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MN2107 Olive / Sewalongs

Olive Sewalong // Neckline Prep

Olive sewalong neckline prep

Hey friends! Who is ready to get started on their Olive blouse or dress construction! Woo-hoo!

Well, before we actually get started, we have to do some prep work for our v-necklines to make the process easier when we do get started. That includes stabilizing, finishing the v-insert, and making the bias tape. Believe me, this will all help in the long run, especially if you’re worried about that tricky neckline.

So let me show you what to do!

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsHow to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsOk, to start we need to stabilize the front neckline and v-insert.

What I’m showing in these first few photos is optional – but if you are working with a lightweight or drapey fabric, you might want to apply stabilizing tape or 1/4″ strips of fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the neckline, as shown above.

If thats the case, also apply 1/4″ strips of fusible interfacing or stabilizing tape to the wrong side of the v-insert, as shown above.

**If your fabric is stable enough, you don’t necessarily need the stabilizing tape, just move on to the stitches in the next step.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsWhether you have added interfacing/stabilizing tape or not, now you need to stitch around both the v-insert and neckline…

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsStitch 1/4″ from the raw edge around the v-insert, being careful to get that V-point perfect. This will be helpful when sewing the insert to the blouse.

If you haven’t applied stabilizing tape, stitch up the entire length of the sides. If you have applied stabilizing tape, you only really need to stitch a few inches up either side of the V.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsAlso stitch 1/4″ from the raw edge around the front neckline, being careful to get that V-point perfect and even. Again, this will be helpful when sewing the insert to the blouse.

If you haven’t applied stabilizing tape, stitch up the entire length of the sides from the V to the shoulder seam. If you have applied stabilizing tape, you only really need to stitch a few inches up either side of the V.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsClip into the V, being careful not to cut through the stitches.

Set the front top aside.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen Patterns How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsNow lets finish the top edge of the v-insert.

Fold in 3/8″ along the top edge (the first notch).

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsFold in again by 3/8″ (the second notch), and press.

Stitch close to the folded edge.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsHere it is from the right side.

Set the v-insert aside.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsThe last prep work we need to do is prepare some bias tape!

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsAttach your bias strips to create one long strip by placing them, right side together, at right angles to each other at the short ends.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsSew diagonally across as shown above.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsTrim the seam allowance back to 1/4″.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsPress the seam open.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsRepeat with the the rest of the strips until you have one long strip.

How to prepare the neckline on the Olive blouse and dress by Megan Nielsen PatternsFold your long bias strip in half width ways with wrong sides together and press.

That’s it! Now you’re all ready to put it all together!

// Looking for more Olive posts? //

We absolutely love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to tag your creations with #MNolive  and @megannielsenpatterns when sharing on social media, and check out what everyone else is up to!

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Order Olive sizes 0-20 or curve sizes 14-30!

About Author

Holly writes part time for the Megan Nielsen blog– sewing like crazy, creating tutorials and sewalongs. She has been sewing since she was a little girl, and has her degree in apparel design. Now she’s a stay at home mama, and spends all her free nap times at her sewing machine.

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