Sewing tutorial - Man style large shirt to feminine top Part 4

Before hemming the neckline, I had to create the two cords that will be used for the lacing down the front. I used some black scrap fabric and followed the method I used for the Indian dress (by the way, I never finished the stole, I am working up the nerve to do the final hemming).

I top stitched the wide seam allowance I had deliberately created when sewing down the front of the shirt, to make a tunnel for the cord. I threaded two cords, one in each tunnel.

Next I did a fitting to see how much I wanted the front to scrunch up when I pulled the cord. I chose how much cord I needed at the bottom of the shirt to make a bow to my liking and pulled the extra length at the neckline. In my previous fitting, I had feared that the shirt was too long and I might have to cut it at the bottom and hem (not something I wanted to do), but in the end, the extra length came handy. It allows for a good draping of the shirt.

Anticipating a lot of bulk at the neck line, I secured the cord in place with a row of stitches right where I expected the rolled hem of the neckline to hit and trimmed the extra cord. I hemmed the neckline. using a rolled narrow hem.

Almost there. What's left are the darts and the sleeves.