[Tamara]

Hi,
My fourteen year old announced to me that she would like me to make her a cold shoulder top to wear for a themed dinner at the end of the month. I have seen one put out by stylearc which looks to her liking. I really would like to use an existing tshirt pattern in my stash, namely the metro which is tried and trued where sewing for the teen is concerned.

I am guessing that to make a cold shoulder adaptation I just take the cap off the sleeve. Is this right?? Do I take it off at the notches but add enough to hem? I can picture it and would play but the model is 500km away at school so there would only be myself or the toddler to try the attempt out on.

Any suggestions as to the best way to go about it?

Thanks in advance
Tamara

• This topic was modified 8 years ago by Tamara.

[Lightning McStitch]

Oooh, what a fun puzzle.
I haven’t made or worn a “cold shoulder” top so I can’t help with where the opening should start.
The notches of the sleeve head might be a bit high? Maybe 1/2″ below that.
I also wonder if you shouldn’t then bring the shoulder – the open edge of the shoulder that is, in a little. A similar adjustment to what you do if you’re converting to a sleeveless. Maybe shave a half inch off the outer shoulder too?
Then, I’d use a knit facing rather than trying to hem the hole! A one inch or so wide strip, shaped to match the shoulder edge and another to match the upper sleeve edge.
If you understitch them they should behave.
Good luck and share pics please!

[Liesl Gibson]

I think @lightningmcstitch is on the right track. Basically, you’ll cut off the top half of the sleeve cap and leave enough to hem the top edge. The you’ll add a bias facing to the upper armhole to finish it. It’s like the Partial Cap Sleeve in the Building Block Dress book, except the bias facing is at the top of the armhole instead of the bottom. Does that make sense?

[Tamara]

Thanks @lightningmcstitch and @liesl it makes perfect sense. In fact I found a tutorial that actually pictorially explains it so all I need now is some time to actually implement it. Thanks again and yes pics are on there way too.

[Reeni]

aha I was trying to work this out too! My point of reference was more a raglan/racer type bodice that I would add to and shave a bit off the sleeve… I guess more shoulder less arm if you can picture that?

[Tamara]

@reeni Thanks. My daughter drew me a picture of what she wanted and the Metro will fit the bill for what she wants. However, you could do the raglan and I actually (when I was looking for inspriation) looked at the carousel dress design lines to see how this would work. I am seeing cold shoulder tops that are fitted t shirts and also strappy tops but the actual cold shoulder part is more scooped and drapey looking on the strappy styles, most likely because they use a woven fabric to make it.

You could pretty much make the gap as large or as small as you wanted.

With our summer styles being filled with off the shoulder and cold shoulders, I am going to be auite swamped and rather easy to sew tops and dresses that will keep her satisfied. Actually the off shoulder top pattern I have is so easy, I think I will get her to sew one herself when she finishes the school year in six weeks time.