How To Make A Self-Drafted Layering Mesh Top

Let’s make some wardrobe staples that can be layered upon and used over and over again. You can make this in any color or pattern to up the boldness of your top creating a statement piece, or tone it down for a neutral, basics look.

For project number two of the #UseUpYourStashChallenge, we’re bringing you a layering mesh top. You can check out the first project – statement pants – here!

I debated this project for a long time. Did I want to make it more? More extravagant, more over the top? Did I even have enough fabric for that? And most importantly, would I wear more? Probably not.

Something I have been eyeballing for a while now, and would buy if it was more accessible to do so and if I found a good one. Is a layering mesh top. I feel like it would complement my style.

This project is super easy to make! It could be a scrap fabric project if you wanted to patchwork some pieces together into a cool design. I imagine that would be a cool look. But all in all, honestly you don’t need much to make this top and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Let’s get into it!

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Approximate time put into this project: 4-6 hours divided between two days

Disclaimer: I am trying to teach myself the Metric System, I will always try to include both measurements in my tutorials, i.e. centimeters and inches, meters, and yards. Though I have been using them interchangeably in my everyday sewing life lately, I apologize if I miss including both or switch between the two too often.

Inspiration Ideas

I dug around on Pinterest for a few days to try to find some inspiration for this layering tulle top before I got started. There are so many fabulous tulle tops with statement sleeves, ruffles, and peplums. Those didn’t really match the vibe of the layering look I was going for, and those were made out of a stiffer tulle with no stretch.

Luckily my tulle had some good stretch in one direction, which I made sure to meticulously pay attention to when cutting my pattern and sewing everything together. You’ll need to be attentive to this as well.

Most basic tulle tops are pretty simple and look just like your average long-sleeve top. In the end, I chose to take my inspiration from this beautiful Free People top. I love the design of the material they used and the way they styled it! I haven’t bought it, but 10/10 would recommend.

If you too have about a yard and a half of stretch tull on hand and you are interested in a similar look. Then let’s jump into creating a our own layering mesh top

Cutting Your Pattern Pieces

Figure out which way your mesh/tulle stretches. We will need to cut the stretch going horizontally around the chest.

Take the measurement of your bust area and divide it by four. To make sure my top was cut evenly, I folded my reference shirt in half along the center front and lined up the side and shoulder seams. I don’t know if you can see it in the picture above, but to the right of the top, there is a little pin indicating how much extra width I needed to add to my top. When I cut it I cut around the left side, shoulder and bottom edge, then I folded my top in half till it reached that pin.

I would also recommend you include extra length along the bottom hem. While we won’t be hemming it with a rolled hem, it’s better to have more fabric rather than too little.

Neckline Thoughts

Decide how you want your neckline to sit. I tried to copy the turtleneck of the Free People top, I feel like it half worked for me. Perhaps I should have made it a little taller.

If you want the turtleneck line for your top, you’ll simply continue up from the shoulder line, however high you want it, and then angle it off horizontally. I recommend you dip the center down ever so slightly to help it sit nicer around your neck.

Alternatively, you can do a U neckline or a small V. You will simply need to create whatever shape you desire on your top as you cut it out. Since the edges are finished with a zig-zag stitch, I wouldn’t recommend you open up the neckline too much.

Cutting The Front Of The Top

Make sure the stretch is going in the correct direction once more, then go ahead and cut around the outer seam. Leaving .50″ – 1″ (1cm – 3cm) of seam allowance. Do not cut the center front. Once you’ve cut around all edges on the left half of your top, fold your fabric piece in half, then continue to cut the next half of the front piece.

Cutting The Back Of The Top

To cut the back piece, repeat the same steps as before. Fold your reference top in half and cut around it including seam allowance. Remember to cut out your higher neckline, although the back neckline will be a little higher than the front.

When you get to the center go ahead and cut it apart, including an extra 1″ (3cm) of seam allowance so we can sew it back together later. Take the piece you just cut and fold it over onto the fabric to cut the second piece. Make sure they are mirrored so that you have opposite sides that open to one complete back piece.

