrom the bottom of your fabric.You will use part of this later for the neckband

Step2 ...Fold your fabric in half so the  selvages are parallel to each.Fold again joining all selvages.

Now you are ready to cut the neck opening. Measure  around your head to give you an idea how wide the opening should be.

Step 3... Using a French curve ( or a plate or bowl if you don't have one ,) draw a curved line at the center fold that will be the size of the back neckline. To do this fit the French Curve  (or the bowl) against the back neckline of one of your garments which is folded in two like in the photo below.Mark the arc with tape.

Draw the neckline on your folded fabric . 

Add  a 5/8" seam allowance. Make a notch at the center fold.

 Cut through all thicknesses..

Step 4...  Open the piece so selvages are again parallel. 

Decide how low you want the front neck opening. To help you,measure the front of a top the way you did for the back.(This measurement  plus the back neckline should be close to the length around your head.)

Draw the front neckline on your fabricAdd a 5/8" seam allowance .Cut only the front neckline. make a notch at center front.

Step 5...  Now put the fabric over your head. Hold out your arms and decide how wide to makeyour top.I made this one longer than the green one in the first photo.

The width of this  fabric was 150 cm.before cutting off the selvages and I used the whole width .

 With a French curve or ruler shape the shoulders of your top slightly.Starting at the            
  neck, draw a slightly curved angled line to the side of your fabric. 




  Step 6...Shape the sides by drawing an anled line from the sleeve edge to the hem line like this.
                 I went in about 6" at the bottom and angled the line to that point.

Your fabric should now look like this. Notice the hem allowance is angled out so that when it is folded it will match up with the side seam of the wrap.

          

Step 7... Serge all your edges except the neck opening. This isn't absolutely necessary if you don't have a serger as most knits won't ravel nowadays.

Step 8...   Turn up the hem and stitch with a twin needle or with a straight stitch.My hem is about 1.5" wide

.

..

Step9... Now finish side seams with a 5/8" seam allowance.For the brown version, I top stitched the  selvage which was a nice fringe to the sides.

                                                                                                                                                                                Step 9... You are now ready to finish your neck edge.

    

Take your 3" strip of fabric . Measure the neck opening of your wrap and cut your 3" strip 4" shorter than this measurement.( Mine was 19") Sew ends together with a1/4" seam. Fold band in two lengthwise.

Step 10...  Pin the neckband to the  neck edge matching the notches at center front and the seam of the band to the center back of the neck opening.Pin stretching the band a little with each pin until the neckline is distributed evenly along the band.

Step 11... Sew with the neckband on top and neck opening against the feeddogs using a 5/8" seam allowance .Press the seam downward toward the wrap.

Step 12...Trim the seam allowance  to about 3/8". From the right side top stitch about 1/4' from the seam.Lengthen your stitch  to about 3.5.

Step 13...All that's left to do now is to try the wrap on and decide where you want to sew the buttons. I sewed large buttons on the front with smaller ones on the back. I sewed front and back buttons in the same step.

I hope this inspires you to make Peggy Sagers' Yoga top and tha the directions are clear.

Thanks for stopping by.