Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: DIY Wrap Shirt Tutorial

By
[This DIY wrap shirt was made for and modeled by my daughter Mori]

So the plans with this month's post went left when I wanted it to go right. Once we put the outfit on, it looked like pajamas and I just couldn't. Although they looked like very nice looking pajamas, it was pajamas no the less. The rest of that fabric will be for another date and time. SOooooo although Fabric Mart does not have anymore denim right now, but I still wanted to post this DIY wrap shirt tutorial.

I have seen this wrap shirt several times on Pinterest and several versions but I didn't see any made in denim. You know how much I love working with denim, so denim it was. I pinned Hartfabrics.com version to my DIY'd board and that is what I used, with a few modifications. Most of the tutorials that I saw called for one yard of fabric, 44 inches wide and the shirts ties at the waist. But I wanted a longer version of this top.

Supplies:
1 yard fabric [I used 54 inch wide denim]
1 Pack of bias tape
Matching thread
Top-stitching thread

1. Cut fabric into three sections  2"X54"   27"X54"    5"X54"
[you need to determine if the width will wrap around for your size. This size wrapped around Mori's 29 inch waist and she is a 36 Bust]

2. We are starting with the skinny straps. [Cut on fold to make two pieces] 
Fold them in half and press. 
Fold each side into the middle and press. 
Fold in half, press and top-stitch.

3. Now let's take care of the thicker straps [Cut on fold to make two pieces] 
Fold in half, right sides together with a slant at one end.
Turn over the with right side & press
Top-stitch each strap

 4. Mark the center of your big piece for your neck opening.
Use a round object to make your half circle.
Cut out your neck opening

5. Now take you bias tape and pin it around the right side of your neck opening
Sew bias tape in place
Clip seam around neck opening
Flip your bias tape to the other side and press
Top-stitch neckline [I did mine like denim but that is optional]

6. I made a little curve to the back of my top.[optional]

 7. Hem your sides and bottom. You may want to double fold all the way around and hem. I serged my ends and folded once and top-stitched. I left my bottom salvage edges as they were.

 Here is what you should have right now. Your thin straps, your shirt and your thick straps.

8. Now you will need to measure to determine where you want your shirt to wrap at. I originally measured down 22 inches.  I ended up moving my straps up about 5 inches higher for this version.
The skinny straps should be attached to the front of the shirt

9. The thicker strap should be attached to the shirt back. [same placement as the front straps]

 YOU ARE DONE!!!!
When I chose denim I was aware that some of the inside of the denim would be visible when wearing this wrap shirt. Keep this in mind when choosing fabrics if you decide to give it a go. Put it over your head and tie the skinny straps in the back and now wrap the back straps to the front. You can tie the belt in front or if it's long enough like ours was you can tie it in the back. **You will need to trim you skinny straps but try it on and make the decision on how short to cut them.






   Here some options available now but I bet they have bunch of new fabrics coming soon!
          


    Thanks for watching folks! Until next time. 
Michelle @ That Black Chic 

Comments

  1. RobinSeptember 7, 2016 at 8:05 AM

    Looks great. I like the suggestion of the raw silk, your first suggested fabric. The slight stiffness and unevenness of the thread size in raw silk would be perfect made up this way and the texture and no right/wrong side would work well also.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That Black ChicSeptember 7, 2016 at 5:20 PM

      Robin I got my eyes on that silk and I did see that in person and it is divine!

      Delete
  2. RobinSeptember 7, 2016 at 8:11 AM

    And it would make a great vest for over a soft pink or light yellow turtleneck for fall weather. Hmmm...going to look more closely at that raw silk for myself! It may even be 54" wide. FabricMart had some in an Aztec weave, that made up into this shirt would look very southwest, blanket-inspired. Thanks for the idea! Sorta glad your original project didn't work out, heh, heh...😉

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That Black ChicSeptember 7, 2016 at 5:20 PM

      You're right this could be a topper to a turtle neck as well.

      Delete
  3. TheTellTaleTashaSeptember 7, 2016 at 8:16 AM

    Very interesting

    ReplyDelete
  4. CarolSeptember 7, 2016 at 3:41 PM

    I think I need one of these!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ElizabethSeptember 7, 2016 at 4:08 PM

    Really cute, as is everything you make and Mori too! Thanks for the denim inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ann BrodskySeptember 7, 2016 at 5:19 PM

    That is adorable! Thanks for the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Pat GottshalkSeptember 8, 2016 at 8:20 AM

    I like this a bit longer for a fall vest or wrap like option. Thanks for another great idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That Black ChicSeptember 8, 2016 at 5:59 PM

      Your welcome Pat and I'd love to see you make a version of this wrap shirt!