Cutting Your Sleeves

I made an oops while cutting my fabric and barely had enough fabric left to finish my top and fix it later. So I cannot stress enough that you need to make sure you watch which way you cut your fabric.

• Across your chest you want the stretch to go horizontal around your chest. You will need it to be stretchiest there.
• For your sleeves, make sure the stretch goes around your bicep, not along the length of your arm.

The first version that I made when I cut the sleeve wrong, it was super hard to try on the top because the sleeves didn’t stretch, but I had my sleeve cut to maybe 4″ longer than my arm needed and I loved the look of the extra length when it sat on my arm and when using the thumb hole. The gathered or bunched-up look was super pretty.

When I remade the sleeves, I had just a little bit of fabric left over. It was enough to make a sleeve that fit my arm, but the length was not enough to create the gorgeous length I loved from the first sleeve. I also opted not to make the second batch of sleeves fitted. On my finished top they’re a flared sleeve and I love the unique look it gives.

To cut your sleeves for your layering mesh top, fold your fabric in half. Make sure the stretch goes around the arm, not along the length of it. Lay the sleeve of your reference top onto your fabric. Before you cut the fabric, grab your tape measure and measure your arm on a bend from your shoulder to the length you’d like your sleeve to end.

• If you want a fitted look with thumb holes, make sure the length you measure goes to around your knuckles.
• If you want a flare sleeve, the thumb holes don’t really work with it, so I recommend a length around your wrist or just a little longer.

Taking the width of your desired sleeve into account, cut your fabric around your reference top with .50″ – 1″ (1cm – 3cm) of seam allowance.

Finishing The Edges

One piece of inspiration I really leaned into from the Free People top, is I noticed they didn’t finish any edges with a rolled hem, biased tape, or an overclocking stitch. Everything appeared to be finished with a simple zig-zag stitch. Love that for us!

Simply create a zig-zag stitch along the edge of all raw edges, and you’re good to go!

Sewing The Top

To sew your layering mesh top start by pinning your center back pieces together and sew up that seam. Zig-zag stitch the raw edge together. Trim the neckline to be even and rounded if you need to.

Zig-zag stitch around every edge on each sleeve. This will create the finished edge and we won’t have to worry about it later.

At this same time, zig-zag stitch the top of the shoulder and the neckline on both the front and back pieces of your top. You could zig-zag stitch everything all at once and not have to deal with it later. I like to zig-zag stitch my seams together after they’ve been sewn to combine the two flaps on each seam into one.

Pin your front and back pieces, good sides facing, along the shoulder seam. Before you sew it together, measure how much of the neck you want to close up. I originally sewed mine to 1″ (3cm) but went back later and closed that to a .75″ (2cm) opening.

Sew a straight stitch along the shoulder pieces and part of the neckline. Then go over the raw seam with a zig-zag stitch.

Lay your top out flat, with good sides facing up, and pin your sleeve into each armhole. Sew these together with a straight stitch, then repeat with a zig-zag stitch.

Next, pin the sleeves and side seams together, good sides facing.

If you’re adding a thumb hole:

Before you sew it closed, measure how long from the edge of the sleeve you want the thumb hole to start. This can also be achieved by laying your hand on top of the sleeve and putting a pin on either side of your thumb.

Then sew up the sleeve and side seams with a straight stitch. Make sure to leave a gap where you marked for your thumb. For extra security, you can add a little zig-zag stitch on either side of the thumb hole.

If You’re Not Adding A Thumbhole

If you’re creating a flared sleeve or just don’t want a thumbhole, simply sew up the sleeves and side seams.

Make sure all raw edges are zig-zag stitched, including the bottom hem of the layering mesh top.

Final Results

And with that, your layering mesh top is finished! Time to put it on and take it for a spin!

Here are a couple of photos of how I styled it, and below is a front and back view of the top by itself.

What did you think? Super quick and easy right? Do you think you’ll make a layering mesh top as well? If you do let me know what color fabric you choose! And tag me on Instagram @doorsandfloorsblog and use the hashtags #UseUpYourStashChallenge and #DoorsAndFloorsBlog so I can see what you make!

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