Today we’ll be sewing the shoulder seams, applying the fold over elastic (FOE) to the armholes, and sewing the side seams. Let’s get down to it!
Start by pinning the assembled front and back together at the shoulders. Make sure to line up the neckline edge carefully, since we’ve already finished that edge. Trim any excess FOE off before sewing the seams.
Sew the shoulder seams, starting at the neckline and ending at the armhole, finish the seam allowance if necessary, and press towards the back.
Now it’s time to finish the armholes with FOE. We’ll follow the same steps as in the last post, so go here for photos. Lay the top out flat. Start by cutting a piece of FOE about 1” (2.5 cm) longer than your armhole. Stretch it several times. Pin the wrong side of the FOE (either matte or shiny, your choice) to the wrong side of the tank front, lining up the raw edge of the armhole with the center fold line of the FOE. The FOE will extend about 1/2” (12 mm) past the side edge on either side. Pin from the right side.
Sew using a regular sewing machine with a walking foot if you have one. Go slowly and attach using a wide zigzag or triple zigzag stitch from the right side of the top. Press the FOE to the right side along its fold line, sandwiching the raw edge of the armhole. Press lightly and use a press cloth to avoid melting the elastic. Pin in place from the right side. Slowly sew the FOE closed using a wide zigzag or triple zigzag stitch from the right side of the top, just as you did in the first step.
Repeat all of these steps with the second armhole.
Turn the tank inside out and align the side seam of the front and back. Pin with right sides together making sure the edge of the armhole matches up nicely and matching the notches.
Sew, starting at the armhole and ending at the hem. Finish the seam allowance if necessary and press towards the back of the tank. Repeat with the second side seam.
That’s it for today! Next time, we’ll take care of the finishing touches on our Spruce Workout Tanks!
