The Capri Top Tutorial

Create a beautiful top for your little one using our Capri Top Tutorial. The shirring is fun and adorable. You can also make the top longer to turn into a dress. So many possibilities!

Hi everyone, I’m Terra. I blog over at mama says sew. I’m excited to be sharing a project for The Ribbon Retreat today.

This top is made using fabric from the Capri line by ADORNit. It’s a peasant style top gathered with shirring on the front and back bodice.

Here’s the top by itself. You can easily adjust the length to make it a dress.

~ The Capri Top Tutorial ~

To make your own, you will need:

About 1 yard of fabric {more or less depending on size}

Elastic Thread

1/8″ elastic

A peasant top style pattern {I used a Simplicity pattern, but you can use basically any gathered peasant
style top pattern. You just need the pattern pieces}. Check out The Ribbon Retreat’s patterns by clicking the link.

All items can be purchased at The Ribbon Retreat!
Just click on the links to see the selection.

Start by cutting out your pattern pieces. You should have a front bodice, back bodice and two sleeves.
This is the only thing you need the pattern for. Ignore the rest of the pattern instructions.

Hem the neckline of the bodice on the front and back pieces.

Hem the top and bottom of both sleeves.

Using elastic thread, shirr the front and back pieces between the arm holes. Keep going until your pieces
are the desired width and/or your shirring is as high as you want it. I went from the top of the shirt
down to where the underarm started to curve. When you’re done, use an iron to spray some steam and
the elastic will gather up even more.

To gather the bottom of the sleeves, cut a piece of 1/8″ elastic to the length you want the sleeve
opening to be. It should be shorter than the actual sleeve so that the sleeve will gather.

Tack the end of the elastic down to one end of the sleeve, near the bottom hemline. Stretch the elastic
as you sew it to the sleeve. When you release the tension on the elastic, it will shrink, gathering the
sleeve.

Sew the two front seams of the sleeves to the front of the bodice, right sides together.

Add the back of the bodice to the back of one of the sleeves. It should look like this:

Use another {longer} piece of 1/8″ inch elastic to gather the tops of the sleeves and the bodice, the
same way you did for the bottom of the sleeves.

Sew the sleeve to the back bodice.

Stitch the front and back of the shirt together along the sides and the underarms.

Hem the bottom and you’re done.

Isn’t it fabulous? I love using elastic thread. If you’ve never used it before, there are lots of tutorials out there. The Ribbon Retreat has a great shirring tutorial. Another is from Make It and Love It if you need help.

Terra has such a gift with wonderful tutorials. They are easy to follow along and the results are beautiful! I love this shirred peasant top, and I think any girl would love to wear it. This fabric from the Capri line is beautiful too. To check out the other fabrics in this line, click the link.

And to see more tutorials from Terra, check out mama says sew. Just in the last couple of weeks she has posted beautiful tutorials like her Bow Clutch Tutorial, Ombre Ruffle Dress, and Cascading Ruffle Pillow. You will love her blog!

As always, if you’re a craft blogger or bow maker who’d like to submit a tutorial of your own, visit our Project Submission Page to see all the details. We make it worth your while! We love our contributors!

Have a great day! ~ Shirley, The Ribbon Retreat Blog Editor