Papercut Axis Crop Top Hack
Happy Saturday! I’m sharing about my latest make and probably my favorite crop top to date!
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I’ll start this post by saying that I knew this Burnt Orange Bizet Linen would be my favorite no matter what I made! It was gifted to me from Melanated Fabrics and I talk about some loose plans for it a Quick Haul I did on Instagram! I figured it would be a dress but something kept me from saying that for sure. I knew I wanted to put some embroidery on this beautiful fabric!
Before I really started making a garment, I searched for an embroidery design that would make me smile. I am the one wearing it and EMBROIDERING it, so this had to be a design that incorporated plenty of flowers that I love. I knew I wanted sunflowers and roses but I was not prepared to make my own design from scratch! I love this Sunshine Floral pattern from Little Stitchy Bee! I used it as a base but changed some of the motifs a little, mostly just because I wanted to. I added a little bit of spacing and used different embroidering techniques to make it how I wanted. This took me some time to complete because I was very determined to not rush through the process. I knew that I wanted this embroidery to be the focal point for Axis. I am thrilled with the final embroidering!
I absolutely loved the style lines of the Axis dress when it was released! I was intrigued by the ties and I really loved how the square neckline was reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn. What was even more interesting, was the fact that this patten offered a dress variation and a skirt variation. Talk about options! I am a sucker for patterns that really give you variety. I wondered why I couldn’t have the top part of the dress be it’s own pattern, as well…
Maybe, I am just stubborn. It’s entirely possible. This idea of a top from the Axis pattern was plaguing my mind. Why couldn’t I have this pattern as a top! I thought on it for a long while and now I figured out the easiest way to hack it into a top!
I want to tell you about how it won’t work before I tell you how it will work! I’m offering you my experience so that you do not suffer the same heartache while you unpick your seams, like I did. You will need to cut 2 front bodice pieces, 4 back tie pieces and interfacing for the front piece. I adhered the interfacing and constructed the darts as normal on both front pieces. Originally, I sewed the back pieces to the front bodice shoulder instead of basting as instructed in the pattern. Then, I pinned the neck edge of the front and back pieces through til the end of the tie. I pinned the armscye of these pieces together, as well. I sewed around the corner of ties but not the bottom edge. The waist edge and bottom of the ties are unpinned and open. At the corners, I reduced my stitch length to 1.5mm to make sure they are crisp! That last detail really came back to bite me in the butt when I had to unpick. Sigh. Essentially, I was sewing the back to the front at the shoulders with the main fabric and lining fabric, then sewing the main to the lining around the edges with a hole for turning. This method would have worked out perfectly… IF the back ties weren’t so thin. I had no way to turn the bodice through to the right side. Imagine my frustration!
This first method didn’t work because the straps are too thin to pull them though. My next step was to take a look at how the Axis pattern was put together in the first place. I constructed the back as the pattern calls and then turned them to the right side. I enclosed them the same way the pattern described between the two front bodice pieces. I then sewed up the armscye of the front pieces and turned them to the right side. I gave everything a press now that they were turned to the right side. Next I enclosed the side seams and left the opening on the side open as described in the pattern. Well, the opening in theory is left open. I sewed all the way around because I forgot! I may unpick the hole but I rather enjoy how I’m able to wear it without. I chose to slip-stitch my bottom opening closed to keep top stitching to a minimum. You could topstitch the entire piece or just the front bodice! I think that would be a great finish, as well!
I’ve only styled it one way on this post but I can see this design being very cute worn tied in the back and layered over other garments! I’m very pleased with this Axis top and I love how it’s so unique to any other crops I have made! As a benefit, this top is also completely reversible so I can wear it on the reverse of I don’t want the embroidery to be visible!
What do you think about this hack? Are there any steps that you would have done differently? Please let me know below or tag me on Instagram if you try it out too!
