Cross-Neck Halter Blouson Top
A sleeveless women's halter top in light fabric with crossed neck straps cut from a satin trim band, a teardrop keyhole bound with bias binding, and a blouson body pleated into a narrow waistband with long ties at the left side.
When To Wear
- In summer with wide trousers or a straight skirt, the waistband sitting over the top of the trousers.
- For evenings and parties, in a satin or silky fabric.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Blouson: the body is pleated into the waistband and falls softly over it.
Length: High hip, ending at the waistband.
Neckline: Halter: the shaped neckline is pleated around a teardrop keyhole and bound with bias binding; interfaced trim bands frame the front armholes, cross at the front and go around the neck.
Sleeves: Sleeveless, cut-away halter armholes edged by the trim band.
Closure: Zipper in the centre back seam; slit in the left side seam, topstitched 0.5 cm from the edge.
Back: Centre back seam, the upper edge finished with the trim band, pleats at the lower edge.
Waist: Two-layer waistband with long ties tied at the left side.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Pleating and bias binding a shaped keyhole neckline, a two-layer interfaced trim band set onto the top, a zipper in the centre back, and a waistband with ties.
Fabric Recommendations
Thin fabrics of natural or blended fibres for the top; satin for the trim bands.
Additional Supplies
- Satin fabric for the trim
- Zipper
- Fusible interfacing (front and back trim)
- Bias binding
Cutter's Must
From main fabric:
- Waistband 1 – 2 pieces
- Waistband 2 – 2 pieces
- Back – 2 pieces
- Front – 1 piece
From satin (trim fabric):
- Back Trimming – 4 pieces
- Front Trimming – 4 pieces
- From fusible interfacing: Front Trimming, Back Trimming.
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the Front Trimming and Back Trimming pieces.
- Overlock the side edges of the top. Stitch the side seams, leaving a slit open in the left side seam. Press the side seams open and press back the slit allowances. Topstitch around the slit 0.5 cm from the edge.
- Fold the pleats along the shaped neckline of the top and baste them in place. Bind the neckline with bias binding.
- Stitch the side seams of the Front Trimming and Back Trimming and press them open. Stitch the centre front seam of the Front Trimming and press it open. Place the two trim layers right sides together and stitch along the outer edge and along the inner edge between the notches. Turn the trim right side out and press. Press under 1 cm along the inner edge of the under layer. Stitch the trim to the top, matching the side seams.
- Overlock the centre back edges. Stitch the centre back seam up to the zipper mark and press it open. Insert the zipper. Turn under the centre back edges of the Back Trimming and topstitch them in the zipper seam.
- Fold the pleats along the lower edge of the Front and Back.
- Place Waistband 1 and Waistband 2 right sides together and stitch the centre edge. Press the centre seam open. Place the two waistband layers right sides together and stitch along the outer edge of the waistband and along the outer and inner edges of the ties. Turn and press the outer edge of the waistband. Press under 1 cm along the inner edge of the under waistband. Stitch the upper waistband to the top. Press the seam towards the top.
- Topstitch the pressed-under inner edge of the trim in the trim seam.
