The Best Simple Sleeveless Top Sewing Patterns You'll Wear All Summer

Every pattern in this list is one I'd happily recommend to a friend. I considered:

• how often I actually wear it
• how easy it is to sew
• whether it works in lots of fabrics
• whether I've made it more than once
• how versatile it is for different wardrobes

So, in no particular order, here are my top 10 simple sleeveless summer top patterns that I wear on repeat year after year! 

The Closet Core Azure is one of those patterns that gives you a LOT. It’s not only a top, it also includes a skirt and a dress - all in one pattern! 

The top is a nice simple shape that's easy to modify and all of the versions I’ve made have some sort of twist to them. The fit is neater on the shoulder and bust as it has a bust dart for shaping. The shoulders area is a little more border than other tops I’d say and the neckline more towards the higher side. On my first version I found it quite tiger around the shoulder and under the arms so I have lowered that on some versions by just cutting away ½” or so from the pattern. 

For my white vintage cotton version I added scallops and a button band down the centre back. For my gorgeous butter yellow one I added a button band down the front and lined it. For my navy and espresso stripe one I added scallops along the hemline and for my colourful patterned one I lined it and added a little frill along the bottom. 

It works in lots of different fabrics but my favourite type is either a linen or a linen mix. Keep it classic with a textured plain or go bold with a large scale print! I can guarantee its a pattern you’ll make over and over again! 

Skill level: confident beginner

The Anna Allen Demeter Pattern is another one that comes with a LOT of options. Choose sleeves or no sleeves and there is also a nice dress version too. The fit is neater of the shoulder and bust as it has a bust dart for shaping.

For my sleeveless top versions I find the shoulder straps narrower than the Azure but still ample to cover a bra strap. The neckline is lower and more scooped than the Azure as well but still has good coverage. I found my first version came up a bit short so I lengthened it next time - worth checking out the finished garment measurements for your size on that! 

My version in the Pink Ariadne fabrics is on the shorter side so I do have to make sure I’m wearing something high waisted with it. I lengthened my blue embroidered version and I also flat lined it (check out how to do this in this blog post (link here).

Skill level: confident beginner

The Matchy Matchy Peplum Split Tank is such a lovely quick make and has the nice design detail of the gathered section at the back bodice. It's overall a looser fit as there is no bust dart. I find the shoulders wider than the Demeter Top but maybe not quite as wide as the Azure. The neckline is more towards the higher side, higher than the Demeter too. It works in so many different fabrics and I really enjoy sewing it up.

Skill level: Confident beginner

Having designed this top myself, I might be a bit biased about how good it is, but I promise it's true! Another sewing pattern that has a LOT, you can also opt for cute little cap sleeves or make a dress with pockets too! 

I wanted the fit to sit neatly around the shoulder and upper bust and then skim the body from the bust down. The UK 4-20 size range doesn’t have a bust dart and the UK 16-32 size range does. 

The magical part of this top is the cleverly constructed pleat at the centre front. It creates movement and helps with the skimming over the tummy region without feeling really baggy or oversized and it’s still shaped through the side seams. I worked really hard during development and testing to get the neckline to sit just right and fall open into a lovely v-shape with the placket and collar too. The whole garment comes together so nicely with really satisfying details to sew that make it feel extra special. For my sleeveless version of this pattern, I took around 1cm off the length of the shoulder seam, which is really easy to do once you have made it and before you attach the final binding around the arm hole. My top tips video that comes with the pattern explains in detail how to do this too!

Skill level: Confident beginner - intermediate (the pleat can be tricky by my top tips video makes it SUPER clear).

Another pattern that gives you a LOT, the Tilly and the Buttons Leah has several top variations with and without a gathered peplum and a few dress versions too! 

The blueberry embroidered fabric I used for my version is more on the medium weight side, which means the looser shape is held fuller, but the pattern is really versatile for all sorts of different fabrics and in a lighter weight fabric like a viscose or a cotton lawn even, I don’t think it would hang as full as my version. 

There is a bust dart, but I feel like its still pretty roomy and there is enough ease to pull it on and off over your head with a little opening at the back neckline. I initially did opt for the version with the ties at the side seam but the fabric was a bit too thick for ties, so I just stitched the seam closed and hand stitched on faux bows instead!

Skill level: Confident Beginner

If you prefer V-necks then this pattern is a great option! It also comes with a sleeve and dress version too, so lots of options for future makes. It’s got a bust dart, so a bit of shaping there, but I find the fit still quite loose, looser than some of the other tops that have bust darts. 

 I found the depth of the V to be good on me, not too low, not too high. It is a little bit tricky to sew the binding on the V and mine isn’t perfect on the inside, but it still looks good from the outside. I also think if you used a more stable fabric like a cotton or light weight linen it would be easier to sew. 

The shoulder straps are on the narrower side but still ample for bra strap coverage! I added extra little tie on bows to my shoulder seams too! The length does come up quite cropped and this’ll be another top I made sure I wear with high waisted bottoms. It would be really easy to lengthen though and it does have a very deep hem, so you could also just make that a bit smaller to get some extra length. 

I used our Flur Meadow viscose fabric which drapes and swishes really nicely. 

Skill level: Confident Beginner - Intermediate

Ogden celebrated its 10th year in the Sewing Community this year and wow what  true classic it is! Technically more of a vest I’d say than a top, I think it still fits nicely into the category of a sleeveless top. I have made countless versions of this pattern over the past decade in all sorts of fabric from double gauze, linen, viscose linen, viscose and cotton lawn. The straps are pretty narrow, so if you prefer more coverage there you can easily widen them and I have a blog post in the archive showing how to do this, as well as add a cute peplum!

Skill Level: Confident beginner

This pattern is a great one for layering over a vest top. With its open back that swings nicely with the top button fastening the simple design makes it perfect for showcase a simple fabric like the embroidered cotton I’ve used for mine. I lined my version but it would work well with unlined too. I think it’s probably best to stick with more medium weight with a bit of structure to hold the swingy shape.

Skill Level: Confident beginner

If you're new to sewing… Try the Tilly and the Buttons Leah

If you like fitted styles… The Anna Allen Demeter Top seems to come up more fitted compared to the others. 

If you love linen… then you’ve got lots of options but I’d Say the Vivian Chao Chen Laurence Top or the Matchy Matchy Open Back Smock Top

If you want lots of pattern options… The Closet Core Azure

If you prefer V-necks…The g&g Thora or Vivian Chao Chen Laurence

If you want something quick… The Ogden Cami - no bias binding!

I hope that has given you lots of ideas and inspiration for your next project!