Simplicity 2188 Sew-Along - part 6

It's the final 2188 Sew-Along post!  If you're just joining us, please take a look at posts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. 

Tacking

Tacking just means making small stitches through the facing and seam allowance to ensure that your neckline facing stays put inside your garment.  The understitching does a pretty good job of keeping it in its place, this is just extra insurance. 

 As you can see, I made 2 small stitches on either side of the shoulder seams.  Just stitch through the facing and seam allowance, keeping the rest of the garment free.  You don't want these stitches to show from the outside.  I also did some tacking through the facing and the inside of the pleats:

Again, just stitch through the facing and inside of the pleat, so that the stitches don't show on the outside.

Hems

First off, I'd like to introduce you to a great little sewing tool called a hem gauge.

It's basically a small metal ruler with a sliding plastic...thingy.  This little ruler makes it very easy to measure how wide your hems should be.

First, start by pressing a 5/8" hem around your armhole:

Here's what it should look like when you're done with this step:

Next, tuck the raw edge into the crease that you've just made.  Press.  You'll end up with an even more narrow hem, like this:

 

Stitch, squaring the stitching when you come to the side seam/bottom of the armhole, like this:

 

As you can see, I've switched to a thread color that is more similar to my fabric, as theis stitching will be visible from the outside of my garment.  Repeat on the other armhole, and that's it!  You have 2 nice, finished edges.

Now we're going to move on to the bottom hem.  Again, press up the raw edge 5/8" (If you would like your top to be shorter, you can certainly press up a wider hem):

Now, tuck the raw edge into the crease you've made (just like you did with the armhole hem) and press.  Again, you'll end up with an even more narrow hem, like this:

 

 Stitch.  And, with that, you've just completed your blouse!  Wear it with pride.

Thanks for sticking with me through this entire process!  I hope that some of you out there found this helpful.  All of the info I've provided here can be applied to future projects, so get out there and get sewing!