threadWEAR 301

​For some, July in Kansas may not be something to look forward too – after all, it tends to be quite warm. However, we always look forward to July, because that is summer Sew Kansas time! This year we hosted two groups of sewists who traveled to Topeka from near and far to join us for three days of stitching, pattern fitting, learning new techniques, and well, playing with fabric, prints, buttons and everything that makes sewing fun. Let's face it, this is just summer camp for people who love to sew. 

​One of the great things about our Sew-Along Facebook Group is that we are able to hear your questions about the pattern. We noticed that many of you wanted to adjust the dropped shoulder that we have designed into the Zayn, and were unsure of how to go about it. So before we attach the sleeve, we are going to share with you our technique for armscye adjustment to use on your next Zayn – or any other pattern! Then we will go through the process of actually attaching the sleeve and you will have a finished top. So let's get started!

What is the one wardrobe staple that you should have hanging in your closet, right next to your little black dress? The little white t-shirt of course! Or might we suggest adding the little white eTee to your closet? Ever since Marlon Brando donned a fitted white t-shirt in The Wild One, this unassuming garment has become a mainstay in both men and women's wardrobes. As the heat of the summer kicks in, nothing feels or looks cooler than a simple tee paired with a flowing skirt or cropped jeans. This is why the eTee is our featured pattern kit for July. 

​The neck binding is really the only part of the Zayn instructions that are radically different for the woven and the knit versions. I'm going to show the woven steps first. If you are making a knit, scroll down to that section. 

WOVEN Step 23: Press your Neck Binding piece lengthwise with the wrong sides together. Before you start pinning, we recommend you prepare your neck binding. Start by laying the folded strip in a curve (with the folded edge on the outside) on a pressing surface. Then, preshape the strip by steaming the curved bias. This reduces some of the extra fullness along the raw edges, and allows the bias to lie flatter.

Welcome back to the Zayn Sew-Along! I hope you are all ready for today, we are sewing our sides together and hemming the bottom edge! Get ready to sew...