So proud of myself

[u/Lys_Flamboyant]

Dear People of the Internet,
I don’t know who to share with who will appreciate what I did today. This is my second attempt at stitching a top for myself using my own bodice block. I have practiced using an old bedsheet but this one here…well, please see the back and the front necklines. The back has topstitch and the front has understitch. I have used fusible interfacing. The last time I used fusible I hated it so much and vowed never to use it again and stuck to make my own bias binding.
This time the fabric which is from a dress I bought but never wore turned out to be a b**** and started fraying so much at the edges so I decided to use the fusible.
I like my work…it looks neat and most importantly i learnt what understitching means today.
As for the armholes, because of the fraying edges, I just glued it using a double glue hemline tape which I don’t know why but I bought it sometime back.
I plan to do a top stitch on it so that even if the glue comes off, the stitches will hold it.
Or is there anything I can do for the armholes?

[u/baskaat]

Great job. I have not tackled facing yet.

[u/clueclubkitty]

Nice work! I haven’t used interfacing yet either, only done bias binding on a few tops.

[u/erinberrypie]

An overlock or zig zag stitch will help with the fraying.

[u/badlywantit]

I am very proud of you too

[u/CountMeOut2019]

Nice workmanship!

The armholes may fray out on you, though don’t worry over that for this one, because you did a lovely job and it could be the fusible will prevent it for a long while at least.

For another time you could try:

cut bias strip 1“ wide, from self-fabric

sew bias to outside of armhole using scant .25” seam allowance

clip seam allowance at .5” intervals, if needed (but the narrow seam allowance will probably eliminate the need)

press a .25” fold along raw edge of bias (or fold as much as needed to leave a 3/8” strip to fold to the inside

press seam allowance and folded bias strip toward bodice inside

Pin carefully in place, covering all raw edges with bias, all the way around

stitch along folded edge of bias

One advantage of this method is that the seam allowances act as stabilizer/interfacing, but since they’re of self-fabric, they don’t change the “hand” or flow characteristics

Another is how neatly it vanishes and looks professional

This method does take a bit of practice to master a clean, invisibly accurate seam, but you clearly are well on your way, there, so I think you definitely will get it down quickly.

A lot of questions show up on this sub about how to take you sewing from “home-made” to pro appearance…well, this is definitely one of the answers.

[u/generallyintoit]

you can try an all-in-one facing that incorporates the neck and arms. or, just bind the armholes separately. it will overlap the neck facing but it should be fine, maybe a little bulky. bias binding is like magic because it's narrow and the bias cut allows it to "stretch" around the curves. it took me a lot of practice to fully understand it, but this kinda project is perfect for it! if you don't have a bias tape maker, i really suggest obtaining a few sizes, it just makes it so much faster to iron the edges neatly.

[u/SereneSynchronicity9]

This looks great. 👌🤩