Guest Blogger - Nap Time Crafters - Halter Tee

Hi! I'm Amy from Nap Time Crafters!

I LOVE every kind of craft, but if I had to pick a fav it would definitely be sewing for my little girl. I also love decorating my apartment with very budget friendly projects. Nap Time Crafters is home to 90 free Tutorials {and growing!}, the American Crafter Competition, Friday Favs Party, & a Giveaway every Saturday!

Some of my very favorite tutorials {at least at the moment...} are:

The tutorial I have for you today is one of my new favs- something about those polka dots just has me smitten:)

Bring on summer! The sweetheart halter is ready to take on the heat in style!

"oh my! Am I looking cute or what?!"

And of course, it ties in the back with a nice big bow.

Ready to sew?

Materials:

1/2 yard main fabric (for size 18 mos)

Scrap of contrast fabric

1/2" ish elastic

1. Cut out your pieces. The strap needs to be cut along the bias (diagonal to the selvage), so it has some stretch. I sewed 2 pieces together. My strap was pretty long, but I wanted the tails of the bow to hang down in the back. I did a narrow hem, so if you like a chunkier hem I'd make the body piece a bit longer. And as long as we're changing things up, I'd suggest making the front body piece a little narrower (13") and the back a bit wider (15"). Trust me on this:)

2. Gather the front body piece to match the length of your bodice (7" for me).

3. Fold the front tie in half with right sides together (RST) and sew up one short edge and the long edge. Turn right side out {just start with the sewn shut end and guide it back through using the end of a pen} and press flat.

4. While you're ironing, let's make bias tape:) The long strap is really extra wide bias tape. Iron the top and bottom edge in 1/4". Then fold it in half and iron again.

5. With RST, sew the gathered body to the bodice- tuck the front tie in the seam right in the center (it doesn't matter which end you use).

6. Cinch the front tie in a bit to form your sweetheart neckline.

7. Tuck all of your raw edges up inside the bodice (including the front tie) and then topstitch in place. (It will look like the photo in #6 when you're finished).

8. With RST, sew the front to the back along the side seams.

9. Find the center of your strap and pin to the back, so that it encloses the raw edge. Wrap around to the front and up the sides. The bodice will lay best if at the bottom you enclose just the edge with the strap and at the top you enclose as much as possible (I hadn't done that and you can see mine is a bit bubbly). Stitch along the bottom edge of the strap just past the bodice

9. Thread your elastic through the strap. Pull it slowly until the end of the elastic is about to move from the front to the back of the shirt. Tack the end of the elastic in place by sewing across the strap in a diagonal starting at the side seam. Pull your elastic to the desired snugness (you don't want the back to gape open) and then tack the other end in place. Pull up on your elastic as far as you can and trim the excess.

10. If your bodice seems to be moving around a bit, you can sew along each side of the tie to keep it in place.

11. Sew along the rest of the edge of your strap. Hem the bottom and you're done!

Enjoy!

Why does she always look so mischievous???

Thanks, Michelle!

Amy, Thank YOU! Visit Nap Time Crafters for more amazing tutorials and fun ideas. (Especially if you like sewing for little girls!!!!) She also has an Etsy shop where she sells patterns and is having a BOGO sale today! Head over to Nap Time Crafters today and check it out!