Button-Front Flounced Overlay Top
Introducing a women's sewing pattern for a contemporary top featuring a unique button-front overlay and gracefully flounced sleeves.
When To Wear
This stylish top is versatile, making it an excellent choice for:
- Social Gatherings & Events: Its distinctive silhouette and elegant drape make it perfect for stylish casual or semi-formal occasions.
- Business Casual Settings: Pair with tailored trousers or a skirt for a sophisticated and modern professional look.
- Everyday Elevated Style: Easily dressed down with jeans for an chic, comfortable ensemble with a unique flair.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a fitted bodice beneath a relaxed, flounced overlay that creates a sophisticated and flowing profile.
Neckline: Features a modern square neckline on the inner bodice, subtly framed by the unique overlay construction.
Closure: a prominent button-down closure on the front overlay, secured with eight decorative buttons.
Sleeves: Integrated flounced, cape-like sleeves that form part of the overlay, offering exceptional movement and a graceful drape.
Back: a clean and smooth back panel ensures an elegant and streamlined profile.
Length: Designed to finish at hip-length, suitable for wearing untucked.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires experience with handling knit or delicate fabrics, precise placket construction, and accurate neckline finishing.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose fabrics with good drape. The pattern can be made using a single fabric type, or a combination for contrast:
- Soft knit fabrics of medium stretch, made from natural or blended fibers
- Chiffon (especially suitable for the flounced sleeve elements)
Additional Supplies
- Knit fusible interfacing
- 8 buttons
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, seam allowances are included. If the contour is single, seam allowances are not included. Seam allowances: all seams 1.0 cm; hem allowance for garment and sleeve - 2 cm. Top edge allowance for the center front piece – 2 cm. Attention! First, print out the paper patterns and lay them out on the fabric width (fabric width can be from 90 cm to 150 cm) to determine how much material you will need. When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- From main fabric:
- Back – 1 piece on fold
- Center front – 1 piece on fold
- Side front – 2 pieces
- Outer placket – 2 pieces
- Inner placket – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 1 piece
- From chiffon:
- From fusible interfacing:
- Inner placket – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
Tip: Knit fabric pieces are stitched with a special elastic or narrow zigzag stitch. When serging, trim seam allowances to 0.8 cm. The hem allowance is topstitched with a twin needle or on a coverstitch machine to maintain elasticity. You can also stitch pieces directly on a 3- or 4-thread overlock machine.
- Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
- Stitch shoulder seams, press allowances towards the back, serge.
- Serge the straight edge of the sleeve. Fold the curved edge allowance of the sleeve to the wrong side by 1 cm, then another 1 cm, and topstitch. Place the sleeve and garment right sides together, aligning the sleeve attachment line with the marked line on the main garment (the finished sleeve edge is directed towards the neckline). Attach the sleeve to the main garment, fold to the right side.
- Press the allowance of the outer longitudinal edge and the top edge of the outer placket to the wrong side. Place the outer placket on the front piece and secure along the edge.
- Serge the top edge allowance of the center front piece, press to the wrong side, and topstitch. Stitch the front princess seam, press allowances and serge.
- Stitch shoulder seams of the back neckline facing and inner plackets, press allowances open. Serge the outer edge. Place the facing with the main garment and stitch the neckline edge. Clip allowances at the curve, turn the facing to the wrong side and press. Topstitch the outer placket along the fold onto the front piece, catching the sleeve and securing the inner placket.
- Cut (if not ready-made) a bias binding 4 cm wide and a length equal to the armhole length + 5 cm. Fold the bias binding in half lengthwise, right side out, and press. Place the binding with the armhole edge right side up and stitch. Clip allowances. Fold the binding to the wrong side and topstitch along the fold onto the main piece. Press the seam.
- Stitch side seams, press allowances towards the back, and serge.
- Serge the hem allowance of the garment, fold to the wrong side, and topstitch.
- Sew buttons onto the plackets.
