Peplum top pattern

Remember those ‘jeans and a nice top’ events? Meet your new fave go-to for easy style with Portia Lawrie’s patternless peplum top.

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Portia Lawrie

Published: May 17, 2022 at 7:00 am

Peplum tops can be worn for casual occasions with jeans, but they're also smart enough to wear to work. They're suitable for any occasion when you want to bring you want to add your own style to an outfit.

Peplum tops feature a frill that flares outward at the bottom giving the garment it's unique shape.

Peplum tops go in and out of fashion and we're pleased that they're making a return! The good news is that it's really easy to sew your own peplum top sewing pattern at home using your choice of fabrics.

Looking for more tops to sew? Check out our pick of the best blouse patterns, learn how to sew pants and sewing patterns for beginners.

If you're new to sewing, take a look at our sewing for beginners and how to use a sewing machine guides before you get started.

Read on to learn how to make Portia's peplum top sewing pattern…

Notes

The specific measurements given will give a finished garment that will fit a UK 10-14. For larger and smaller sizes simply increase/decrease the width of the front and back pieces.

Ideas to try

Adapt the peplum top sewing pattern with these ideas:

Try positioning the frill seam at different locations. Under bust for an empire line or at the hips for a dropped waist version.
Use lightweight cottons for daywear, or try using a lustrous silk for parties!
Add tiers using three or four longer frill lengths for a boho dress.
Add a matching frill to the cuffs for a more exaggerated silhouette.

You will need:

Light- to medium-weight woven fabric (2m (21/4yd))
Lightweight iron-on interfacing
Erasable fabric marker
Matching thread
Basic sewing kit

Cutting out

Step 1

From the main fabric cut:

Front/Back Bodice: two 55x55cm (215/8×215/8in)
Sleeves: two 50x40cm (193/4×153/4in)

Step 1 – cutting out the fabric

Creating the neckline

Step 1

With the Front and Back Bodice pieces RS together and folded along the warp/grainline cut out a 2.5cm (1in) deep and 12cm (4¾in) wide shallow neckline through all layers, from the folded edge.

Step 2

Cut a shoulder slope through all layers.

Step 2 – cutting the shoulder slope

Assembling the top

Step 1

Unfold. With RS together sew the shoulders with a 1cm (³⁄₈in) seam allowance. Press the seam allowance to the back. Take a Sleeve rectangle and curve the top (50cm) edge to match the curve of the armhole, having the centre of the Sleeve head align with the shoulder seam.

Step 3 – sewing the shoulders

Step 2

Sew the Sleeve heads to the armholes RS together with a 1cm (³⁄₈in) seam. Press the seam towards the Sleeve. Finish the seam allowance.

Step 4 – sew the sleeve heads to the arm holes

Step 3

Fold the whole garment RS together with raw edges of the Sleeve and side seams aligned. You can shape the Sleeve at this stage if you wish by cutting a shallow wedge from the seam allowance, starting at the cuff and finishing at the underarm. Sew the Sleeve and side seams with a 1cm (³⁄₈in) seam allowance in one pass, curving at the underarm. Press the seam to the back. Finish the seam allowance.

Step 5 – sew the sleeves in one pass

Step 4

Try the top on. Mark a front neckline curve that sits smoothly along your collar bone. With the garment folded along the centre front, and neckline edges and shoulder seams aligned, cut from the centre front fold, along the marked curve, blending to nothing at the shoulders.

Step 6 – mark and cut the neckline

Adding the facing

Step 1

With the top laid open and flat, trace the front neckline curve, and 3.5cm (1³⁄₈in) along the shoulder slopes, onto the interfacing. Join the ends of this line with a bottom curve spaced 3.5cm (13/8in) from the first, to create a neckline facing. Repeat for the back neckline and then cut both pieces out.

Step 7 – make the back of the neckline

Step 2

Press the Front and Back interfacing pieces onto fabric. Cut out with a 1cm (³⁄₈in) fabric seam allowance along the shoulder edges. Finish the shoulder seam and bottom curved edges.

Step 8

Step 3

With RS together sew the Front and Back facing pieces together along the shoulder seams with a 1cm (³⁄₈in) seam allowance. Apply the complete facing piece to the garment neckline with RS together, raw edges aligned, and a 8mm seam allowance. Understitch then press the facing to the inside.

Step 9 – sew the Front and Back facing pieces together along the shoulder seams

Adding the peplum

Step 1

Try the garment on again. Mark where you want the peplum seam to sit + 1cm (³⁄₈in) seam allowance. Cut away any excess fabric below this mark.

Step 10 – try on the garment and mark where you want the peplum to sit

Step 2

The peplum is a closed loop of fabric that is hemmed along the bottom edge and gathered until it is the same circumference as the hem of the garment. Dimensions here are entirely your choice depending on how gathered and how deep you want the peplum to be. Ours is approximately 1.5 times the garment hem and 10cm (4in) deep before being gathered and hemmed.

Step 11 – sew the peplum

Step 3

Secure the gathering on the peplum in place with machine tacking. Sew to the garment hem with RS together, raw edges aligned, and a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance. Press the peplum away from the garment and press the seam allowance towards the garment. Finish the seam allowance.

Step 12 – finishing the top

You’ve finished! We hope you enjoyed making our peplum top sewing pattern.

Peplum top pattern

Sewing designer

Essex maker, blogger and creator of The Refashioners, Portia sews, knits and has been a regular contributor to Simply Sewing magazine since it launched in 20015. She’s been writing her blog Makery (formerly Miss P) since 2009 and founded The Refashioners challenge, calling on bloggers to refashion a garment to highlight how cool, creative and ecologically sound refashioning old garments actually is. Portia’s sewing super power is creating easy-to-sew, accessible-for-all garments for Simply Sewing magazine, often with no pattern needed so the maker can draft them to their own measurements. She lists family, hazelnut lattes, Indian food and singing into hairbrushes as her loves. Find her on Instagram @portialawrie.