How to Make a Contour Bust or Ruffle Bust top or dress

This is a tube top style top with a contoured bust section that makes a little more form fitting than a plain old tube top.

contour bust top
contour bust top by SmarmyClothes.com


At the end of the tutorial, there’s a variation for a ruffle bust, which looks like this:


ruffle bust dress
ruffle bust dress by SmarmyClothes.com

Difficulty:

05expert

 

Step 1

You will need 4 pieces for this one.

The back is pretty much a standard tube top back.

The front is 3 pieces: 2 contoured bust pieces (they kind of look like sunglasses), and the bottom. It’s kind of like a tube top, too, but with the boobs cut out. šŸ˜‰

 


Step 1
Step 1



REMEMBER TO ADD A SEAM ALLOWANCE FOR ALL OF YOUR PIECES!


Step 2

Here’s a more detailed look at the “sunglasses” pieces for the bust for various sizes.

You may need to adjust this a bit depending on your particular shape. And I know I already said this, but remember to add seam allowances!!

The length should be half of the bust (in our example, we have a 36″ bust, so our pieces are 18″ long).

If you want, you can cut 4 of these instead of 2, and line the bust (which I recommend for sheer or very thin fabrics).


Step 2 (a)
Step 2 (a)


Step 2 (b)
Step 2 (b)


Step 2 (c)
Step 2 (c)



Step 3

I find it’s easiest to sew the two “sunglasses” pieces together first.
After that, you want to attach it to the bottom front piece.

Pin the bust to the front piece a lot before sewing. The curved shape can make it kind of awkward to sew. If you’re using a serger/overlocker, I’ve found that it’s easier to pin the piece together, straight stitch, and then serge.



Step 3
Step 3

Step 4

So now you have the completed front, and the back. All that’s left now is to sew the sides of them together.



Step 4
Step 4


Step 5

You can add elastic or a top band to the top, and hem the bottom or add a skirt to make it a dress.

Continue on for the ruffled bust variation.



Step 5
Step 5



Variation Step 1

After sewing the two bust pieces together, cut a piece of fabric at least twice as long.

For our example, our front bust pieces are 18″ long, so we want the ruffle fabric to be at least 36″ in length. I gave myself a few extra inches and came up with 40″.

It should be as wide as the widest part of the two pieces sewn together, in this case, 6″.


Variation Step 1
Variation Step 1


Variation Step 2

Ruffle the long piece of fabric along the longer edges until it’s the same length as the bust piece.

You can do this just by laying it on a table, and making the ruffles with your fingers, or you can baste the ruffle (by hand or machine).

Once you’ve got it how you want it, the next step will be easiest if you sew the ruffles down along the edges.


Variation Step 2
Variation Step 2


Variation Step 3

Sew the bust piece onto the ruffled piece.

I like to pin the two pieces together on the wrong (back) side of the fabric first, then sew on the right (top) side of the fabric (as shown).
That way, I can see what the ruffles are doing as I sew, and nothing gets wonky.


Variation Step 3
Variation Step 3

Variation Step 4

Cut the excess fabric off from the edges.


Variation Step 4
Variation Step 4


Variation Step 5

Ta-da! Now you can sew this onto the rest of the front, and follow the rest of the steps from there.


Variation Step 5
Variation Step 5




4 thoughts on “How to Make a Contour Bust or Ruffle Bust top or dress

  1. Hi Lex! Just wanted to drop you a message to say that I have used your tutorial (with a few tweaks to the finished look) twice, I love it! Thankyou so much for being willing to share your knowledge and expertise!
    Here are the links to the posts – http://pinupcrafts.blogspot.com/2011/04/part-3-of-finishing-week.html

    and also – http://pinupcrafts.blogspot.com/2011/04/recent-sewing.html

    I have linked to this tutorial in both posts too šŸ™‚

    lucy xxx

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