Sew a White Lace Top With Bell Sleeves... From a Tablecloth?!​

My project today is to flip this vintage tablecloth into a white lace top with bell sleeves. If you don’t have a tablecloth, you can use any large piece of material that wraps around you comfortably. 

I love working with lace because it doesn’t fray. 

Tools and materials: 

• Lace tablecloth
• Lace trim (optional)
• Loose top as template
• Scissors
• Pins
• Sewing machine

1. Fold the fabric

My tablecloth is a rectangle and has a central circular design.

I folded it first widthways and then lengthways and held it up against me each time to see which direction worked best for what I had in mind.

I decided on the first orientation so I could use the central design to frame the neckline.

I laid it flat, folded in half widthways with the folded edge at the top.

Then I doubled it over in the other direction, so I had both folded edges at the top. 

A quick tip: vintage tablecloths, especially handmade ones, may not be entirely even. Line up the edges as best you can and smooth it flat to find the center of the fabric.

2. Shape the neckline

Having found the center point, I cut a small quarter diamond shape from the top right corner.

If you prefer a more rounded neckline, cut a quarter circle instead. 

I’d suggest cutting it smaller than you think you’ll need, because it’s much easier to remove more fabric than add it back in!

Even though I didn’t seem to cut much off at all, when I opened out the fabric and tried the top on, the neckline was just about the right size.

3. Cut out the top

I refolded the tablecloth exactly the same way it was when I cut the neckline.

I used a loose sweatshirt as my template.

I folded it in half lengthways and lined up the neckline with the neck edge of my lace top.

I allowed an extra half inch (centimeter) or so for ease and seam allowance at the center front and at the sides.

I laid out the sleeves so they were straight and placed a pin where I wanted the underarm seam of my top to be.

I cut through all the layers outside the side seam and below the sleeve of my sweatshirt to create a basic T-shape for my top.

4. Sew and try on

I unfolded the center edge of my top and stitched the side and underarm seams.

Lace doesn’t always have a right and wrong side but if your fabric does, make sure to sew it with the right sides together.

I tried the top on, and this could be the finished result if you wanted.

Being me, I wanted to make some adjustments and additions.

I decided to make it shorter and more fitted, narrow the sleeves and add a bell cuff to them.

5. Adjust the size

As I’m making bell sleeves, I made the existing sleeves a lot narrower and straighter.

I restitched the side and sleeve seams on one side, tried it on and cut off the excess fabric.

Then I folded my top into four as before and cut and sewed the other side to match.

As I was making it smaller, I didn’t need to unpick anything. 

6. Make the bell sleeves

For these, I used the pieces I’d cut off to make the original shape.

I placed two of them with the right sides facing and sewed the side edges together, leaving a raw edge at the top and a shaped edge at the bottom. 

Then I repeated this with the other two pieces, so I had two tubes of fabric.

I decided on the depth of cuff I wanted and cut both tubes in half widthways.

I turned my top right side out and left the cuffs wrong side out.

I placed one sleeve inside one of the cuffs, so that the right sides were together. 

I lined up the cuff seam with the sleeve seam and the raw edge of the cuff with the edge of the sleeve.

Then I pinned and sewed the two edges together, making pin tucks where needed.

7. Finishing

I bound the neckline with a vintage lace trim from my stash.

This is an optional step. If you like the effect but don’t have any lace, a bias strip or tape works just as well.

I also shortened my top and bound the bottom edge in the same way.

DIY white lace top

My white top with bell sleeves turned out to be the favorite thing I’d made in a long time!

I really want to know if you’re going to try and make one because it was SO quick and easy to do. It took me well under an hour of actual cutting and sewing, even with the extra trims I added.

So please tell me what you think in the comments below.