When you spend so much time sewing up a new garment, you don’t want to slack when it comes to finishing touches. Adding a neckline or armscye facing is a great way to finish the raw edges of your shirt or dress. These can be quick, easy, and they bring a professional touch to your piece! Let’s take a look at a few common facing types and how to attach them cleanly.
Regular Neckline Facing
1. With right sides together, sew the shoulder seams of both your garment and facing.
2. Hem facing using a baby hem, serger, zig-zag stitch, or by pinking.
3. Press seams open.
4. With right sides together, pin neck facing to the neckline of your garment.
5. Clip seam allowance at curves and press to the inside of the garment.
6. Optional: topstitch around neckline.
7. Sew side seams or proceed with the rest of what your pattern says.
V-Neck Facing
1. Cut your pieces out. The front should be cut on the fold while the back can be on the fold or cut two, depending on your garment.
2. Sew shoulder seams of your garment together
3. Fold under, serge, or zig-zag finish the edge
4. Sew the shoulder seams on the facings together
5. Pin right side of the neck facing to the right side of garment and pin
6. Clip at V point, making sure you don’t cut through the stitches.
7. Turn over, press, and topstitch. If you don’t want to topstitch, you can understitch as well.
Combination Neckline/Armscye Facing
1. First, interface all facings.
2. Sew facings right sides together at side seams.
3. Place the right side of the facing to the right side of the garment. Leave openings at the shoulder of each section. Clip curves if there is too much tension.
4. Turn right side out and understitch or topstitch wherever possible.
5. Pull shoulder seams through the inside. Pin shoulders and sew.
6. Pin and sew openings, making sure they match. Turn right side out and press.
7. Lastly, fold back edges in and hand sew them to the center back zipper, unless otherwise specified by your pattern.
