---
title: 'Diana draped top: Sewing Instructions'
sidebar_label: Sewing Instructions
sidebar_position: 20
---

## 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](neckline.jpg)

- 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!
