How to sew a crop top & strapless bodice pattern PDF
If you've ever wanted a strapless crop top that can be easily worn from day to night and look stylish no matter the occasion, then this DIY sweetheart crop top is what your wardrobe needs!
The best part? You don’t need to know how to draft patterns to make it.
The strapless bodice pattern for this sweetheart crop top is ready for you to print it at home! #woopwoop
After reading this post you'll know how to make 1 (or 20 )new cute DIY strapless tops step by step.
So, If you're ready to learn how to make a cute lace crop top, lethhhgoo! It’s time to make the magic happen.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through them, I can receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read the full disclosure here.
Sweetheart strapless top materials
To make this DIY sweetheart crop top you'll need:
- Stretch lace fabric and stretch lining
How much fabric do I need to make a crop top?
To cut this strapless top pattern you can use:
12” or 30cm of stretch lace fabric.
And 12” or 30cm of stretch lining fabric (like a lightweight polyester jersey).
Best fabric for crop top:
I bought my stretch lace and stretch lining in a local store, but also found these beauties you can order online and get them delivered right to your doorstep!
For the stretch lining check out this option.
PRO TIP: You can also buy swimsuit fabric instead of lace and use the same fabric for the front and the lining of the crop top.
- Needles for stretch fabric
Have you ever had to deal with skipped stitches? well, I learned the hard way that using a regular needle on stretch fabrics can result in skipped stitches or fabric damage, (yeah, we don't want that! )
Schmetz needles are now my heroes to sew knits and any other kind of fabrics with spandex.
- quality sewing machine needles
- manufactured to exacting standards since 1851
- choice of discriminating sewers world wide
- Essential sewing tools
Like: Scissors or a rotary cutter, measuring tape and pins (btw these are the best pins ever!).
And of course...
- Regular Sewing machine
I've been using Brother sewing machines for the past 15 years and cannot recommend them highly enough.
This is the newest version of the one I own, and has everything you need (and more!) to bring this sweetheart crop top pattern to life!
- 100 UNIQUE BUILT-IN STITCHES: The Brother CP100X sewing and quilting machine includes 100 built-in stitches including utility, decorative and heirloom stitch functions, and 8 auto-size buttonholes
- IMPROVED NEEDLE THREADER: The 1-step automatic needle threader is easier than ever to use, the needle threader reliably pushes the thread through the needle
- INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: The CP100X includes a wide table, 10 sewing feet plus quilt guide, protective hard case and more
Printable sweetheart bodice pattern
Having the printable strapless bodice pattern ready is going to make the process of making your own DIY sweetheart crop tops a million times easier and more fun!
Forget about spending hours trying to draft a pattern and stressing about not knowing if it’s going to work out, because this baby has been successfully tried and tested and it's ready to work for you!
How to use a PDF sewing pattern
Just Print out the 6 pages you'll find on the sweetheart bodice pattern PDF file and use sticky tape to put together the paper sheets.
(You’ll also get an instructional booklet for this crop top sewing pattern, that clearly shows you how to do that and get the exact same pieces used in this tutorial).
Then select the size you want to use (this sweetheart top pattern comes in 3 different sizes).
You can go ahead and cut your selected size, or use tracing paper which is designed to see through easily, to copy the size you want to use.
Using tracing paper helps you to keep the full pattern intact for whenever you want to try a different size, specially if you'll be making crop tops for other people.
- 【Package Included】1 roll 17in x 27yd tracing paper roll, which is long enough for you to meet your different needs. Warm Tip: translucent tracing paper is soft and may wrinkle during shipping, please understand that if you have any questions, we will try our best to accommodate you
- 【Paper Material】Tracing paper made of premium soft and thin paper material, high-definition transparent, fine and lightweight texture, clear and smooth writing, and will not scatter ink
- 【Size Information】The detailed size of tracing paper is 17 inches X 27 yards, you can easily cut it to the size and length you need, perfect for our daily use
How do you cut a lace sweetheart neckline crop top?
This DIY sweetheart crop top is made up of princess seams on the front and the back, so this means you are going to have: center front, center back and side pieces.
Cut 1 set of pattern pieces on the stretch lace fabric.
And cut 2 sets of pattern pieces on the stretch lining fabric
One of the lining sets is going to be used as a base for the lace fabric pieces and together we're going to use them as our main fabric or outer layer of the top.
Looking something like this:
The second set of pattern pieces cut on lining fabric will go inside the top helping you to finish the edges of the crop top with a nice clean look and without any raw edges showing.
PRO TIP: If you're using regular stretch fabric instead of lace you just need to cut 2 sets of pattern pieces in total, one for the front and the other to be used as the lining.
How to sew a lace top with lining
After watching this 7-minute video you'll know ALL about how to make a lace crop top step by step.
And, you'll also learn a couple other sewing hacks, like how to sew a sweetheart neckline to get the perfect shape every time!
Here’s the time stamp for each part of the sewing process so you can go re-watch any section you need while you sew your crop tops:
How to make a strapless top:
0:00 Intro & Strapless crop top PDF pattern
0:22 Materials to make a lace crop top
0:44 Cutting the fabric pieces.
1:14 Matching the pieces
2:07 How to sew a lace crop top
2:22 Sewing the princess seams
2:49 Sewing the sides of the crop top
4:00 Sewing the sweetheart neckline
5:01 Sewing the bottom edge of the crop top
5:18 Bagging the lining sewing technique
7:12 Final Result (YAY!) 🙂- Also read: How to price your handmade products -
How to wear a crop top
This DIY sweetheart neckline tube top will become a staple in your wardrobe!
So far, I've made it in 5 different colors and I’m not planning to stop! Lol
You can wear it with pretty much anything!
However, if comfort and a stylish look are your love languages, then a maxi skirt will give you just that
Check out this mesh maxi skirt / swimsuit cover-up you can learn how to make here.
And here are some of my fave picks to match with this sweetheart strapless top that you can buy online:
Final thoughts on how to make a crop top
If you were looking for tops with sweetheart neckline that’s how you can pridefully make a beautiful DIY Sweetheart Crop Top all by yourself!
You're all set to pick your favorite stretch fabric and start turning the invisible into visible!
What to do next
Get your sally pattern and start filling your closet with handmade uniqueness.I can’t wait to see what you'll make with this! So, whenever you finish your first crop top tag me on instagram @MissyLookss I'll be so freaking happy to see your work!
Keep imagining and keep creating! The world needs the beauty and the magic you came here to create!
Much love and creative vibes ,
This article was all about how to make a DIY sweetheart crop top. If you want to explore more DIYs and sewing tutorials check out the “Handmade Product Ideas” section.
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