Sewing instructions:
Note: for this garment and other stretch jersey projects we recommend using a 4 thread overlock stitch but you can also use a sewing machine + zigzag stitch.
1. Preparing The Neck Band:
Fold the neck band piece together with the right sides facing. Pin the side seam and stitch. Press the allowance open.
Fold the neck band on half and press it.
2. Joining The Shoulder Seams:
Lay t-shirt’s right sides together and serge (or sew) together both shoulder seams. Press the seams towards the back.
3. Joining The Neck Band:
Lay the t-shirt’s right side together with the neck band’s right side by matching the neck band’s seam with one of the shoulder seams. Pin the neck band around and slightly stretch it. Stitch.
Work from the right side of t-shirt to topstitch the neck band 5mm next to joining seam catching inside strip.
4. Preparing Sleeves:
If you have a coverstitch machine skip this step and do the sleeve hems as the last step.
If you don’t have a coverstitch machine then lay together sleeves right side together with folded hemming band’s right side. Stitch the strip to the hem. Cut off the surplus of the strip.
Work from the right side of garment to topstitch the strip 5mm next to joining seam catching inside strip. Do this to both sleeve hems.
Now you have coverstitch like looking seam.
5. Joining The Sleeves:
Lay body panels’ right sides together with the sleeve’s right side by matching the notches (the middle notch of the sleeve matches with the shoulder seam). Serge or sew. Repeat with the other sleeve.
6. The Left Side Seam:
Lay t-shirt’s right sides together and serge together the left side seam and the sleeve. Press the seam towards the back.
7. Faux Coverstitch Hem:
If you have a coverstitch machine leave this step as the last one.
But for the rest of us, here’s a trick to make the hem look like you have a coversttch machine:
Similarly as previously - lay the t-shirt’s right side hem together with the folded hemming band’s right side. Stitch the strip around the hem. Cut off the surplus of the strip.
Work from the right side of t-shirt to topstitch the band 5mm next to joining seam catching inside band.
8. The Right Side Seam:
Lay t-shirt’s right sides together and serge together the right side and sleeve seam. Press the seam towards the back.
9. Seam Reinforcement:
Backstitch with a sewing machine the seams that are ending with an open overlock stitch to avoid threads tearing at the ends of the seams.
Reinforce both sleeves seam endings and the lower side of the right side seam.
Give the final press and you’ve finished!
