Made from pretty pink satin, this smart top from designer Vicky Taylor is perfect for evenings out as well as office attire. Create the pattern yourself using an old top or dress and cut the fabric on the bias to create a form-fitting tunic that hugs your curves.
Chiffon sash
Place the two 15cm x 65cm strips of chiffon with right sides together and stitch down one of the shorter edges with a zig zag machine stitch, to create one 130cm length of fabric. You can make this shorter or longer depending on your waist size, to suit.
If possible, shorten the length of your zig zag stitch to make it more dense. Stitch all the way around the edges of the sash, keeping as close to the edge as you can. The zig zag stitch will form a neat hem and is a quick, easy way of finishing chiffon and other lightweight fabrics.
Evening top
Make the front of the tunic. Before you begin, fold your fabric in half (right sides facing outwards) and mark the centre line with dressmaker’s chalk. Unfold the fabric and lay it out flat. You should now have a line running through the middle of the material – use this to guide you when placing your front and back bodice pieces.
To create your pattern, take a dress or sun-top that fits you well (but isn’t too tight) and lay it out flat, on top of the fabric. Make sure that the garment you choose to base your pattern on is made of a similar fabric to the one you are using for this project.
Move the dress so that it is at a 45 degree angle to the warp and weft of the fabric – this layout and cutting style is know as cutting on the bias (see page 8 of the Sew Pull-Out Workbook.) By using this method to cut, the fabric will fit the curves of the body better and will hang nicely. Draw around the dress w