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How to Hem Sleeveless Arms

Finishing a sleeveless top can be challenging because of the sharp curves of the armhole shape. A bend-back hem can be used on a woven fabric that won't fray, and only on an armhole that is generous in size. If not done right, the fabric could pucker, leaving you with a sloppy armhole. The best way to finish an armhole, woven or knit, is with binding in the same fabric as the body of the garment. Create a 1/4-inch binding that will mold and bend with the armhole. Sew the binding to the front and back pieces of the garment before sewing the side seams for easy finishing of the binding edge.

Things You'll Need

1/4 yard of fabric
Scissors
Sewing machine
Thread

Instructions

- 1
  Cut two strips of fabric 1 inch wide and the length of the circumference of the armhole.
- 2
  Match the binding edge up with the garment armhole edge, right sides together, making sure that the strip goes to the edge of the fabric.
- 3
  Sew the binding to the armhole using a machine straight stitch, sewing 1/4-inch from the fabric edge. Sew all around the armhole.
- 4
  Fold the binding over the top of the seam, covering the raw edge of the fabric. A 1/4 inch of the binding fabric should show on the front side of the garment fabric, the rest should be folded back to the inside -- wrong side -- of the fabric.
- 5
  Fold the edge of the again binding inside 1/2 inch, hiding the raw edge and creating a folded edge on the inside -- wrong side -- of the fabric.
- 6
  Sew the binding to the garment again, sewing on the seam that you made in Step 3 on the right side of the fabric. You will be sewing the folded binding on the inside -- wrong side -- of the fabric to the garment at the same time.
- 7
  Sew the other armhole's binding on as above.
- 8
  Sew the side seams as per the pattern instructions.

Sewing