Top Sewing Patterns: Athletic, Wrap and Halter for Production

In a top the fabric is minimal and labor weighs heavily: the cost is decided in finishes, elastics and linings. The catalog offers athletic tops with a cross-back, halter, wrap, one-shoulder, off-shoulder, ruffled, ribbed, cropped and long-sleeve tops, for women from XS to 4XL and for girls from 2 to 18, all approved with a sewn sample.

The Modeltex catalog has 214 top sewing patterns (197 for women, 17 for girls), all approved with a sewn sample and with the size range available on each product page; the most affordable PDF starts at US$23 with the standard size selection.

Top styles: athletic, halter, wrap and one-shoulder

The athletic top with a cross-back comes in several versions, with a front seam panel or with mesh. Then come the halter with a ruffle or a deep neckline, the wrap top with a knot or twist at the front, the one-shoulder with a seam panel, the off-shoulder, the ribbed top with a ruffle and the long-sleeve cropped top. There are satin, lace and embroidered tops that sell as going-out pieces rather than activewear.

Because it is a garment with few pieces, the top is a good model for validating a design before grading the whole size range: it prints and assembles quickly, and a neckline or back variation can be tested without spending extra fabric.

Top fabrics and neckline finishes

The athletic top is cut in spandex knit or in nylon with elastane, sometimes with a mesh panel. Wrap and ribbed styles go in rib knit. Halter and going-out tops go in satin, lace or light jersey. In every case the neckline and armholes define the quality: they are finished with elastic, bias binding or reinforcement tape, and an unstabilized edge opens up with wear. On a V or sweetheart neckline, reinforce the point with tape.

How to produce a top with support and extended sizes

If the athletic top has to give support, it is built with a double layer at the front and firm elastic at the base. A cross-back spreads the tension, but it changes the pattern of the straps. On tops with adjustable or tie straps, the strap length has to grade with the size range. In extended sizes, check the armhole and neckline height before launching, because that is where a grading error shows most; the armhole and neckline grading rules guide explains it.

Common fabrics for tops: spandex knit, nylon with elastane, ribbing, rib knit, satin, lace.

Available top sewing patterns

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Top sewing patterns by category

Frequently asked questions about top sewing patterns

Which top pattern is best for activewear?

The athletic top with a cross-back or a front seam panel is the best fit, because it spreads the tension and takes a double layer at the front. It is cut in spandex knit or nylon with elastane, with an elastic seam and an elastic edge finish. If you are going to sublimate it, choose a pattern with few pieces.

How do you finish the neckline of a knit top?

With elastic, self-fabric binding or ribbing sewn with controlled tension, depending on the style. The knit edge opens up if it is not stabilized, and reinforcement tape at the shoulder and at the neckline point keeps it from stretching. Test the finish on the sample, because it is the most visible detail on a short garment.

Are there top patterns for girls and for extended sizes?

Yes. There are girls' tops with a range from 2 to 18, and the women's ones go up to size 4XL. In extended sizes, check the support, the neckline height and the armhole on a sample, because those are the points where grading shows most. The pattern page of each style lists the available sizes.

Guides for producing tops

Related garments

See all garments, the full catalog (more than 2,000 sewing patterns), the PDF A4, plotter and DXF/AAMA formats, or request custom patternmaking.