Garnet Sewalong: Steps 7 & 9
Welcome to Day 4 of the Garnet Sewalong! Today we’ll be attaching the sleeves and sewing the side seams. If you’re adding the tucks, you’ll also need today’s bonus post: Adding the Tucks.
{If you’re just joining us, check out the Garnet Sewalong Intro post here}
Want to see me sew all of the steps on video? Join the Cosmic Sewing Club via the paid tier of my Substack to get access of the sewalong posts with BONUS VIDEO!!
STEP 7. ATTACH THE SLEEVES
If you didn’t already gather the tops of the sleeve caps between the notches, it’s time to do that now. With your machine set to the longest stitch length and tension set to high, sew two lines of stitches along the top of the sleeve caps between the gathering notches, 3/8” [10 mm] and 5/8” [16 mm] away from the edge of the fabric.
Baste the sides of the yoke together, along the raw (unfinished) edges.
Pin or clip the sleeves to the armholes with right sides together. Start by matching up the corners, and then pin the center notches of the each sleeve to the shoulder seams.
Then work your way from each corner toward the center, pinning the sleeve to the armhole as you go and distributing the gathers at the top of the sleeve as desired.
Sew together with a 1/2 inch [13 mm] seam. I recommend sewing with the sleeve on top so that you can sew between the two rows of gathering stitches at the top of the sleeve cap and adjust them as you go if needed.
Press and finish the armhole seams. I used my serger to trim and overlock the seams (below), but you can also choose one of the seam finishing options in the Seam Finish Appendix.
(OPTIONAL) ADD THE TUCKS: If you’re adding the tucks, you’ll want to follow the steps in this bonus post -> Adding the Tucks <- before coming back to sew the side seams.
Now you’re ready to sew the side seams!
🔥 hot tip 🔥
To make things easier when it comes time to finish the sleeves and hems (tomorrow’s post), I like to pre-press the folds for the elastic casings and hems before I sew the side seams. Trust me, you’re going to love Past You for doing this tomorrow, because it makes the final steps super duper quick and easy. PLUS it’s always easier to press something when it’s flat instead of sewn into a tube, right?
Fold and press 1/4 inch [6 mm] towards the wrong side along the bottoms of the sleeves. Then go ahead and fold and press another 5/8 inch [16 mm] under along the bottoms of the sleeves for the elastic casings.
Repeat this for the bottom of the front and back for the hems, except press and fold under 3/4” [19 mm] instead of 5/8” [16 mm] for the hems, which are slightly wider than the sleeve casings.
STEP 9. SEW SIDE SEAMS
Pin or clip the side and underarm seams together, front to back.
And then press and finish these seams as desired.
That’s it for today! You’re almost finished with your Garnet top!!!
TOMORROW: We’ll finish the sleeves with an elastic casing (or separate cuff) and finish the hems.
Are you sewing along with these posts? Tag me (@madebyrae) and use the hashtag #MBRgarnet when you share your pics! Thanks for joining in our sewalong!!
Get pattern details, view size and yardage charts, and materials on the Garnet Page.
Still need the pattern? You can find it in my shop: