Stitched Up: DIY Draped Bow Crop Top

Goodwill Alterations with Chanté Gibbs

Chanté is a local thrift blogger and sustainable designer. She is our inspiration and guide to exploring what can be done with some creative alterations and updates of thrifted finds. Each month she starts with a concept, shops our stores, and reworks her thrift finds into high-fashion pieces. She takes us on a thrift journey from start to finish, and it’s a great ride every month!

DIY Draped Bow Crop Top

Coming into this month’s Stitched Up, I knew I would need to look for a curtain or bed sheet to have enough fabric to create the draped bow crop top. After searching for a while, I eventually found a nice red bed sheet. Luckily, it was in good condition, and its vibrant red color was perfect for Valentine’s Day.

How do I make it?

For the Top:

1. 1. I washed the sheet and ironed it to get out any wrinkles. Since there was a lot of fabric for me to work with, I cut the sheet in half before taking body measurements.
   2. Once I did that, I measured my chest and the length from that to my belly button. I used my ruler and chalk to draw out those measurements with seam allowance where the center back of the top will be.
   3. I cut out the rectangle piece that will be my top and marked a line for the seam where I would insert the elastic band.
   4. I sewed the center back ends together and sewed down the other seam. I inserted the elastic band as mentioned before then focused on the scrap fabric.

For the Bow:

1. 1. Before I started on the bow, I cut a smaller rectangle strip that I would use to keep the bow together. I made sure to include seam allowance on the longer side.
   2. Next, I sewed along where I marked and turned the rectangle inside out. I placed it to the side and began working on the bow.
   3. I knew I wanted the bow to be oversized and still drape downward so I made sure to cut a big piece.
   4. I laid the fabric flat on my mat and pinched the center of it to create a little accordion. I used clips to hold the middle of it in place.
   5. I wrapped the smaller rectangle around the middle of the bow. I had to adjust it to place it behind the bow then sewed it down.
   6. After that, I measured how long I wanted fabric to hang from the bow and cut out a long rectangle. When I was satisfied with it, I pinned the bow to the top of the fabric I just cut out.
   7. I hand sewed the bow to the hanging fabric and then pinned the complete piece to the back of the new bandeau top.
   8. Lastly, I sewed where I had just pinned them together and tried on my new crop top.