I bet you weren\’t planning on seeing Simplicity 3480 again so quickly! You may remember (or, maybe, you are a new reader and/or a goldfish, in that case, welcome) that last week I used this pattern with a gorgeous nani IRO print and made a little playset out of this crop top and high waisted shorts. Today I\’m dialing it back a bit with the sleeveless version in solid red. Crop tops!
…did I fool you??!?!?
It\’s not a crop top at all!
I stumbled across McCall\’s 4933 on the vintage pattern wiki or on etsy, I can\’t remember. While the only one I found was sold, I thought it was such an interesting design!
It may not look that special, but it\’s the only one of it\’s kind I\’ve been able to find: it\’s not an overblouse, but (according to the pattern envelope) a \”Tuck-in blouse with look of short overblouse.\”
Since this pattern was sold and I couldn\’t find another similar one, I used my own crop top pattern, and straightened out the sides so that it is just a little box. I based my modifications on the little pattern diagram on the back of the pattern, which you can see here (the sold pattern on etsy). The pattern pieces are fairly straight and lengthened significantly to allow a large tuck that mimics a hem.
I was worried it would make it much too boxy, but it turned out alright. I think that the original pattern (McCall\’s 4933 I mean) has a liiiittle bit of shaping, but not much. It\’s a pull over style, after all.
Here you can see the tuck a bit better. You can also see that I just pinked the bottom. Actually, I still didn\’t add enough length on the bottom and didn\’t want to lose any! Also, I don\’t really wear all that much red (more of a pink girl), so this is really more of a test garment. Next time, I will make it longer–even unhemmed, this one can ride up out of my waistband. Since it is so simple, it still takes less than a yard, but it does seem like quite a bit of fabric since so much of it is hidden away! I suppose you could use a lining fabric, if you were really tight on fabric.
The short, cropped overblouse with a high waisted skirt or cigarette pants is such a classic 50s/60s silhouette, and I love that someone half a century ago thought, \”I want to look like that but also be able to bend over.\” Right with you, girl. I am so there with you.
Have you ever seen a \”tuck-in overblouse\” pattern like this? I hadn\’t! And actually, you would never even know based on the front illustrations, which I find surprising. Even in these simplest designs, there\’s so many interesting little details.
oh you made it!! its such a good idea isnt it?? and only a yard of fabric! i have that, i should make these. And it makes these style tops safe for work too cause people can accidentally see your fat rolls or whatever haha! i wish i had thought of this when i was making my Christmas party outfit last year. cause i changed my out fit 10 min before walking out the door! I so want to make one of these now!!!
Wow- red? I think the red is flattering and should be nice for the upcoming July 4th weekend. The fit is spot on. I think you should sew up a top with a collar like 4933. So many possibilities.
Eeeeeeeeeeeaaaah! Is what Im saying. At first glance I was bemoaning how I cannot wear a cropped top, then you answered a prayer I didn't know I had. This is stinking Brilliant.
Is this not the smartest thing? I never would have come up with this on my own, but some clever, clever pattern designer in 1959 did! And it was very easy to just straighten out and lengthen a pattern that I already knew fit!
Thanks! I know, the collar is adorable, isn't it? I actually purchased a second top pattern (because this one had back darts and I wasn't sure how they would work–I ended up just omitting them) and it didn't fit at all, so I went with this one. I think I'll wear it for the 4th with my chambray short shorts?
I think this may be the only pattern that has this effect, at least it was the only one I could find! It may be that my search terms were wrong though? I don't know why they didn't point it out on the front of the envelope! If you have a simple top pattern you can easily alter it 🙂
What a great design! I haven't come across a pattern like that before, or not knowingly anyway. I will have to keep my eyes peeled for one now.
It seems so odd that there's no clue to the pattern's design feature on the front of the envelope. Perhaps we've seen others like it and just not known? Considering how many catchy taglines they typically have (the \”'Round-the-Clock dress\” etc) it's so strange they don't mention it at all and just leave it looking like a normal overblouse.
that is so clever! I made a butterick top last year which I love and then made a pair of cropped highwaisted trews to go with it this year as it didnt work with any other jeans/pants I had. I wore them last week and as the temperatures are still rather cold for summer here (ireland) I wore a camisole underneath!!!!! so your option would work so well (as i am naturally a bit cold blooded also!. thank you for the share
I thought is was very clever as well! I've been making lots of cropped blouses so now I need to do the same as you and get some high-waisted bottom halves!
How clever! I've never seen anything like that before! That's why I love looking at vintage patterns… there's always a fun new detail to discover!
Super cute! I love that! So that's how they do that silhouette… think of all the shapes you can apply it to!
This is really a wonderful post.
Love this idea – and have never come across it before (I've just seen the dresses that look like crop tops and skirts).
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