What style?

There is a peasant top on Martha Stewart website. No pattern, just measurements and make marks on fabric, then cut out and sew.OR if you have a top you love, take it apart and trace it off, then sew a new one.

a caftan, the top part, I had the directions, two squares of material. just not sure of the amount or how to do the seams.....thanks for any input...

Measure from your shoulder to the length you desire and add enough for your seams and hem. Traditional seams in fashion sewing are 5/8". Allow enough for a decent hem.
Most of those caftan type patterns place the front and back on the fold of fabric to eliminate a front and back seam. To be safe, you will need the length of the top times 2 plus enough for seams and hems. You probably can find directions for a caftan type pattern online.

Gloria, you may want to go out and buy a pattern that is the style that you are looking for. Most times the patterns run about two bucks a piece on a promotion. It is always easier to just spend a couple of bucks and have it laid out for you instead of trying to "reinvent the wheel".

On the other hand, what you may be looking for is the old technique of cutting and sewing with squares and rectangles. Even to do that, you need some sewing experience and some knowledge of what you are doing.

Up until about the late 1800's most mens shirts were cut of squares and rectangles. Most of the garments of the old world were cut and pieced this way. When fabric had to be grown, harvested, spun and woven it was much more valuable than a length of stuff off the bolt at Joanns. They did not waste by cutting out holes for the sleeves and using facings and such. An original caftan as worn in the old world was, no doubt, made this way using geometric shapes and gussets. Pants were made the same way. They were cut and sewn with not a thread wasted.

A lot of the web sites from folks who do historical interpretation and those who are involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism have tutorials for making such tunics, trousers, and gowns.

Just go and buy a pattern for what you are looking for.

so many FREE patterns online, try pinterest.com or youtube.com ... you'll find much more than you asked for ... indiesews.com https://www.colettepatterns.com/  free patterns on these two sites ... and others heyjune.com ....

Try allfreesewing.com They should have just what you need. Also, craftsy.com has a lot of free patterns well as for sale.