Tools and materials:
- Scuba fabric
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
by The SILEM
Make Your Own Gorgeous Peplum Top by Following These Simple Steps
4 Materials
$10
1 Hour
Easy
I absolutely love a clothing item that’s versatile. That’s one of the reasons I’m in love with this peplum top. It can be worn with or without a belt, giving you two totally different looks. Without a belt, it’s flowy and high-low, and with a belt, it’s cute and flattering. Furthermore, this top is so easy to make and I’m obsessed with the way it looks. In this tutorial, I’ll take you through the steps of making your own version of this top. Give it a try, I’m sure you won’t regret it.
Peplum top
Prepare your fabric
For this project, I highly recommend using Scuba fabric. It’s solid, meaning that there is no difference between the right and wrong side, and it’s self-finishing, meaning it doesn’t fray when you cut it. To prepare your fabric, start by folding your fabric in half, then folding it yet again.
Women’s peplum top
Cut a curve
The length of the top is going to be 30”. So take your measuring tape and measure 30” from the top folded corner. Mark the measurement, then move your measuring tape in a circular motion, keeping the end in the corner, and continue marking the same measurement. In the end, you should have ¼ of a circle. Then grab your scissors and cut out the curve.
DIY peplum top
Mark the center
Now you need to mark the center of your circle. So take a pencil and mark along the fold of the fabric. When you unfold the second fold, you’ll have the center of the semi-circle clearly marked. Once you’re done marking the fold, go ahead and unfold it so that you have a semi-circle.
Easy peplum top
Mark your shoulder measurements
Take your measuring tape and place it on the fold, with the 6.5” mark on the center line. Then mark where the 0” of the measuring tape is. Now move over to the other side of the center and mark where the 13” line is. These are the shoulder measurements, so if yours are different, you’ll have to adjust the markings accordingly.
No-sew peplum top
Mark your armholes
Go over to both the markings you just made and draw a vertical line from the marking to 3.5” up. Then mark a 3” horizontal line with the vertical line you drew in the middle of the new line. Draw two diagonal lines on either side to connect the lines in a triangular shape. Now use your scissors to cut out the triangle, giving you your armholes.
High-low peplum top
Cut the center
You’re now going to lift the top layer of the fabric from the bottom layer. Then grab your scissors and cut along the center line that you drew, all the way to the folded edge.
Sleeveless peplum top
Make the belt
Now it’s time to make the belt. So take your spare fabric and mark 60” in length. Then mark a line all the way across the 60” that’s 2” up from the line, giving you a width of 2”. Once you have it marked, you can go ahead and cut it out, and you’ll be done!
How to make a peplum top
How to DIY a peplum top
Peplum top with belt
There you have it! Just like that, your peplum top is finished and ready to be worn. I am such a fan of how this project turned out. It’s just such a cool style, and as you can see, it can be worn with or without the belt for two completely different looks. It’s such a flattering top and I can’t wait to wear it out and about. So which style do you like better: with the belt, or without it? Let me know in the comments!
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I just finished watching your video and the demonstration with the paper is genius and your verbal tutorial is excellent. Thank you for sharing your project. A suggestion if you do not mind on your sewing tools. I think with that fabric and many others a rotary cutter and a cutting pad would be easier if you plan on using a lot of scuba fabric. You also seem to do a lot of sewing and the rotary might be a great tool for you. If your scissor is not VERY sharp that kind of fabric can be a pain to cut. The other tool I am suggesting is either a chalk marker for fabric, or a heat sensitive marker and there or a marking pencils plus there are other kinds of marking devices that are better than a lead pencil which will leave marks on your fabric. I also love the shirt you are wearing in the video did you make that? it is lovely.
Wow! This is so insightful. I truly appreciate all the suggestions. I would definitely get all those tools. Thank you so much. Yes, I made the shirt I wore 😊
Really like this jacket. So easy and simple for anyone to make. I do have one suggestion though. I love the belt from the front view. I find how ever the back gathers up by the arm hole do not quite fit right. With such a beautiful flow of the back I think if a hole were to be made on each side in a fold for the belt to go through under the back and coming out the front. Then you could close the front with the belt and leave the back with the same beautiful flow as if it wasn't tided at all. I have never heard of scuba fabric where do you find it?
You’re right. The fold at the back is not very pretty. That’s such a great suggestion. Thank you so much. I’ll definitely try it out. The scuba fabric is really lovely. I got it from Amazon. Here’s the link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075TYGXKS/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=thesilem-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=1aa62fc7fef2cd30883e3345816a34ea&creativeASIN=B075TYGXKS