Diana's Top

I'm posting this as a back up for my Sewing Group to refer to if they want to make one of theses tops out of class.

Directions For Diana's Top  

About cutting out your top

***  Lay your fabric on cutting surface by folding it right sides together with selvedge of each side  together as well. It's very important that the folded edge be smooth. You'll have to work and refold the fabric until you get a smooth fold. You may have to cut off your selvedges to make this happen.Don't worry if the selvedge end is not exactly together.

*** Lay your pattern on the fabric. Don't forget to measure the distance between the STRAIGHT OF GRAIN AND THE FOLDED EDGE AT SEVERAL SPOTS TO MAKE SURE YOUR PATTERN IS LAYING STRAIGHT.

***Use weights rather than pins to make your job much easier.

***  Check your stitch length. It should be at least 2.5 or 3 because you are sewing on knit fabric.DIRECTIONS:

Step 1... Cut out the top being careful not to let the fabric move out of place. Cut little snips at the dots along the pleat area. mark where the fold for the pleat is.
Take away the pattern but don't move the top.

Step 2...  Pin the lower half of the two layers together from just below the armhole to the hem.

Step 3...  Fold back the top layer of the upper half. Lay the FRONT NECKLINE TEMPLATE  on the neckline of the bottom layer matching the notches at center neckline.. Cut out front neckline.

Step 4...  Pin front and back shoulder seams together  .

Step 5...  Sew shoulder seams using a 1/2" seam allowance.  ( DO NOT SEW THE SLEEVE                          OPENINGS TOGETHER ! ASK RUTH AND ALEXA WHY !?!? )
               Serge finish the shoulder seam and neckline.

.

Step 6... On both sides,Sew side seams as far as point A . Don't forget to back stitch for this and the next two seams.

Sew from  A to B

Sew from B to C.

  
                Serge side seams but only to point A.

Step 8... To form pleats,   WITH THE WRONG SIDE OF YOUR TOP FACING YOU,  fold pleat at fold line and bring point (A) to second snip. Sew the pleat in place following original seam line. Do this for all four pleats.

THE HARD PART IS DONE. TAKE A BREAK!

Step 9...  Finish neckline by either folding neck edge 1/4 " and top stitching or you can use Steam-a Seam.

To hem sleeves and bottom of top, first apply Steam-a-Seam to stabilize the hem area.

Sew hems using either a twin needle or  a straight stitch.

That's it. You're finished. I hope you like what you made and that you had fun making it !!

The Four (or Five ) Way Wrap

I know it's been a very long time since I posted here but I think you're going to love this little tutorial.

If you go  here to  Sew Passionista, you'll find many photos of this amazing little workhorse of a garment and hopefully get inspired  to try one. You will need less than an hour to sew this wrap and will wear it  constantly, I promise. So here is one example

            


Instructions:

Fabric....  Amount : 20" to 25" of  at least 60" (150 cms. ) wide
                 Type : a drapey fabric , preferably a knit but wovens will work if  they are light weight
                            such as georgette. Knits can include sweater , crochet, jersey, ponte, mesh, lace,
                            boucle, etc.

METHOD.... (You may find the chart I've includeD helpful )

       Before you begin, take a look at your selvedges and decide if you like them. They can become a finished edge. Other wise , if you have a serger, prefinish all edges before starting to sew your wrap together.

                 1... Fold your fabric with right sides together  selvedge to selvedge. 

                 2...Place a pin 15" from fold .This is your neck opening. Sew from pin to the selvedge.

                 3...If desired, fold neckline seam allowance and top stitch. .
                       You could leave this seam as a serged edge if you want.

                 4. Press your seam and you're finished !

This is a chart I made to use for my Sewing Group. I hope it will make the instructions more clear.
Excuse the photography.

OPTIONAL:. Add buttons down the seam or an exposed zipper for a funky design detail
                       Finish hems with bias binding to add some oomph to your wrap.

              .

                Fringe the hem or sew on a fringe for a really cool  finish.

                Come up with your own idea for a unique wrap .

  I hope you'll try this great little topper. It's a lot of fun to wear and adds pizazz to any outfit.

Until next time from