Hi there! Excited to share a fun tutorial with you to create a button front sleeveless top with a tie detail using the Lisa dress pattern! This hack is pretty complex but yields a great result with just making a few minor changes to the pattern pieces. Let’s get started!
You’ll need some scrap paper, a straightedge and a curved ruler (or you can just eyeball it if you’d like!). I’ll explain what adjustments I made for each pattern piece, and then we can walk through the construction. I will also share videos to a saved highlight on my Instagram if you’d like more visuals.
Adjustments to Pattern Pieces
Bodice Front:
First, I eliminated the waist dart. Instead of tapering the side seam I extended it straight down from the bust dart and added 3 1/2” to the overall length of the bodice. Next, I added ¾” on the fold line to account for a button placket and overlap. Lastly, I created an extension from the center front of the bodice for the tie.
Bodice Back:
Again, I eliminated the waist dart. I reduced some of the tapering at the waist but kept a little to bring the top closer to the body at the side seams.
Facings:
I cut away from the overall length of the facing to make it more minimal, keeping about 2” around the top edge of the facing. As I got sewing I realized I did not want to preserve the facing portion around the armholes but rather use single fold bias to finish the arms so I went back and trimmed the facing to just finish the neckline, hem and front edge.
I drafted an extension to the front facing to follow along the button placket portion.
I drafted a hem facing for the top to provide a clean finish for the tie portion. The front hem facing was attached with the front button placket facing.
Construction
I think the only step I followed from the Lisa tutorial was to create the bust darts. After that, it’s all new so follow along here.
After creating the bust dart, sew the bodice front and back together at the shoulders and side seams. Finish the seams as desired.
Next, sew the back and front facings together at the shoulders and the hem facing at the side seams. Finish seams as desired. NOTE: I ended up cutting away the facing around the armhole so please disregard that portion in the photo.
Corrected facings are shown here.
Use a serger or sew with a zigzag stitch to finish the inside edge of the facings. You can also hem the edge but with all the curves and pivots, I just went with a serged edge.
With right sides together and raw edges lining up, pin the facings to the bodice along the neckline, button placket, tie and hem. NOTE: Again, disregard the armhole section of the facing here.
Trim seam allowance with pinking shears and turn the facing to the inside of the garment. Iron the seams flat. Topstitch to secure the facing, stitching in the ditch where possible to tack facing.
Use self-made single fold bias or packaged bias to bind the armholes.
Lastly, create buttonholes and sew buttons on the front button placket. Space buttonholes evenly using a simflex gauge, leaving the bottom 2”-3” of the button placket open for the tie.
There you have it! A cute, sleeveless top with a button front and tie detail! I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and I really hope you’ll recreate this look using the Lisa Dress pattern!
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