​Two Ways To Align Decorative Trim Along An Armhole Edge

When clean finishing an armhole edge with a decorative trim, one thing is clear: the trim has to efficiently hide the armhole's raw edges underneath- But how do you handle the trim's open ends, especially when working with a fully closed edge like that of the armscye? There are two techniques you can use to handle these open ends  which should be chosen based on the trim's thickness and shape. 

If working with a bulkier, thicker trim, fold the trim's starting end inward at about 1/2" at align the folded edge with the garment's underarm seam (or side seam). Continue aligning and pinning the trim to the armhole edge until you arrive back at the underarm seam, or trim's starting end. At this point, cut the excess trim at about 1/2" past the garment's seam and fold this excess 1/2" and align the trim end such that the fold line created is abutting the other folded end and is perfectly in line with the garment's underarm seam as shown above. 

The aligned trim can now be permanently attached to the armhole edge either by machine or by hand. 

If the trim is thinner and lays flatter, you can choose to only fold one of its ends for clean finishing. Strat by aligning the trim end at about 1/2" past the garment's underarm seam as shown in the left image above. Continue aligning and pinning the decorative trim as needed until you arrive at the trim's starting point (or underarm seam). Place the end of the trim over the garment seam (and beginning end of the trim) and cut the excess trim at about 1/2" distance past the garment seam. 

To encase the trim's raw edges, fold the end of the trim over the flat end underneath, such that the resulting folded edge aligns perfectly with the garment's seam and fully covers the trim's unfolded, raw end underneath.