Draped V-Neck Sleeveless Blouse
A women's fitted sleeveless blouse with a V-neck formed by two pleated draping pieces that cross over the front, and an invisible zip in the centre back seam. The draping pieces also serve as the front facing; the back is lined.
When To Wear
- Office wear in summer, with a pencil skirt or tailored trousers, or under a jacket.
- Dinners and daytime events, with a skirt.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Fitted, shaped by waist darts on the front and back and a bust dart on the front.
Length: Hip length, straight hem overlocked, turned up and topstitched.
Neckline: Deep V at the front, made by the crossed draping pieces; wide round neckline at the back, faced with the lining.
Front: Two draping pieces, finished with a 0.5 cm narrow hem along the lower edge and part of the upper edge, are pleated at the side edge and laid on the wrong side of the front. The armholes and neckline are faced with them; turned out, they cross over and are caught into the side seams to form the wrap.
Sleeves: Sleeveless; armholes faced by the draping pieces at the front and by the lining at the back.
Back: Centre back seam with waist darts.
Closure: Invisible zip in the centre back seam, with the lining attached to the zip tape.
Lining: Back only, understitched 1–2 mm from the neckline seam. The main fabric can be used.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Pleated draping pieces with narrow hems, shoulder seams sewn between layers, a faced neckline with a clipped corner and an invisible zip set into a lined back.
Fabric Recommendations
Thin fabrics of natural or blended fibres; the main fabric can also be used for the back lining.
Additional Supplies
- Invisible zip for the centre back seam
- Lining fabric for the back (or main fabric)
Cutting Plan
- From main fabric:
- Back – 2 pieces
- Front – 1 piece
- Bodice Draping – 2 pieces
- From lining fabric (or main fabric):
- Back – 2 pieces
Sewing Instructions
- Mark and stitch waist darts on the front, back, and back lining. Press the darts on the front towards the center front, and on the back towards the center back.
- Mark and stitch the bust dart on the front. Trim the bulk and overlock.
- Finish the lower edge of each Bodice Draping piece with a 0.5 cm narrow hem. Clip the seam allowance at the notch on the upper edge of the Bodice Draping. Finish the section of the upper edge from the notch to the side seam with a 0.5 cm narrow hem. Press the hems. Fold the pleats on the Bodice Draping. Secure the ends of the pleats with a stitch 0.5 cm from the side edge.
- Overlock the center back seam allowance. Stitch the center back seam up to the notch for the zipper. Press open the center back seam, pressing the zipper opening, and insert the zipper.
- Stitch the center back seam of the back lining up to the notch for the zipper. Press open the center seam, pressing the zipper opening.
- Place the main back and back lining pieces right sides together and align the neckline edge. Fold back the lining 5 mm from the edges of the invisible zipper opening and pin to the neckline edge. On the right side of the blouse, fold back the seam allowances along the zipper and pin to the neckline edge over the lining. Face the back neckline edge with the lining. Fold the allowances along the zipper to the wrong side. Fold the lining up and topstitch to the seam allowance 1-2 mm from the seam. Fold the lining to the wrong side and attach it to the zipper tape. Face the back armhole. Turn the pieces right side out and press.
- Place the Bodice Draping pieces on the wrong side of the Front, right side facing the Front. Face the armhole. Stitch the front neckline to the Bodice Draping separately on the right and left sides. Clip the neckline corner, turn the pieces right side out and press.
- Turn the front wrong side out. Insert the back shoulder edge between the Front and the Bodice Draping at the shoulder. Stitch the shoulder seams. Overlock the seams, turn the pieces right side out and press. From this point, treat the back as a single-layer piece.
- Stitch the side seams, aligning notches and crossing the Bodice Draping pieces to form the wrap. Overlock the side seams, press them towards the back.
- Overlock the lower edge, fold to the wrong side, press and topstitch.
