Sew Along with Us: Creating Your Collage Gather Top

Whether you're here for guidance from our Sewing Project Kits for the Collage Gather Top or you've downloaded the PDF Sewing Pattern, here's a Sew Along Blog Post to help you navigate any hurdles you may encounter.

In this blog post, we'll guide you through the creation of the Collage Gather Top. And the best part? We've included step-by-step images to make this sewing journey a breeze. Let's get started! 🧵✂️

If you have any specific questions or would like further improvements, feel free to ask! 😊

 

Before we dive into the sewing process, let's take a second to check a few things off.

Fabric Preparation

Properly preparing your fabric is crucial for a successful sewing project. Before cutting into your chosen fabric, be sure to wash and iron it. This step ensures that your fabric is clean, free of any sizing or shrinkage, and ready to take shape as the Collage Gather Top. It's a small step that makes a big difference in the final result.

Pattern Adjustments:

Now, let's chat about the tweaks I made to the pattern. So, I ended up sewing a size Small, even though my chest measurements are 37 inches. According to the pattern, that would typically line up with a Medium size. But you know what? I wanted a closer fit, something that hugs my body and shoulders nicely, giving that flattering silhouette we all love.

To achieve that, I decided to go with a smaller size, and I made a couple of adjustments to the front and back panel center folds, trimming off about 1/2 inch. It might not sound like a lot, but it makes a noticeable difference in how the top fits.

And, because I'm on the taller side at 175cm, I added an extra inch to the front, back, and side panels. This extra length ensures that the top doesn't ride up, which I now struggle with on my first wearable toile of the Gather Top.

Toile Recommendations:

Have you bought our Project Sewing Kit?

Before you dive into that gorgeous, sustainable, and elegant fabric, here's a little tip from me to you – consider making a wearable toile first.

Trust me, I get it. That fabric in your kit is absolutely stunning, and you want to do it justice. But making a toile is like a dress rehearsal. It allows you to perfect the fit, work out any kinks in the pattern, and make sure everything is just right before you cut into that precious material.

Even if you haven't bought a kit, and you're here for the Sew Along help for the Gather Top, consider it. This pattern is a great scrap busting project, and a wearable toile in a collage, would look wonders. 

Let's get into it...

First of all, get your pattern ready. Measure your size and work out which size you'd like to go with. (If you're using our Project Kit boxes, you should have an idea as you bought within a certain size range)

Prepare your fabric, ironed and ready to layout your pattern pieces out. Whether you like to follow the layout suggestions within the Sewing Pattern or you like to wing it, like I do, lay out your pieces and cut accordingly.

As per the Pattern instructions, they recommend gathering all your side panels first. Do all four at the same time, as it just saves time later on. 

Be sure to sew three lines on a loose stitch so you can easily pull your threads and gather the panel together.

 

Once you've completed all four side panels with gathering.

Work your way through each shoulder panel, you will have two for the front and two for the back. I usually work through the front first. Pin right sides together and move your gathers out evenly before stitching.

Once you've sewn it together, check your gathering is okay and press the seam with your iron.

If you have an overlocker, I'd recommend finishing your seams as you go along. If you don't have an overlocker, check your sewing machine for an 'overlocker-like' stitch. It's not essential but it doesn't make your seams look a lot neater as a finished result.

Once you've stitched both of your front shoulder panels to their side panels, grab your front panel pattern piece and stitch together. Follow your notch guides to line them up. The straight edge of your pattern pieces should be the sides stitched to the main front panel.

Following your Sewing Pattern instructions, repeat the last step so that you have both side panels attached to your main front panel. Press your seams and finish with an overlocker is possible.

Be sure to press all your seams, it'll make all the difference to the finish of the garment and how it sits.

 Repeat all the steps with the side panels with the main back panel. You should at the end have two finished 'Front' and 'Back' sides to your top.

 

With ride sides together, pin and stitch your top should seams together. This is from your neckline to the end of your armhole. Finish with an overlocker if possible.

Then move on to preparing your armbands.

With right sides together, meet your two raw short ends together and stitch your arm band into a conjoined loop. Press the seam open. 

Then fold your armband in half, with wrong sides together and press with your iron.

With right sides together, stitch your armband in to your armholes.

If you have an overlocker, finish the stitching around the armband.

Be sure to press your armband stitching. Stitch your seam around the armband as pattern instructions show.

Finish the bottom of your top with a rolled hem. Be sure to finish with press of the iron to flatten it.

Finish your top with the neckline. Right sides together, stitching your neckband around the raw edge of the neckline.

If it's your first time with doing a neckline with bias tape, check out a full break down tutorial from Matchy Matchy Sewing Club.

Fold and Roll your neck binding to finish your neckline and use clips or pins to hold in place whilst you sew. Be sure to use your iron to help you press a neat fold around your neckline.

Be sure to take it slow around the neckline, to avoid any fabric shifting. If you've not done bias binding before, it's best to take it slow as you get used to it.

Last but not least, finish your top off with a Sewing Label. In our Project Sewing Kits, we've provided a pack of Sew Anonymous 'Slow Life' Multipack Sewing Labels, and they are perfect for this fabric that I've used in the photo. 

I hope this Sew Along has been your trusty guide, helping you breeze through any tricky points in the sewing pattern.

If you've stitched up a fabulous Collage Gather Top, I'm genuinely excited to see your finished masterpiece! Share your creation on Facebook or Instagram and tag us @SewEcoFabrics. It's one of my personal favourites, and I've got quite a collection to mix and match with various outfits. Versatile, easy-to-sew patterns like this are absolute gems!

Don't forget to drop a comment below, whether you sailed smoothly or hit a snag. We're here to assist! And, remember, if you ever need a helping hand, just shoot us an email at hello@sewecofabrics.co.uk.

Happy sewing, fabulous creators! 🧵🌟