I cut the should seams and folded the shirt in half, with the side seams now one on top of the other. In the picture below you can see the center front of the shirt. I used a ruler to square off the round corners of the scoop neck, traced lines and cut the front of the shirt.
Then I laid the shirt flat again and measured around the neckline. I cut a piece of the other t-shirt two inches wide and as long as my neckline measurement to make the new neck binding.
I folded my strip long sides together, and serged the raw edges closed. If you don’t have a serger, a zig-zag stitch works too. Then I laid the strip down the side of the neckline and marked where the corner of the neck hit. I rotated the strip so it ran along the bottom and marked where the other corner hit.
I folded the strip at each of the two marks and drew a 45 degree line at each, from the serged edge to the folded edge, like in the picture below. Make sure that you’re sewing each angle on the same side of the binding.
A close up of one of the corners; I topstitched the angled flap down.
Now pinning the neckline is a little counterintuitive. It helps to keep in mind that the serged edge will always be pinned/sewn to the shirt and the folded edge is going to be out. I pinned the serged edge to the edge of the neckline with the shirt right side up, like so
Here’s where it gets a little tricky. Rotate the binding so that the bottom serged edge is up and it lines up with the bottom edge of the neckline. Then rotate again at the corner so that the other side edge is lined up. When you get back to where you started pinning, take a minute to sew the ends together so the binding is one loop.
As you sew this in place, just inside the serging or zig-zag, stop at the corners with the needle in the shirt.
Lift the foot, and rotate the shirt to sew the next edge. Take some time to smooth out all the kinks before you sew, or you will see them at the corners when you turn the shirt right side out.
Once you’re done, turn the neckline right side out and press. You might add a tiny zig-zag stitch right below the seam to keep the neckline from flipping out.
rebekahdawn
Great tutorial! I would have never thought to do this, but I love square necklines.
redfly
Another great idea! Thanks for the tutorial.
Melissa
redflycreations.blogspot.com
Melanie
I’d love for you to come link this up at my Tuesday Time Out Party!
http://www.reasonstoskipthehousework.com/2011/10/for-this-weeks-party.html
Smiles,
Melanie
Reasons To Skip The Housework {The Blog}
Tinker B Boutique {The Shop}
{[email protected]}
dana @ wonder forest
wow i would have never thought to add the hem back on! great job!
xox dana
wonder forest
Terry
Great transfered work of circle to square, once I just started work on, but not finished. At last I finished it with triangle shape. Your work is gorgeous.
gifts for boys
LindieLee
Oh my goodness! From what little I can see your machine looking like the Singer
Slant O Matic. Here’s mine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindielee/5821550397/
Thank you so much for your tutorials I’m learning a lot about knits from you.
theInsaneArtist
THIS! This is exactly the information I needed! Thank you thank you!