Today’s Olive hack is probably my favorite one! Have you noticed the trend lately of elastic, cinched in tops? Either elastic above the bust, or at the waist, or both? Well since the Olive top has an optional cropped length cut line, I thought I would give it a try! It’s actually pretty easy. You don’t have to change anything with construction until you get to the hem – just create a casing and add some elastic!
Want to see how I did it? Let’s go!
Ok, so like I said, Olive includes a handy dandy cropped length cut line. And yes, it’s cute as-is for a typical cropped blouse. But I found this length still to be perfect, even after turning the hem up 1 3/4″ for an elastic casing.
But of course, check the length for you before you cut. Ideally, you would want the elastic hem to hit you right at your waist after the 1 1/2″ turn-under.
Now, I found I needed to add just a bit more to the width, so that I got a nice blouse-y effect.
So lay a piece a paper underneath the front pattern piece, along the side seam, and line up the straight ends of the bottom. Tape in place.
Measure over from the side seam, along the bottom edge, 3/4″. (This will add 1 1/2″ inches total in width in the end. You can do less or more, based on how blouse-y you want your blouse to be).
Measure straight up about 1 – 1 1/4″ perpendicular to the straight hem.
Connect this point to the waistline with as smooth a curve as possible. I just did this by hand (not very technical, ha).
Cut out the new shape of your front blouse, and repeat with the back pattern piece using the same added measurement.
Construct your Olive top exactly as instructed in the pattern booklet (or the sewalong posts). Finish everything except for the bottom hem.
Now turn up the hem by 1/2″ towards the inside and press.
Turn under again by 1 1/4″ and press. Pin in place.
Sew along the the hem, close to the folded edge, leaving a 1.5″ – 2″ opening.
Cut a piece of 1″ elastic that is 2″ shorter than your waistline measurement.
Attach your elastic to a safety pin or elastic threader, and insert into to opening that you left in the casing.
Continue threading all the way around the waist until you come out the other side of the opening.
Overlap by 1/2″ and zig-zag stitch together (hopefully not as messy as mine, ha).
Slide that stitched together elastic back down into the casing.
Pin the opening closed, and then stitch across.
Now, you could end here! Cute, right? But if you’re worried about the elastic flipping or curling inside the casing, there is one more step you can do…
With your machine set to a straight stitch, stretch the elastic inside the casing and sew a straight line down the middle of the casing, around the entire waistband.
Ta-da! This is what it looks like now!
And they fun part? You can actually wear it 2 ways. Either with the elastic out ans showing like in the first photo, or with the elastic tucked under which gives you that perfect “tucked in” look without actually having to tuck your blouse in!
LOOKING FOR MORE OLIVE POSTS?
- Sewalong Intro Post
- Inspiration and Ideas
- Tester Round-Up
- FBA with dart added
- Neckline Prep
- Patch Pocket
- V-Insert Option 1 (clean finish)
- V-insert Option 2 (topstitch)
- Bias Sleeve Finish
- Sleeve Bands
- Long Sleeves
- Pocket and Skirt
- Hemming
- Bonus Hack – Dress ties
- Bonus Hack – Elastic Hem Cropped Top (this post!)
- Bonus Hack – Shift Dress
We absolutely love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to tag your creations with #MNolive and @megannielsenpatterns when sharing on social media, and check out what everyone else is up to!
Don’t have the pattern yet?!
