How to sew darts
Shaping fabric over a curve
Darts provide a means of shaping fabric over a curve, as on a chair slipcover. Most darts are shaped like long triangles.
1 Mark the dart on the wrong side of the fabric. With right sides together, bring the two stitching lines together and pin along the line. Tack, removing the pins.
2 Starting at the wide end, stitch along the stitching line in a completely straight line. At the pointed end, where the dart tapers to nothing, you will be stitching very close to the fold. Tie the thread ends and press the dart to one side.
These instructions are taken from 'The Home-sewn Home' by Vanessa Arbuthnott with Gail Abbott (Cico Books, £16.99).
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