      Delete
  8. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2016 at 11:21 AM

    That wrap shirt is fabulous, but I NEED those boots!!! They are divine!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tanya MSeptember 10, 2016 at 4:57 PM

    You are AMAZING! Making this in blue denim to wear with black leggings and a black turtleneck. It's almost Autumn in New York and this would be perfect! Thanks so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Recent Posts You Might Like

Return to work wardrobe in ITY – which is your favorite?

By
In June of this year, after spending nearly 11 years at my place of employment and after restructuring and cost cutting, I took a separation package. I was so fortunate to be able to take a few months off, and also to very quickly find a position with a new company. I start my new job on September 14th and I’m super excited!  This new position is also different for me in that it is local to my area (whereas before I worked remotely and traveled to the office every few weeks) – so I’ll be going into the office three times a week. So of course I needed to sew up some new outfits! I’m a huge fan of ITY knit fabric ; ITY stands for interlock twist yarn, which describes the way the yarn is knitted together. I love it for tops, dresses, skirts, and even pants: it’s comfortable, easy care, low wrinkle, and comes in so many beautiful prints. I sewed up three new outfits over the last two weeks and I’m excited to share them with you today! Oh, and also – I need help choosing what to wear fi...
18 comments
Continue Reading »

Sometimes The Fabric Chooses The Pattern

By
Have you ever fallen in love with a fabric and immediately envisioned exactly what you wanted to make, only to realize halfway through the planning process that the fabric had other ideas? That’s exactly what happened with this project. I used Fabric Mart’s Black/Dark Cobalt/Smoky White Poly Foliage Print Chiffon , and while I initially had plans for a detailed dress, the fabric ultimately led me in a completely different direction—and I’m so glad it did. When I first saw this gorgeous chiffon print, I was immediately drawn to the rich color palette and beautiful movement. The dark background paired with the cobalt and smoky white foliage creates a striking look that feels both dramatic and versatile. My original plan was to make a dress with princess seams, buttons, and more structured design elements. However, after spending time with the fabric, I realized that all of those seam lines and construction details would compete with what makes this chiffon so beautiful: its drape, moveme...
6 comments
Continue Reading »

Hillhouse Nap Dress Dupe with Fabric Mart Fabric!

By
I have been wanting a Hill House Home Nap Dress for the longest time, but when I saw the reviews that the fabric was too sheer and the price tag—often well over $200—I decided it would be much more fun to make my own! I found this gorgeous abstract navy and white cotton voile from Fabric Mart and knew it would be perfect for the light, floaty dupe I had in mind. Cotton voile is soft, lightweight, and beautifully suited for a shirred dress like the infamous Nap dress. This abstract print gives the finished dress a more modern feel. I love a floral fabric, but I was excited to find this abstract print in my favorite color of navy.  Rather than using an entire dress pattern, I followed Just Lauren Johnson’s YouTube tutorial on how to create a Nap Dress from rectangles. Lauren walks you through how to use your own measurements to calculate the dimensions of the bodice, skirt tiers, and other pieces. I loved this approach because I could create the dress specifically for my measurement...
7 comments
Continue Reading »

Sewing With Intention: New Look 6106 and a More Coordinated Wardrobe

By
Sometimes a sewing project begins with a beautiful piece of fabric or a pattern you just have to make. This one began with my closet. Recently, I did a major closet purge. I took a good look at what I actually wear, what I kept reaching for, and—maybe more importantly—what was missing. Once the pieces I no longer loved or wore were gone, something became very clear: I want to be more intentional about what I sew next. Instead of sewing individual pieces that I love but don't necessarily wear together, I want to build a wardrobe where my handmade garments coordinate with the clothes I already own—and with the pieces I'm planning to sew next. For this month's Fabricista project, this beautiful lightweight shirting from Fabric Mart turned out to be a wonderful place to start. The Fabric That Started It All Fabric Mart provided this beautiful oatmeal and black heathered shirting , along with the matching thread for my project. One of the things I love most about this fabric is ...
9 comments
Continue Reading »