Continuous Lap Placket

Ever wonder how to finish the edge of a slit, like the ones in a sleeve just above a cuff? Well, the Continuous Lap Placket may just be your next best friend! So called because it laps around in one continuous line, this super useful bit of sewing know-how is fabulous for finishing slit edges, while also giving you a place to anchor hooks and eyes or other small closures. 

Start by marking off the length of your slit, and carefully cutting along the line you marked. (If your fabric is delicate or likes to fray, you may want to staystitch about 1/8" away from your marked line on either side, before cutting...)

Cut a strip of fabric at least twice as long as your slit, to be the placket. A 1" wide strip will give you a 1/4" placket, which is great for sleeves, but you'll probably want to cut a much wider strip if you're adding a placket to a skirt. 

Press under one long edge of the strip, 1/4". Pin it along the slit, carefully opening the slit up as you go. The raw edges should line up everywhere BUT at the point -- which is fine and as it should be! The fashion fabric has to dip a bit lower at the point of the slit, to avoid giving you weird puckers. Just make sure that the point doesn't dip down below your stitch line. 

Stitch 1/4" away from the raw edge of the placket fabric. You can see the stitchline pretty clearly in the picture below -- try to just skim across the very point of the fashion fabric, just enough to catch it but not so deep you get puckers. 

Press the placket fabric up, away from the fashion fabric, and fold it over the raw edge. 

Stitch the edge of the placket down, enclosing the raw edges. You can do this by hand or by machine -- I machined it here for clarity, but I think hand-stitching gives the nicest results. :)

As a final step, stitch across the very top of your placket, right at the fold, at a 45 degree angle. This helps reinforce the point of the slit, and gives your placket a nice finished look. Press the placket so that one side folds under, and the other side extends. Congratulations!

Thanks for following along today, everyone! Have fun with this, and let us know in the comments how you use this most fabulous of plackets in your own work!

 

For Pixie Faire,
Melinda


33 Comments

Krystal
Krystal

March 24, 2022

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I am seeing a women’s long sleeve dress with a pattern from Simplicity and the instructions are incredibly confusing! I have been trying to figure out what the hell I’m doing for days. Finished one sleeve now on to the next! I’m finally making some progress!

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Bekah
Bekah

December 13, 2018

OMG THANK YOU! I’m sewing a children’s dress with the worst instructions imaginable. Their drawing is just nuts. This makes so much more sense!!

Diane
Diane

September 14, 2017

Best tutorial on internet for doing this. Before finding it, I always screwed it up. Best points are to skim across point of fashion fabric so you don’t get puckers, and to stitch that 45 degree angle to reinforce. Thank you!

Tari
Tari

June 26, 2017

I almost always mess these up!! :(

Pat Angell
Pat Angell

June 17, 2017

This is just what I have been looking for. Thank you for the clear instructions. I am making a child’s dress with an opening at the neckline which was supposed to have a zipper. This will work much better.

Sharron
Sharron

June 14, 2017

Thank You! I’m new to making doll clothes and was looking for any help on how to make a placket so I am not always forced to make elastic waists for everything. I will add this tutorial to my personal sewing tips.

vernell
vernell

May 10, 2017

I’m making infant rompers. Thanks for the “how to.” I was totally confused, and the pattern’s instructions wasn’t helpful at all.

Lorraine
Lorraine

April 06, 2017

Thank god for the internet! The Simplicity pattern I had was no help figuring this out!

Arie
Arie

February 14, 2016

Glad I stumbled upon this, Thank you!

Hope
Hope

February 09, 2016

Interesting…

Beverly
Beverly

January 04, 2016

I am looking forward to trying this technique, thank you for sharing>

Linda
Linda

November 16, 2015

Ya know what?! I’ve been trying this fo 2 days now using various instructions. Flop after flop was the result. I was running out of practice scrap fabric! finally Googled “why does my continuous sleeve placket pucker” and this tutorial came up. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the very clear, no-nonsense instructions! Another bit of sewing expertise has been learned.

Janice
Janice

June 06, 2015

To Linda R., thanks so much for your tip on printing up the instructions. I have been wanting to take a print to my machine. I have serger and sewing machine side by side so not enough room for laptop.

Also big thanks to Melissa. I have learned so much from these sewing tips you have given us. I have taken lots of online courses that I could refer to but yours are the best and easiest to find when I am in a hurry sewing doll clothes. I am working on making a placket on the back of the Liberty Jane baseball skirt. My daughter hates Velcro so I am going to put snaps on hers. Thanks for your tips. You are wonderful. Janice

Barbara
Barbara

May 21, 2015

This was the most comprehensive explanation I have found Simple and clear, especially with the illustrations.

Nancy
Nancy

December 19, 2014

This was my 3rd site looking for the penny to drop. Success. It all made sense and I’ve fitted a perfect continuous lap, which I had NEVER heard of. Thanks

Betty
Betty

September 12, 2014

The instructions are precise and easy to follow. I am finally successful in making a continuous lap placket that looks the way it should look! Thanks also for telling us about printfriendly.com

Melinda
Melinda

August 04, 2014

Glad this was helpful! Susan, I agree — there is so much to learn, and it’s great to be able to share with those just starting their adventures in the wonderful world of sewing.

Marian, love your idea of doing a welt pocket tutorial! Nothing beats a good welt pocket :)

Linda R.
Linda R.

July 14, 2014

To save a web tutorial (or any important info) without all of the other items on the page, use ‘Print Friendly’. You click on things you want to leave out, then it makes a PDF for you to download. All free – http://www.printfriendly.com/

Cheyl
Cheyl

July 06, 2014

I enjoyed the instruction of continuous lap placket. Wish there was a way to know load it so I could have to go by when I am making one.

Pam
Pam

July 04, 2014

I think its great that you can explain the techniques. As a beginner to making doll clothes it has been very helpful. Thank you

Susan
Susan

July 04, 2014

I just love how you describe with pictures how to do a technique. As an experienced seamstress and designer,I smile because I know how challenging some techniques can be for the new seamstress. Thank you for, being encouraging to newbees!

Ann Barnes
Ann Barnes

July 04, 2014

This was the toughest part of the Button Up Shirt pattern. The tips will help me get a better finish next time. Thanks.

Marian
Marian

July 04, 2014

When making children’s & adult clothing, I’ve used these a lot but not with doll clothes. Many peoples would benefit from a tutorial on welt pockets, etc. those are nice as well.

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