Knock-off Mondays: Anthro crop shirt

Did anyone notice I've been gone? My husband had a convention in Chicago (more about that later) last weekend.  Silly me, I wasted all my packing/ preparing time in the ER fixing up #2's broken arm. (he's fine-it was only his left arm anyways and now I get out of taking him to spring training for football).  My packing was a little more frantic than normal.  I packed a lap top so I could blog while the hubby was in meetings.  I was going to visit a ton of link parties and leave lots of comments and fill up all my boards on Pinterest. I also uploaded a ton of pictures and figured I could get at least a half dozen posts written.  I thought I might even go all out and even proof-read them.  This would have been great, if I would have also remembered the power chord. 

Enough about me, here's my post.

I love, love, love the back of this shirt by Anthropology and I figured it would be fun to knock off.  I am basically going to be making a crop shirt w/ a few adjustments.

Step 1:  Cut out a shirt shape on the fold for the front.

Step 2:  Lay the front of the fabric on top of another piece of fabric 1 inch from the fold (the further from the fold, the larger the pleat). This will make the back 2 inches wider than the front. 
Step 3: Sew the front to the back and shoulder and side seams.
Step 4: Sew a narrow hem along the bottom, neck and sleeves.



Step 4: Find the center back.  Make a 1 inch pleat on either side of the center back.  Press.

Step 5:  Instead of one big button, like the original, I used several smaller vintage buttons that I found at a garage sale.  I sewed 3 narrow strips each 2 inches long.  Then I pinned them inside the pleat and top stitched them in place.

Step 6: Top stitch the fold on the right side and sew the buttons on.

When you're done, it should look like this.

She wanted the sleeves a lot shorter than the original. I had 2 leftover buttons, so I added little pleats on the sleeves as well.

The back is my favorite, but I guess, I should show you the front too.

When it was finished, it turned out a little different than the original, but probably more age appropriate for my kid. So it didn't end up a knock-of as much as an inspired by Anthro.  She loves it and so I'm happy.

I used a yard of fabric, but it I was sewing for myself, I'd want it a little longer and use 1 1/4 yards.

To see where I link up or to add your party, please click here.