How To Change A T Shirt's Neckline Into A Boat Neck

Alter any T-shirt to have a boat neck

Posted by Heather B

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A boat neck T-shirt is a classic look that can be achieved with any T-shirt pattern. I'll show you how to modify the neckline on the pattern and how to give the edge a clean finish.

Sample garment is Sewaholic Renfrew, sewn in cotton jersey

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You Will Need (6 things)

  • Scissors
  • French Curve
  • Trace Paper
  • Ruler
  • Pen(s)
  • Sewing Pattern

Steps (15 steps, 60 minutes)

  1. 1

    Trace the front of your T-shirt pattern and extend the CF line up to the shoulder.

  2. 2

    The width and depth of your boat neck is mostly personal preference, but it's always nice to have a guide line. For my shirt I marked the shoulder seam 2.5" from the outside and the neck 3" down from the shoulder point.

  3. 3

    Then use a french curve to draw the new neckline in.

  4. 4

    The front is pattern has now been adjusted. I considered the new neckline the cut edge and did not add any seam allowance to it.

  5. 5

    Moving on to the back pattern. Here only the shoulder width needs to be adjusted to match the front. Measure 2.5" from the outside of the shoulder and mark. You can double check by putting your new front piece next to it.

  6. 6

    Grab the french curve again and draw the new neckline.

  7. 7

    Your back piece is now done.

  8. 8

    One last step is to draft a facing for the front and back neckline. I traced the new necklines and made the facings 1" wide. We'll be cutting them down later. I cut notches at the CF/CB of both the shirt and facings to make them easier to line up later.

  9. 9

    To assemble, sew together the shoulder seams of the shirt. Then sew together the shoulder seams of the facings.

  10. 10

    Pin the facings and shirt right sides together lining up the seams and the notches on the CF/CB.

  11. 11

    Sew these pieces together along the neckline.

  12. 12

    Flip the facing to the inside of the shirt. Give it a nice press on a ham to keep the facing inside.

  13. 13

    To secure the facing, run a line of cover stitching or straight stitch along the neck edge. I used the throat plate as my guide making the stitching 1/4" away from the edge. When you're done secure the coverstitch threads

  14. 14

    Finally we're gonna trim the facing down to the cover stitch. Use a small pair of scissors and go as slow as you need to. When you're done the neckline will have a nice tidy binding.

  15. 15

    Finished neckline will look like this.