Project designed by Sandra Betzina.
Reversible clothing is a great way to expand your wardrobe, and having reversible pieces on hand is one way to lighten the load when traveling. You can change your look, but carry fewer clothes. The pattern used is from Butterick, released in April 2001. The featured shirt is made in a knit; however, this tank can be made in a woven fabric by cutting on the bias and adding 1/2 inch to each side seam allowance.
Materials:
pattern
fabric
scissors
fusible twill tape
Steps:
1. Stabilize the armholes and neckline with fusible twill tape (figure A). Cut the strip of stabilizer to the exact size of the neckline on the pattern piece, measured at the seam line, not the cutting line. Cut 1/8-inch clips to enable the stabilizer to go around the curve of the neck (figure B). Pin the stabilizer onto the seamline at the neckline so that you will be sewing approximately in the middle of the stabilizer when you sew the neckline seam (figure C). Press the stabilizer in place.
2. Ease the front armhole at the sewing machine.
3. Sew the neckline and armholes of the front and back of the top. Put the right side of one front against the right side of the other front. Repeat for the back pieces. They are not yet connected. Sew the neck and armholes in each set.
4. Clip the curves and trim the neckline seam. Press the seam back on itself and trim all seams to 1/4 inch.
5. Turn the front piece right side out and press the neck and armholes well.
6. Press and pound the seams.
7. To sew the shoulders, slide the shoulders of the fronts into the shoulders of the backs, which are still turned wrong side out. If one shoulder opening seems too big or too small, fix the width by re-sewing the seam near the shoulder. Sew the shoulder seams through all four layers of fabric. Pull the fronts out, pulling the back and shoulder with them.
8. To sew the side seams, place the front and back of one side together and the front and back of the other side together, matching up the seam joint at the underarm. Sew one continuous seam through two layers only, starting at the bottom or the beginning of a vent on one side, sewing past the armhole where the two sides join and finishing on the opposite bottom or vent opening. Sew both side seams in this manner.
9. Press the seams open and trim out the bulk in the seam allowance in a V-shape.
10. Hem the top with fusible webbing (figure D). Hem each layer separately. If the tank has vents on the sides, finish the vents by sewing the sides of the vents to the opposite side with right sides together. Press well.
Tips:
- Fabrics with some slide work better for this technique, so that the layers don't stick together.
- If you are working with an unstable fabric such as knit, begin by stabilizing.
Resources Fabric Savvy
by Sandra Betzina (ISBN: 1561582670)
Order this title
Power Sewing
95 Fifth Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94118
US
Phone: 415-386-0440
E-mail:
karie@sandrabetzinaonline.com
Website:
www.sandrabetzina.com
sewing patterns - Butterick / Vogue
Due to seasonal changes, the exact patterns seen on the show are not generally available. Visit your local fabric store for similar patterns.
Butterick / Vogue
Website:
www.butterick.com
Fast Fit: Easy Pattern Alterations for Every Figure
by Sandra Betzina (ISBN: 1561584940)
Order this title
Power Sewing
95 Fifth Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94118
US
Phone: 415-386-0440
E-mail:
karie@sandrabetzinaonline.com
Website:
www.sandrabetzina.com
Power Sewing Step by Step
by Sandra Betzina (ISBN: 1561583634)
Order this title
Power Sewing
95 Fifth Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94118
US
Phone: 415-386-0440
E-mail:
karie@sandrabetzinaonline.com
Website:
www.sandrabetzina.com
Guests Sandra Betzina
Sewing expert and author
c/o Power Sewing
95 5th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94118
E-mail:
karie@sandrabetzinaonline.com
Website:
www.sandrabetzina.com
Also in this Episode
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