DIY Lace Halter Crop Top for Fusion & Practice Outfit!

Today I’m very excited to share with you this lace halter crop top!

It’s great for dance lessons, yoga, fusion costuming, or summer outfits, and goes perfectly with these capris I made recently. It’s pretty easy to make too. Let’s get started!

Click here to learn how to make the capris I’m wearing!

To make this DIY Lace Halter Crop Top, you need:

About 1/2m (1/2yd) of stretch fabric – this is going to be the inside layer of the halter top. Make sure it’s nice and stretchy. I’m using cotton jersey here.

About 1/2m (1/2yd) of stretch lace

Fitted t-shirt to use as a pattern

About 1m (1yd) of 2.5cm (1in) wide elastic

Matching color thread 

How to Make DIY Lace Halter Crop Top

Take Measurements

First, put on your T-shirt, and mark about 2.5cm (1in) below the underbust line.

Also, mark or measure where you want the top of the halter top to be. I chose around my collar bone, which was about 4cm above the deepest point of the neckline.

And measure the width of your neck.

If your T-shirt is not very fitted, mark how much to be taken in at the sides, so you can mark that on your halter top pattern.

Lace Halter Top Pattern Making 

Take your fabric, and check the direction of the stretch. Even if it’s a 4-way stretch, there’s usually a stretchier direction. Make a note of that.

Then fold the fabric right sides together, so the stretchier direction is perpendicular to the fold.

Fold your T-shirt like this so you can see the front side. Align the fold of the T-shirt and the fold of the fabric.

Measure and mark the top of the halter top from the front neckline on the fold of the fabric.

Then mark the bottom point of the armhole, and trace the side seam down to the underbust level we marked with the safety pin.

Fold up the T-shirt at the underbust line, and trace the fold.

Remove the T-shirt, and draw a horizontal line that is half of your neck width, from the mark on the fold.

And connect the end of the line with the top of the side seam line. Add a slight curve to it so it’ll fit you well. 

From the horizontal line, measure 5cm (2in) up, and draw a rectangle like this.

From the bottom line, measure 5cm (2in) down, and draw a rectangle.

And along the curved line and side seam, add a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance.

Cut along the lines, and you have the front panel ready.

Fold the fabric right sides together again, and place your folded T-shirt on top, aligning the folds.

This time, just trace from the end of the armhole along the side seam to the underbust level. 

Fold up the T-shirt at the underbust line, and trace along the fold.

Remove the T-shirt, and draw a horizontal line from the top of the side seam line to the fold of the fabric.

From the bottom line, measure 5cm (2in) down, and draw a rectangle, and for the rest of the edges, add a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance.

Cut along the lines, and you have the back panel ready.

Next, take your lace fabric, and again, check the direction of the stretch.

Place your front and back panels on the lace fabric, and the stretchier direction is parallel to the width of the panels. 

And cut the lace fabric according to the panels. 

Also, cut a long strip that is 4cm (1 1/2in) wide and about 1m (39in) long.

That’s it for cutting! Let’s start assembling!

Sew your Lace Halter Crop Top

First, place the front and back panels right sides together, and match up the side seams. Do a zigzag stitch with a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance.

Repeat for the lace panels.

Next, place the lace panels over the solid panels so the wrong side of the solid fabric is facing the right side of the lace, and match up all edges. Do a zigzag stitch along the top edges both front and back with a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance.

Trim corners of the seam allowances of the front panel, but be careful not to snip off any of the stitches. And turn it right side out. You can use a needle to get the corners out neatly.

At the top of the front panel, fold 2.5cm (1in) from the edge towards the wrong side. And do a zigzag stitch right next to the edge. 

Match up the bottom edges of the solid and lace panels if you haven’t already, and take your elastic. Place the elastic against the bottom edge.

And do a zigzag stitch right along the edge of the elastic. Pull the elastic gently and align all edges as you sew.

Overlap the ends of the elastic about 2.5cm (1in), and trim the elastic.

Flip the bottom edge towards the wrong side, so the elastic is now encased. Do another zigzag stitch right over the stitches, and again, pull gently as you go.

Finally, take the long strip, and fold it right sides together lengthwise. And do a narrow zigzag stitch with a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance.

Trim the seam allowance down to about half, and turn it inside out. I’m using a small safety pin to do this. Attach the safety pin at the end, and guide it through the tube.

Place the safety pin at the end of the strip, and thread it through the casing at the top of the front panel. Tie the ends into knots.

And your halter top is complete! It’s pretty, fitted, and comfy! Great for lessons or troupe costuming, and it’s fun to match it with your practice bottoms or hip scarf too. 

And next week, continuing the practice outfit theme, I’ll show you how to create this ruched hip scarf that is built into a pair of pants!

It’s cute and doesn’t shift or fall, so it’s perfect for your dance lessons! If you’re curious, make sure to sign up for my newsletter below, so you won’t miss it.

Click here to sign up for the Sparkly Belly newsletter!

And if you’re curious about these matching capris, I have good news!

In 2 weeks, I’m launching a brand new course where you can learn to make these fun flare pants and capris! You can custom make these pants to YOUR unique measurements, so they’ll fit perfectly around the waist and hips, and you’ll never trip over the pants.

You get lots of design variations in this course too, so if you’re curious, go over to SparklyBelly.com/pants and check out the design options and sign up to be invited to the course launch sale!

Click here to see all the pants design options you can make!

Hope you liked this lace halter crop top tutorial, and if you did, please share this tutorial with your dancer friends! 

Thanks for reading, and keep sparkling!

P.S. Pin this image on your practice outfit board! 🙂

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