Crop Top
Garment — one of 28 in the glossary
A top cut short so that it ends above the natural waist. On a blank, the distinction that matters is how it got that way: a purpose-cut crop is hemmed and finished at the shortened length, while a raw-cut or cropped-hem style is finished by cutting and left unhemmed, which is a deliberate look rather than an unfinished garment. Body length on the spec sheet is the only reliable guide to how short a given style actually is.
Purpose-cut, raw-cut and boxy
A purpose-cut crop is drafted short and hemmed at that length. It hangs cleanly and looks finished, and it is what most brand-facing work wants.
A raw-cut or cropped-hem style is finished by cutting the fabric and leaving the edge unhemmed. Jersey does not fray the way a woven does, so the edge rolls slightly rather than unravelling — that roll is the intended look, not a defect.
Some styles marketed as crops are simply boxy: normal length through the shoulder with a wide, short body. They sit differently on different heights, which a drafted crop does not.
Read the body length, not the name
"Crop" is not a measurement. Between styles, the body length at a size M can differ by four inches, which is the difference between a top that skims the waistband and one that sits well above it.
The measurement to compare is body length at back, high point shoulder to hem, and it is on the spec sheet. Two crops from the same brand can be cut to different lengths on purpose.
For a mixed-size run, remember that the length is graded far less than the width. A crop that sits at the waist on a small can be noticeably shorter in proportion on a 2XL.
Printing on a short body
There is much less vertical room. A design sized for a standard tee will run off the hem, so artwork usually has to be redrawn rather than scaled down, or it loses its proportions.
The hem itself is close to the print area, and on a raw-cut edge the fabric rolls, which makes the bottom of a print sit on an uneven surface. Keep the design clear of the last inch or two.
Check the platen size with whoever is printing. A short body can be awkward to load squarely, and a crooked load is more visible on a crop than on a full-length tee.
Common questions
- What is a crop top?
- A top cut to end above the natural waist. On blanks the useful distinction is between purpose-cut crops, which are hemmed at the short length, and raw-cut styles, which are finished by cutting and left unhemmed on purpose.
- How short is a crop top?
- There is no standard. Body length at a size M can vary by around four inches between styles, so read the body length on the spec sheet rather than the word "crop" in the style name.
- Will a raw-cut crop top fray?
- It will roll slightly at the edge rather than unravel, because jersey knit does not fray the way a woven fabric does. The roll is the intended look of the style.
- Can you print a normal design on a crop top?
- Rarely without redrawing it. There is much less vertical space, so a design scaled down from a standard tee usually loses its proportions or runs into the hem.
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