Empire Waist Maternity Top
Introducing a sleeveless maternity top pattern featuring a flattering V-neckline, an adjustable empire waist cinched with a decorative drawstring, and a gracefully gathered peplum hem.
When To Wear:
- Everyday Wear: Its relaxed fit and light fabric make it ideal for casual outings and daily activities.
- Warm Weather & Comfort: The sleeveless design and airy silhouette are excellent for summer and spring, providing ease of movement.
- Maternity Styling: The empire waist and generous gathering offer comfort and adaptability throughout pregnancy, accommodating a growing bump.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: An empire waist silhouette, featuring a fitted bodice that transitions into a generously gathered, flowing peplum hem.
Neckline: A clean V-neckline provides an open and flattering frame for the upper body.
Sleeves: A sleeveless design ensures maximum comfort and freedom of movement.
Waist: An adjustable empire waistline is defined by a channel housing a decorative drawstring, allowing for customizable cinching and a perfect fit.
Hem: A flared peplum-style hem, created by soft gathers from the empire waist, offers a relaxed and comfortable drape.
Back: Features a center back seam and shaping darts in the upper back for a refined fit, maintaining the empire waist and gathered lower body.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires accurate dart construction, gathering techniques, and precise facing application for a clean finish, especially around the V-neckline and drawstring channel.
Fabric Recommendations
For a beautiful drape and comfortable wear, we recommend selecting:
- Thin silk fabrics
- Viscose fabrics
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Decorative cord
- Cord ends
Fabric & Materials
From fusible interfacing: front neckline facing and back neckline facing.
Cutting Plan
- From main fabric:
- 1. Front Bodice – 1 piece
- 2. Back Bodice – 2 pieces
- 3. Front Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- 4. Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- 5. Front Insert – 2 pieces
- 6. Back Insert – 2 pieces
- 7. Lower Back – 1 piece
- 8. Lower Front – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse the front and back neckline facings with interfacing.
- Mark and stitch darts on the upper front bodice, press darts towards the center front.
- Mark and stitch darts on the back bodice. Press darts towards the center back.
- Stitch and finish the center back seam. Press the center back seam to the left side.
- Stitch side and shoulder seams. Finish seams and press towards the back.
- Stitch side seams on the lower front and back pieces. Finish seams and press towards the back.
- Stitch side seams on the front and back inserts. Press seams open.
- Along the upper edge of the lower back and front pieces, stitch at 0.5 cm from the edge with loosely tensioned stitches (basting stitch). Gather the upper edge of the piece to match the length of the lower edge of the front and back inserts (the gathered length of the lower front and back pieces is indicated on the pattern piece), distributing the gathers evenly along the entire length.
- On the upper front insert, mark the position and overcast buttonholes. Overcast the lower edge of the inner front and back inserts. Attach the outer front and back inserts to the upper edge of the lower front and back pieces. Attach the upper front and back bodice to the outer and inner front and back inserts so that the upper part of the top is between the inserts. Fold the inner insert of the top down and topstitch into the seam attaching the outer insert.
- Stitch the shoulder seams of the facing. Overcast the outer edges of the facing. Place the facings and top right sides together and stitch the neckline edge of the front and back. Understitch the neckline seam allowance to the facing at 0.2 cm from the stitching line. Press the front and back neckline. Secure the front and back neckline facing at the shoulder seams with a 1 cm tack to the top shoulder seams.
- Overcast the armhole edges, fold to the wrong side and topstitch.
- Overcast the hem of the top, fold to the wrong side and topstitch. Thread cord through the buttonholes and attach cord ends.
