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. Joining The Left Shoulder Seam:
Lay top’s right sides together and serge (or sew) together both shoulder seams. Press the seams towards the back.
2. Preparing The Neck Panel:
Fold the neck band piece together with the right sides facing. Pin the side seam and stitch. Press the allowance open.
Fold the neck panel on half and press it.
3. Joining The Neck Panel:
Lay the tank top’s right side together with the neck panel’s right side by matching the neck panel’s seam with the middle of the top back panel and neck panel’s notch with the front panel’s middle. Stitch.
Work from the right side of garment to topstitch the neck panel 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 useful strips right side. Stitch the strip around 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 top’s right sides together and serge together the left side seam and the sleeve. Press the seam towards the back.
7. Faux Flat Seam 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 coverstitch machine:
Similarly as previously - lay the tank top’s right side hem together with the folded strip’s right side. Stitch the strip around 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.
7. The Right Side Seam:
Lay top’s right sides together and serge together the right side and sleeve seam. Press the seam towards the back.
8. 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!
