Learn a technique for sewing a V neck that help create a beautiful, perfectly flat V-neckline.
Hey y’all, today I’m going to show you how to sew a v neck t-shirt. We’re revisiting one of my most viewed posts and most downloaded patterns – the Men’s V Neck Tshirt. The V Neck is one of the options on my free Men’s T-shirt pattern, which is what I used to sew this one for the Coach.
I’ve done a whole post on the overlapped style V neckband here, including a video, but sometimes you don’t want that type of neckband on your garment and want a sewn V that is flatter. So here’s how you do it.
Sewing Instructions
Just like the overlapped V, you want to stay stitch the V neckline with basting stitches on the seam allowance, then clip the point of the V to the stitching line.
But instead of overlapping the neckband, fold it wrong sides together, press, then hold it next to the V of the shirt, raw edges of the neckband lined up with the angle of the neckline, and cut the band in a straight line up as shown above. Copy this angle on the other end of the neckband.
Sew your shoulder seams.
When you open up the neckband, the ends will look like the image below. Put the short ends right sides together and stitch with a 1/4 inch seam. Pivot the fabric at the point with your needle down. Snip into that point with the tip of your scissors just like you did for the V of the neckline.
Refold the neckband, pressing the seams open. Baste the edges together, and also mark a dot on your seamline 1/2 inch up. Above is what your neckband piece will look like.
Using a pin, poke through the dot on the neckband and the point of the stay stitching on the shirt. Use this pin to keep these two points aligned as you pin the rest of the neckband edges into place around the inside of the neckline.
Start stitching at the dot on the V, using a stretch stitch, and sew all around until you get back to the same point. Stop and clip threads.
The back side of the neckband will look like the image below – I prefer to stitch with regular thread and check for accuracy before serging around the whole neckline. It’s also a good idea to finish off by topstitching the neckline down; I used my cover stitch machine, but a twin needle or even a narrow zig zag stitch will also work.
And continue sewing the rest of the shirt according to the Men’s T-shirt tutorial.
More Tips to Sew Stretch Fabric
Want to read more about sewing with knits? See these posts:
Vic
HOW ON EARTH COULD YOU HAVE KNOWN?????? I was trying all evening yesterday and could not do it. I fold my blouse around midnight and left it beside my sewing machine, trying to prove myself I was not pissed off……. HA HA HA
Thank you, really thank you!
PsychicSewerKathleen
WOW so helpful! I’ve been avoiding v-neck tee shirts because I hadn’t seen a finish I really like but I like this one a lot! I have a coverstitch machine (just bought one a month ago) so you’ve given me even more inspiration to give this method a try. Thank you!
Anne
Great tutorial!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for this afternoon that features your v-neck tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=87867 –Anne
Pennyfp
Ha! I have a great story for you… I LOVE a v-neck tee!! Today there was a special event at the school where I work. It was SOOO special that the school ordered t-shirts for all the staff and all the students JUST for today!! Seeing your video (on the over-lap v) gave me all the info I needed. This morning I took out the crew collar on my “special day shirt” and put it back as a v-neck. 🙂 As everyone was eating lunch, the students were commenting how the shirts were different because what was written on the back of the students’ shirts was written on the front of the staff shirts. Then someone asked, “How did YOU get the ONLY cute V-NECK shirt?!!” I smiled… “Well, there is this website…… “
Barbara
many thanks I will at last be able to do this have tried without much success in the past
naurispelto
Thanks for your tutorial! I just made my first V neck t-shirt for my 3 year old boy with your advices and it turned out nice 🙂