Cropped Sleeveless Draped Neck Top

Fitted Vest with Draped Voluminous Collar and Sculpted Silhouette

A cropped, fitted sleeveless women's vest with a large draped collar crossed left over right, front and back darts, an invisible zipper in the lower part of the centre back seam and a full lining.

When To Wear

• As a top with high-waisted trousers or skirts: the length stops at the waist.
• In spring and autumn, worn on its own without a layer underneath, the collar covering the neck.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Fitted, shaped with darts on the fronts and on the back.

Length: Cropped, ending at the waist.

Collar: Two collar pieces placed right sides together, stitched along the outer edge and turned out. The left side is placed over the right, secured along the lower edges and set into the neckline, forming soft folds that cross into a V at the front and stand up around the neck at the back.

Sleeves: Sleeveless; the armholes are finished with the lining.

Front: Centre front seam and front darts.

Closure: Invisible zipper in the lower part of the centre back seam, with the slider at the bottom when closed.

Back: Centre back seam and back darts.

Lining: Full lining cut from the main back and front pieces, stitched to the neckline, armholes, hem and zipper tape; the vest is turned through an opening in the left side seam of the lining.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate to Advanced. An invisible zipper set into the lower part of a seam, a two-piece crossed collar set into the neckline with clipped corners, and a full bag lining with the armholes stitched in two steps.

Fabric Recommendations

Suiting fabrics from natural or blended fibres.

Additional Supplies

• Lining fabric
• Invisible zipper

Cutter’s Must

From Main Fabric:

1. Back – 2 pieces
2. Front – 2 pieces
3. Collar – 2 pieces

From Lining Fabric:

1. Back – 2 pieces
2. Front – 2 pieces

Important Information

Before cutting your fabric:

• Print and lay out pattern pieces to determine yardage.
• Check mirrored pieces, notches, and grainlines.
• For patterned fabrics, align carefully for symmetry.

Assembly Instructions

1. Back

Stitch the darts on the Back pieces.
Trim the dart intake and press toward the center.

Stitch the center back seam from the top to the zipper marking.
Press the seam allowances open.

Insert the zipper.
(The slider of the closed zipper should be positioned at the bottom.)

2. Front

Stitch the darts on the Front pieces.
Trim the dart intake and press toward the center.

Stitch the center front seam.
Press the seam allowances open.

3. Shoulder and Side Seams

Stitch the shoulder and side seams.
Press the seam allowances open.

4. Collar

Place the Collar pieces right sides together and stitch along the outer edge.

Turn the collar right side out and press.

Place the left collar over the right and secure along the lower edges.

Attach the collar to the neckline, clipping seam allowances at the corner.

Press the seam allowances toward the main garment.

5. Hem

Press the hem of the vest to the wrong side.

6. Lining

Stitch the seams of the lining in the same way as the main garment, leaving an opening in the left side seam.

Attach the lining to the neckline.

Finish the armholes in two steps: first the front armhole, then the back armhole.

Attach the lining to the hem of the vest.

Attach the lining to the zipper tape.

7. Finishing

Turn the vest right side out through the opening.

Close the opening.