How to Sew Activewear
Activewear generally refers to the clothing worn during sport. This includes shorts, tank tops, leggings, yoga pants, sweats and T-shirts made exclusively for exercise. Activewear is always in knit fabric, made to stretch with the body and can be in fabrications from 100 percent cotton to cotton spandex jersey to a poly/elastene blend. Many activewear garments are made with or treated with special finishes to improve performance such as moisture wicking Dri-fit, UVA and SPF protection fabrics and anti-microbial finished to fight odor. Sewing activewear is similar to sewing any knit, and is sewn with an overlock stitch or serger which prevents the seam from rolling while stretching with the fabric. Learn to make a tank top at home.
Things You'll Need
- Overlock machine
- Home sewing machine
- Thread
- Cut pattern pieces of a tank top
Instructions
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1
Place the front and back pieces of the tank top together, right sides together, lining up the two side seams.
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2
Sew the left side seam using the overlock machine by placing the sew line of the seam directly underneath the left edge of the machine presser foot. Begin your line of sewing 1 inch before the fabric edge and continue it 1 inch past the end of the fabric.
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3
Sew the right side seam per step 2.
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4
Sew the two shoulder seams as above.
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5
Fold the hem up toward the inside of the top 1 inch or per the pattern hem instructions.
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6
Sew the hem 5/8 inch up from the hem fold edge using a machine zigzag stitch or 3-step zigzag, stretching the fabric as you sew.
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7
Bend back the neckline and armholes of the tank 1/2 inch toward the inside of the garment or per the pattern hem instructions.
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8
Sew the neckline and armholes using a zigzag or 3-step zigzag sewing 1/4 inch from the fabric fold edge, stretching the fabric as you sew.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you don't have an overlock, sew the seam using a machine stretch stitch.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
