Hello! I’m Aimee, also known as the Sewing Scientist, here to bring you a new blog post for Ellie & Mac. This blog contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I will receive a small commission for which I am very grateful.
Today, I want to show you a simple hack for the Be Genuine Top. This was my first time making the Be Genuine Top and it won’t be my last.
I was shopping not long ago and came across a cute top that had cold shoulders with a strappy design in the opening. I thought to myself – I can make that! My mother’s birthday is coming up and I decided to make one for her. I needed to model it first though for this blog. 
I first made the top per the pattern – except that I know my mom loves her tops to be a bit more flowy. I graded out the top from the bust to add a lot more ease at the hemline. Ince I had the top constructed, I made the straps. I made one long piece using smooth ribbing from Bow Button Fabrics. It was 1.25” wide and I folded it in thirds and then than it through my coverstitch. Please don’t judge my wavy stitching. 
I then laid the sleeve out so I could estimate how long the straps needed to be. I then sewed the band on the sleeve. With the band on, I then clipped the strapsonto the seam allowance of the band. I just did one sleeve to begin with.
I then tried the top on to see how I like the straps. 
I was happy with how it looked and sewed the straps to the band seam allowance with my sewing machine using a straight stitch. 
I then placed my finished sleeve back to back with the unfinished sleeve to mark the placement of the straps with clips. I then sewed the clips on the otherside.
Now that I have tried it on with both sleeves done, I wish I had left the straps a tiny bit longer and placed them a little lower from the shoulder seam. I sewed the top straps about 1.5” from the shoulder seam and I think 2.5” would be better as the top crossed straps want to sit on top of my shoulder. 
I think this Be Genuine Top turned out really cute and it’s really comfortable. My mom loves tie dye and I really hope she loves her new top.
I think it looks really cute with my Good Vibes Joggers that I made recently in a denim color French terry.
If you want to see more of my makes, follow my Blog The Sewing Scientist. You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook. Thank you for reading!
