Are you looking to learn how to sew a v-neck?
The classic v-neck is probably one of the most flattering necklines for any type of figure. Likewise, the simple neckline can make all t-shirts, dresses, and blouses look amazing. V-neckline is created by two straight edges, meeting on a point just below your chin. Hence, it draws the eyes toward your face, unless it is quite low, of course!
The reason for that is because the v-shaped opening tends to create an illusory reflection of the shape of your face. That’s why no matter if you have a square or triangular facial shape, the eyes will perceive it as a heart shape when the v of fabric is placed directly beneath it.
Sewing a v-neck is not as a difficult project as it seems. Although it may need a few extra steps to make a beautifully finished v-neck sweater and t-shirt, they are almost as easy to sew just like with any other banded neckline. So in today’s article, we will show you a comprehensive yet simple guide on how to sew a v-neck.
Table of Contents
- 1 How To Sew A V-Neck With Facing
- 1.1 Cut the facing using your garment’s pattern
- 1.2 Stabilize your fabric by making stitches around the neckline of the garment
- 1.3 Lay the facing on your garment
- 1.4 Sew the facing to the neckline
- 1.5 Trim triangular grooves along your seam allowance
- 1.6 Understitch around the neckline
- 1.7 Fold the facing under and sew a topstitch along the edge of the neckline
- 2 How To Sew An Overlapping V-Neck
- 2.1 Sew the shoulder seams of your garment piece together
- 2.2 Stay stitch the bottom of the V
- 2.3 Cut a strip of fabric for the neckband
- 2.4 Wrap the neckband piece to overlap the ends
- 2.5 Sew straight stitches in a V-shape along the folded edge of the neckband
- 2.6 Pin the right side of the collar to the right side of the garment neckline
- 2.7 Straight stitch around the neckband
How To Sew A V-Neck With Facing
Cut the facing using your garment’s pattern
Cut out the pattern piece of your dress or shirt for the facing. Then, lay it on your material for facing, pin in place, and cut it out. If you have two facing pattern pieces, make a single facing piece by sewing them together.
The facing is what will prevent the v-neckline from sagging. Likewise, it provides support to the neckline’s edges.
Stabilize your fabric by making stitches around the neckline of the garment
Stay stitching is optional. However, it will give the neckline some sort of support, which prevents it from stretching as you sew.
To do this, set your sewing machine to make straight, very short stitches. Turn your garment inside out then sew throughout the neckline’s front and back areas. Make sure to leave a seam allowance of about 1/2 inch as you sew.
Lay the facing on your garment
Lay your garment flat with the pattern facing out. Place the facing on your garment with the wrong side facing up. Check its raw edges to ensure they are in line with the garment’s raw edges. Adjust if necessary. Insert sewing pins to prevent your fabric from sliding.
Sew the facing to the neckline
Use straight, short stitches for this step as well. Start from the bottom point of the V and throughout the whole neckline. Depending on what is specified on your pattern, leave a seam allowance of about 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch.
Trim triangular grooves along your seam allowance
The facing tends to make the v-neck bunched up or bulky so trimming can help your neckline lay flat.
Use sharp scissors to carefully cut triangular notches around every 1 inch along the seam line. Next, trim all the excess fabric from the point of the V.
Understitch around the neckline
This will help keep the facing in place. To do this, unfold your facing and garment material with the pattern side facing up. Arrange the seam allowance so that it is laying below the facing side. Then, gradually sew straight stitches along the facing’s edge.
Fold the facing under and sew a topstitch along the edge of the neckline
After understitching, tuck the facing beneath your garment. Take it to your sewing machine and make straight and small stitches along the neckline’s top edge.
This is called a topstitch because the stitches are visible. Once you are at the end, make several backstitches and cut the thread.
How To Sew An Overlapping V-Neck
Sew the shoulder seams of your garment piece together
Stack both the front and back pieces of your garment so that the pattern-sides are touching. Next, line up the edges and sew across the shoulder seams. Make sure to follow the recommended shoulder seam allowance of your pattern.
Now you have one garment piece.
Stay stitch the bottom of the V
Place your garment on your sewing machine, keeping the fabric wrong-side out. Sew very short, straight stitches of around 1 inch from the bottom point of the V along the seam allowance line. Then, sew up 1 inch from the point and use a pair of scissors to snip into the point of the V.
Cut a strip of fabric for the neckband
Follow the measurements of your pattern for the neckband. Alternatively, you can measure your garment’s neckline and subtract 1/2 inch to get the measurement.
Next, cut a strip of fabric with the same length as your measurement, and for it half lengthwise so that the pattern is facing out.
How narrow or wide your neckband will depend on your preference. Also, to make sewing easier, iron the neckband flat.
Wrap the neckband piece to overlap the ends
Press one end of the folded neckband down and then hold the opposite end with your other hand. Wrap it around to make a loop to ensure the raw edges are facing out. Next, overlap the ends so that the edges are lining up. Push a sewing pin through the fabric to keep it in place.
Sew straight stitches in a V-shape along the folded edge of the neckband
Make short stay stitches of around 1/2 inch from the raw edge of the neckband. Just stitch a V-shape that’s about 1 inch long on each side.
The stay stitches will help keep the neckband in place, making it easier to position it around the neckline of your garment.
Pin the right side of the collar to the right side of the garment neckline
Lay your garment flat so the pattern is facing up and push a sewing pin through the bottom point of the neckband’s stay stitches. Push the pin through the bottom point of the garment’s V to help you swivel the neckband around. Then, line up the raw edges of the neckband with the raw edge of the garment and insert a pin around every 1 to 2 inches.
Straight stitch around the neckband
Start sewing at the bottom point of the V using a straight to sew up and around the neckband. Leave about 1/4 inch seam allowance as you sew. Continue sewing until you reach the bottom of the V where you started and fold your new V-neck back so it’s flat.
Make a few backstitches when you reach the end and cut the thread.