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Diana draped top: Sewing Instructions

Step 1: Finish the back neckline​

  • Cut a strip of main fabric the length of your back neckline, and around 3 cm wide.
  • Press a fold into this strip, 1 cm from the edge.
tip

For woven fabric make this a bias cut strip.

For knit fabric make a strip with the stretch of the fabric running along the long edge.

  • With good sides together align the non-folded edge of the strip with the back neckline.
  • Sew the strip to the back neckline and trim the seam.
  • Turn the strip to the wrong side of the fabric and topstitch along the folded edge to keep it in place.

Step 2: Close shoulder seams​

This drawing was too nice not to use

  • Finish the raw edge on the front neckline in a way that suits your fabric (if it doesn’t fray, you can leave it unfinished).
  • With good sides together, place the front on the back aligning the shoulder seams.
  • Fold the front neckline seam allowance over to the wrong side of the back.
tip

If you have a lightweight woven fabric you can fold this edge up again, so it will form a narrow double hem afterwards (it can help to press these folds first).

  • Stitch the shoulder seam, enclosing the raw edge of the back neckline in the fold.
  • Turn to the right side and press.

Step 3: Finish front neckline​

Press the hem formed in your fabric by the folds you made at the shoulder seam when you closed the shoulder and topstitch close to the edge.

Step 4: Attach sleeves​

The sleeve will be inserted flat, meaning the armhole seam will be sewn first and the sleeve and side seam will be closed in one go.

  • With good sides together, matching notches, pin the sleeve head along the armhole.
  • If necessary, ease in the sleeve head at the top, between the notches.
  • Sew, finish and press the seam.
  • Repeat for other sleeve.

Step 5: Close side and sleeve seam​

  • With good sides together pin the front to the back along the sleeve and side seams, making sure to line up the armhole seams.
  • Sew, finish and press the seam.

Step 6: Hem​

Finish the sleeves and bottom hems in a way that works with your fabric choice.

Again, this can mean folding the hem under twice and topstitching, finishing the raw edge with a serger or zig zag stitch and folding it under once or leaving the edge raw, folding it under once and trimming close to the stitching.

Step 7: Enjoy!​

You’re all done! Now go enjoy your new top!