DIY: How to make your own top
This weeks SEWcial Distancing project is hand sewing a top. The fabric for the top is cut from a roll of deadstock, yellow rib that was donated to me. This rib fabric has a loose knit and so is ideal for hand sewing as it is easy to stitch your needle through the fabric. In your pack you will have the 4 top pieces cut out, needle, thread and pins.
The seams are sewn with a blanket stitch. This is a decorative stitch and so I have done it on the outside of the garment in different coloured thread. Follow the guide bellow if you are unsure of how to do a blanket stitch.
HOW TO A BLANKET STITCH
Figure 1 start by looping the thread around both layers of fabric a few times to secure the stitch. Have a knot in the end of your thread to ensure it does not pull out. Figure 2 + 3 Start your next stitch, pushing the needle from the back of the layers to the front. Make sure this stitch is at least 0.5cm away from the first stitch and is at least 0.5cm deep into the fabric. Figure 4 Pull the needle and thread through the second stitch and when it is almost tight, thread the needle through the loop at the top. Reinsert the needle at the back of the fabric and repeat.
See the video below for further demos of this. Remember to pull the thread so the stitch is tight and secure but be carefully not to pull it too tightly so pull the fabric.
PATTERN PIECES: FRONT, BACK, SLEEVES
Step One: Place the front piece on top of the back piece and pin the shoulder seams together. Once pinned, stitch the shoulder seams together. Remember to do a couple of loops at the start and end of the seam to secure the stitching.
Step Two: Pin the sleeve head into the arm hole. The front of the sleeve will have a single notch (cut into the fabric) and the back of the sleeve will have a double notch. Match the placement of the notches on the sleeve head and the arm hole. Slightly stretch the sleeve to fit the curve of the arm hole and pin in place. Use lot of pins and ease the pieces together where you need. Try and stretch the sleeve head evenly around the arm hole. If you don’t have much experience making clothes, this is probably the hardest bit. Once pinned, stitch around both layers.
Step Three: Once the sleeve head is attached to the main body, fold the sleeve in half and pin along the inside of the sleeve and down the side seam. Match the arm hole seam at the arm pit and stitch the layers together.
Step Four: Stitch around the neckline with a circular stitch to secure the edge.
