As i mentioned earlier in the Briar sewalong – my method for binding a knit neckline is different to the standard or more traditional method. So incase you’d like to try the normal way, today i’m going to show you how!
Just to make things easy we’re going to use the binding pattern piece from the Briar pattern – but if you did this on another pattern, you’d just want to cut a binding strip that was either the same length as the circumference of your neckline (along the stitch line, not raw edge), or an inch or so shorter. I prefer to make it a bit shorter, i find it conforms to the curve better, but most texts/instructions will tell you to cut the exact same length for a binding.
(and remember, a neckline band is a different thing. i know, too much stuff to remember!)
Okie dokie lets get going!
Fold your binding strip in half length ways, and sew 5/8″ from the edge on the raw edge. You may use a serger/overlocker or a zig zag stitch on a regular machine. Press seam flat.
Make sure to mark your notches and centre front and back on the binding piece and the tshirt neckline.
Match up the notches and pin the binding to the neckline with right sides facing each other. Ease the binding in to the curve as you go.
Sew 1/2″ from the neckline edge all the way round. (you may obviously choose to do a different width binding if you like, but i like chunker things)
Turn your top inside out. (ps. don’t forget to use a stretch or ballpoint needle! i totally forgot to change my needle, and left my denim needle in. big mistake – check out those crazy skipped stitches!)
Now fold the binding strip over the neckline edge to encase it.
Then topstich on the binding close to the seamline.
Trim away the excess fabric as close to the stitching as you care
Don’t forget to to press your binding! This will help to set the curve and get any crazy puckers out.
You can use this same technique on the the armsyces of a sleeveless Briar!
ps. I wish this fabric photographed better – because its totally awesome… sad face.
Thank you so much for this! I’ve been struggling how to sew a neck line and your visuals help me!
Thanks for this tutorial. It’s great! I’ll finally get it right!
I love your designs!!
The knit neckline tutorials have been incredibly helpful- I find it the trickiest bit on a knit project
[…] Before we finished up for the day I had my shoulder seams sewn, the neckline finished with my new favorite method, and my side seams sewn. All I had left was to bind the arm holes and hem […]
[…] been satisfied with the bands that most patterns call for so when Lauren at Lladybird posted about this binding method from Megan Nielsen, I was all over it. I LOVE the results and don’t think I’ll ever go back to the bands […]
I missed something, where is the finished zig zag on the front of the
shirt ?
[…] New binding for knit necklines […]
Megan, Do you have instructions on making a v-neck? I also wonder if it’s possible to change a shirt from Round neck to v-Neck? I have some T-Shirts that are cut too high since I have a short neck. I would love to change these necklines to V-Neck. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
Donna