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:
- Belt 1 - 2 pieces
- Belt 2 – 2 pieces
- Back - 2 pieces
- Back facing - 4 pieces
- Front - 1 piece
- Front facing – 4 pieces
- From fusible interfacing: front facing, back facing.
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse fusible interfacing to the front facing and back facing.
- Overlock the side edges of the top. Stitch the side seams of the top, leaving a slit in the left side seam of the garment. Press open the side seams and press the slit. Topstitch along the slit 0.5 cm from the edge.
- Form pleats on the shaped neckline of the top and baste. Finish the top's neckline with bias binding.
- Stitch the side edges of the front facing and back facing. Press open the side seams of the front facing and back facing. Stitch and press open the center edge of the front facing. Fold the front facing and back facing right sides together and stitch the outer edge of the facing and the inner edge between the notches. Turn the facing right side out and press. Press under the inner edge of the lower facing by 1 cm. Attach the facing to the top, aligning the side seams.
- Overlock the center edge of the garment. Stitch the center seam up to the zipper mark and press open. Insert the zipper. Fold under the center edge of the back facing and topstitch into the zipper attachment seam.
- Form pleats along the bottom edge of the front and back.
- Fold Belt 1 and Belt 2 pieces right sides together and stitch the center edge of the belt. Press open the center seam and stitch the outer edge of the belt, as well as the outer and inner edges of the belt ties. Press the outer edge of the belt. Press under the inner edge of the lower belt by 1 cm. Attach the upper belt to the top. Press the attachment seam towards the garment.
- Topstitch the pressed inner edge of the facing into the facing attachment seam.
