The Parisienne top – FREE SEWING PATTERN is easy to wear and really feminine. It gives EVERYONE a waist. (Perfect for those of us who are pear shaped or a bit flat chested.)
This version shown here is made of a silky polyester – a bit like a lining fabric actually. It also looks especially good in silk which shows off the folds across the front of the body. It is pretty flattering as it is gathered and fitted at the back so it gives you a nipped in at the waist look. The front is a bit longer than the back and the belt is attached to the sides so there is no chance of it slipping. There are no tricky zips or buttons to contend with – just straight over the head and then belted in to fit!
It’s a fractionally more complicated than most of my other patterns. So, I would say this is ideal for people who have some experience of sewing rather than complete beginners. For example, you need to be able to gather a seam and sew it onto a band.
Courtesy of my friend Debbie, I can also show you another version of the Parisienne Top (I always think it is so helpful seeing garments made up in more than one material). I absolutely LOVE hot lips fabric she has used. I think it would look great with dark indigo denim and some red lipstick.
Hi Laura! I like the look of this top but am located in letter-size paper land. Any possibility of a letter-size pattern for this one?
Thanks!
Sorry for the delay Heather. It’s there in LETTER size now!
Please add me to you mailing list. Thank you in advance.
Done!
This pattern looks great but the cm measurment for gathering at the back didn’t print and it says gather between the red dots…. what red dots?
Hi Jenny – I’ve just had a quick look – its not very helpful is it? The red dots don’t exist. Gather along the bottom hem / edge of the back panel. I can’t give you an exact length as I am away from home this week and don’t have pattern here. But gather so that the top fits you very loosely round the waist – several inches to spare. You will belt it in at the end for a good fit at the waist.
Love It!!
Love this pattern (& the tulip dress) but how much fabric would I need? I can’t seem to see that written down anywhere – or am I just not looking properly?
HI Sarag, the Tulip Dress be made (just about) with 1m of fabric.
Hi Laura,
I was about to cut out my fabric when I realised there was not mention about seam allowance. Is the seam allowance included in the pattern? And if so, how much is it? Thanks in advance for your answer
There is no seam allowance Muriel.
Great. Thanks.
Hi Laura, I bought the pattern for the Parisienne top as I totally loved it. I have printed it off and pieced it together, and it looked very, very small. I am a size 12 so it should have been perfect, but, for example, the back length (nape of neck to waist) is 12″ and mine is 16″. The armhole is 8″ circumference and mine is 11″. is there any way to make the pattern appear larger in order to print it again please? I think even if I added in big seam allowances I would end up with a top that would barely fit my 11 year old! I am certain it’s something I am doing wrong, but if you could help please that would be great. Many thanks, Cathy
Hi Cathy, I think you have perhaps done a “fit to page” without realising it. Sometimes its an automatic setting on your computer. It is essential that your scaling is on 100%. Look for scale and set it to 100%.Let me know if you have any more problems. x
Brilliant, thank you so much Laura, I’ll give it another go. Thanks also for getting back to me so quickly! Cathy
Hi again Laura, I am feeling quite shamefaced… I now realise that all I had to do was to print the pattern in ‘landscape’ format, rather than ‘portrait’… but if you could post this comment please it might save one or two others the same headache/waste of paper 🙂 thanks again, and I can’t wait to make my top now I’ve got the pattern right! Cathy x
Hello Laura,
Your clothes are always beautiful. I would like to make this top, but I don’t understand where the tutorial is? Also, which size is it?
Many thanks,
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte, it is a UK size 12. There are some basic instructions printed onto the pattern. If you have a look at the PDF pattern pieces you will see them. However there is not a detailed tutorial as there is with some of them. Hope that helps.
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Hi, how do you sewing the belt to the top? is it a straight seam at centre back? also how do you fold to make the hem if the belt edge is attached so that it is parallel with the hem?
Also are the instructions correct when it says to sew the side seams with “wrong sides together?”
Like the pattern but I cant seem to figure out how the construction is supposed to be for these particular parts.
Abit of ambiguity happening here, Thanks.
Hi, yes the instructions are pretty basic. I have amended them slightly to try and make them clearer. “Wrong sides together” is a mistake – I have corrected it to say “right sides together” – thanks for letting me know.
Hi can you please tell me how the back neck edge is supposed to be finished? Do I try to hem it after the shoulder seams are done?
You can finish it with a small roll hem if your fabric will let you, other wise finish with bias binding – have a look at thhe help page and seaarch how to make and how to use bias binding.
Thank you just starting to see again. Please add me to your email list I
It’s a beautiful top.
Looking forward to sewing with your patterns
Hi Laura,
I’d love to make this top, but can’t find anywhere how much fabric to purchase. Would one yard be enough? I’m a USA size 14 which, I think, is equal to a UK 16.
Thanks!
Hi Tamara – its 1.25m which I think will be 1.5yards
Thanks SO much!