Off-shoulder styles are stylish and beautiful to wear. They range from tops (blouses) to dresses, maxi gowns, and even jumpsuits! You can also attach whatever style of sleeves you desire to these styles. In this tutorial, we teach you how to make this beautiful off-shoulder top with double-tiered ruffle bell sleeves.
Watch the video on making this top here
Materials You Need:
Fabric, Elastic, Thread, Tape Measure, Scissors. Get Supplies
Measurements You Need:
Bust, Blouse/Dress Length, Neck depth and Sleeve length.
Making Your Off-Shoulder Top:
Below is a sketch explaining the concept of cutting this top. You can make it as a short top, a long top, or a dress.
As you begin to plan on how to cut this top, think of a regular bodice, only that because this is off-shoulder, you will not be cutting the neckline. For the armhole, you will only cut some part of it, and not the full length of the armhole. (Watch my video on how to cut a regular armhole here).
In cutting the top, you need to know the neck depth, this is what you take off the full length of the blouse (or dress if making a dress)
You cut the armhole based on the remaining length of the armhole, after putting into consideration the part of the bodice you are not including in your blouse length.
Cutting a full (continuous) circle / ruffle for bell sleeves: First fold fabric horizontally, and vertically to get 4 layers of fabric (see photo)
Next, you need to calculate the radius of your sleeve round at the point where you will be joining the ruffle to your main sleeve. To calculate this, you use: Radius = circumference (sleeve round) divided by 6.28.
The radius is used to measure and cut the tip (center) of the circle. Place your first circle on the solid fabric (folded same way), and measure 2 inches or more longer, depending on your preference.
Make 4 circles in total for 2 sleeves.
Prepping the ruffles to be added to the main sleeve.
Bell Sleeves….
Measure the new neckline after adding the sleeves. This is used to cut the strip of fabric for the neckline.
The strip of fabric dimension: 3inches by the length of the neckline, plus joining allowance.
Form a casing with the strip and leave room for your elastic.
The look so far….
Hem the edges to finish up.
And all done! Watch video instruction.
In the video below, we teach you how to make this beautiful off-shoulder top with bell sleeves.
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View Comments
Good morning ma, my name is Maryam from Nigeria. I love your videos, GOD Almighty will continue to increase your knowledge. Please I have been searching for your video on how to cut a Top, I can't get the video. And on your video you mentioned Cape length, please what is the meaning? Please I would appreciate to get your response ma. Thank you ma.
Thank you, Maryam. Appreciate your comment. What video was it that you have a question on? Not sure which video it was. Please clarify. Here's our playlist on tops. Hope you find the kind of top you're looking to make: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQjyylqmtw1u3OPBf1vfDmtzBnANTx690