Draped top

This top by Amanda Walker is an all occasion style solution. Choose a drapey, semi-sheer fabric such as georgette or crêpe to make it move beautifully. This shorter length style is suitable for a weekend lunch date, for the office worn with a blazer, or add heels to take it through to evening. It can also be stitched with less than a metre of fabric – what’s not to love!

Essentials

Main fabric, 70cm
Contrasting fabric, 50cm

Dimensions List

Small, medium, large
Cutting guide
Front top, cut one on fold
Back top, cut one on fold
Sleeve cuffs, cut two rectangles: small, medium, large, 20cm x 45cm
Base cuff, cut a rectangle: small, 20cm x 93cm, medium, 20cm x 99cm, large, 20cm x 105cm
Use a 1.5cm seam allowance, excluding the neck edge.

Sew a draped top

1 Download the pattern. Use to cut out a front and back top on the fold from main fabric. Using a scrap of the same material, cut a 4cm x 75cm bias strip to fit around the neckline. Fold and press in 1cm on either side or use a bias binding folder.

2 Neaten the edges of one of the shoulder seams by overlocking or zigzag stitching. Match the back and front shoulder seams together, then stitch one side with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Press open.

3 Open one side of the bias strip and position it around the right side of the neckline. Pin in place, then stitch along the fold line. Fold the strip over onto the wrong side and position the remaining folded edge over the stitching line. Pin and edge stitch in place sandwiching the raw edge inside.

4 Trim away any excess binding at the edges of the shoulders. Sew the remaining shoulder seam together as before, sealing the ends of the binding at the beginning of the seam. Neaten the edges of the side seams by zigzag stitching or overlocking. Match, pin and then stitch them together with a 1.5cm seam allowance.

5 Cut two 20cm x 45cm sleeve cuff rectangles from a contrasting fabric, we used jersey. Fold one in half matching the two short ends together, pin then stitch with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Fold and match the long edges, wrong sides together. Match the raw edges of the cuff and sleeve, right sides together.

6 Stitch the cuff to the sleeve with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Neaten by either zigzag stitching or overlocking. Repeat for the remaining sleeve. Cut the appropriate size rectangle of contrast fabric for the base cuff, and attach to the base as for the sleeves.