Rowan Sweater Hack Along PT7 - Shoulder seams & neckband

September 02, 2020 4 Comments

Jump to the previous post in the hack along: Rowan Sweater Hack Along PT6 - Front Bodice. Jump to the next post in the hack along: Rowan Sweater Hack Along PT8 - Sleeves & Side seams

Rowan Hack Along - Shoulder seams & neckband
Take a look at that glorious colorblocked front bodice! Aren’t you proud of yourself? Today we’re going to focus on creating some “hanger appeal” - during one of my first jobs as a designer, a lot of emphasis was put on finishing the inside of the garments with the same level of sophistication as the outside. And this is something that has totally stuck with me!

One of the simplest ways to achieve this, is by adding an inside neck binding. This creates a beautifully finished neck and provides a great opportunity to add a contrasting fabric or your own custom label. Our free Rowan Tee pattern provides an inside neck binding pattern piece, but if you’re working with a different pattern, the instructions below will also explain how to calculate your own inside neck binding pattern piece. Let’s go! 


Today we’re going to:

  • close the shoulder seam
  • insert the neckband
  • finish the back of the neckband with an inside neck binding

 

Closing the shoulder seam


First, we’re going to close the shoulder seams. With the right sides together, line up the shoulder seams of the front and back bodice. Sew the seam with a knit stitch or a small zigzag stitch. Finish the seam with a serger or a big zigzag stitch.

 


Press the seams towards the back and turn the sweater with the right side out. 

 

Inserting the neckband



Next we’re going to prepare our neckband. With the right sides together, fold the neckband in half. Serge the ends together or use a small zigzag stitch. Press the seam. Fold the neckband in half, with the wrong sides together. The seam should now be hidden. Give the neckband a good press!

 


Now, with the right sides together, place the neckband over the neck area of the sweater, lining up the raw edges. Line up the neckband notch with the center front notch of the sweater. Line up the seam of the neckband with the center back notch of the sweater. Pin in place. Divide the neckband width evenly over the neck width of the sweater.

 



Serge or use a knit stitch or small zigzag stitch to stitch the neckband to the neck area, evenly stretching it to fit as you go. Press the seam of the neckband down.

 


The inside neck binding



Now the fun part! If you’re working with our free Rowan Tee pattern, the inside neck binding pattern piece is already provided in the pattern. But if you’re working with a different pattern you can measure the back neck of your sweater/shirt.

Take 80% of this measurement (example: back neck = 14cm x 0,8 = 11,2cm) and add your preferred seam allowance. For the width of the inside neck binding I usually take a measurement of 45mm (1 ¾”). This includes a 1cm (⅜”) seam allowance and leaves you with a folded binding width of 1,25cm (½”). This is a bit more than the standard seam allowances already included in Misusu patterns, which will cover the back neck seam beautifully. Adjust your inside neck binding width if you’re using a different seam allowance.

With the wrong side up, press the short 1cm (3/8") seams towards the inside. With the wrong sides together, press the inside neck binding in half. 

 



Turn the sweater inside out and place the back of the neckband up. Make sure you have a good view of the back neck area! Starting at one of the shoulder seams, place the inside neck binding over the back side of the neckband, ending at the other shoulder seam. Line up the raw edges of the inside neck binding with the finished edge of the neckband. Pin in place.

 


Use a knit stitch or a small zigzag to stitch the inside neck binding to the back side of the neckband, evenly stretching it to fit as you go. Trim the seam of the inside neck binding down to avoid bulk.

 


Press the inside neck binding down, over the seam allowance (this way covering the seam allowance) towards the back bodice. Pin everything in place. If you like to add a custom label or maybe even a coat hanger, you can pin it below the inside neck binding. 


Stitch the inside neck binding close to the edge, using a knit stitch or a small zigzag stitch.


Yay! Doesn’t that look appealing? Simple method, maximum results and satisfaction! This method of binding the inside neck can be applied to any pattern and most seams! I bet you’re already thinking about what to bind next!
For now, admire your hard work! Tomorrow it is all about inserting the sleeves and closing the side seam!

XO
Elles


4 Responses

Kaisa
Kaisa

February 02, 2021

This is good. Have to est. Thank you!

Leonie
Leonie

January 19, 2021

Thank you for the clear explanation! Always been wondering about how to make these!

yan
yan

October 19, 2020

This is neat way of finishing the neckline. I can only see one stitch visible on the outside. How do you achieve this? Also, do you fold the 2nd raw edge before sewing it down? Thanks.

Juliette
Juliette

October 19, 2020

Thanks for the tip! I always wondered about this!
Why take 80% and not the full back shoulder sam to shoulder seam meausurement though?

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KIDS SIZE CHART

Body measurements cm

Body measurements inch

Size

Age

Chest

Waist

Hip

Height

Chest

Waist

Hip

Height

80

9-12M

50

48

52

80

19,5

19

20,5

31,5

86

12-18M

52

50

54

86

20,5

19,5

21,25

33,75

92

18-24M

54

51

55

92

21,25

20

21,5

36,25

98

2-3Y

55

52

57

98

21,75

20,5

22,5

38,5

104

3-4Y

56,5

53,5

59

104

22,25

21

23,25

41

110

4-5Y

58

55

61

110

22,75

21,5

24

43,25

116

5-6Y

60

57

64

116

23,5

22,5

25,25

45,5

122

6-7Y

62,5

58,5

67

122

24,5

23

26,5

48

128

7-8Y

65

60

70

128

25,5

23,5

27,5

50,5

134

8-9Y

67,5

61,5

73

134

26,5

24,25

28,75

52,75

140

9-10Y

70

63

76

140

27,5

24,75

30

55

146

10-11Y

73

64

79

146

28,75

25,25

31

57,5

152

11-12Y

76

66

82

152

30

26

32,25

59,75

158

12-13Y

79

68

85

158

31

26,75

33,5

62,25

164

13-14Y

82

70

88

164

32,25

27,5

34,75

64,5

WOMEN SIZE CHART

Body measurements cm

Body measurements inch

Size

High Bust

Bust

Waist

Hip

Height

High Bust

Bust

Waist

Hip

Height

AA

77

82

66

88

168

20,25

32,25

26

34,75

5 feet 6"

BB

81

86

70

92

168

31,75

33,75

27,5

36,25

5 feet 6"

CC

85

90

74

96

168

33,5

35,5

29,25

37,75

5 feet 6"

DD

89

94

78

100

168

35

37

30,75

39,25

5 feet 6"

EE

93

98

82

104

168

36,5

38,5

32,25

41

5 feet 6"

FF

97

102

86

108

168

38,25

40,25

33,75

42,5

5 feet 6"

GG

103

108

92,5

114

168

40,5

42,5

36,5

44,75

5 feet 6"

HH

109

114

99

120

168

43

44,75

39

47,25

5 feet 6"

II

115

120

105,5

126

168

45,25

47,25

41,5

49,5

5 feet 6"

JJ

121

126

112

132

168

47,75

49,5

44

52

5 feet 6"

KK 127 132 118,5 138 168 50 52 46,75 54,25 5 feet 6"
LL 133 138 125 144 168 52,25 54,25 49,25 56,75 5 feet 6"
MM 139 144 131,5 150 168 54,75 56,75 51,75 59 5 feet 6"
NN 145 150 138 156 168 57 59 54,25 61,5 5 feet 6"