How to Sew a Shoulder-Style Abaya
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With your arms at your sides, have someone measure from one wrist to the
other going across the back of the shoulders.
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Purchase twice this amount of 60" inch wide fabric.
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Fold the left and right edges so that they meet in the center.
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Pin in several places to hold the fabric in place.
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Referring to the diagram: Cut a V-neck in the top layer of fabric.
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Stitch the seam line across the top.
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At the upper left and right corners, cut openings for your hands.
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The center seam of the abayah may be closed in several ways:
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The easiest thing to do is simply stitch the entire seam all the way up
to the neck.
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You could also stitch from the bottom, half-way up, then insert a long
zipper, or even several snaps or velcro.
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Cut the bottom of the abayah, large and round.
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Finish the neck opening, and cuffs with satin ribbon or bias binding.
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Hem the bottom.
