How to Sew a Neckband
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Learn how to sew a neckband on a t-shirt or a knit dress. There are two methods and both work well for a sewing machine or a serger.
My favorite thing to wear in the summer is a lightweight t-shirt. I’ve learned to love to sew knit fabric after lots of trial and error.
There are two ways to sew a neckband, and they can both be done with a sewing machine or a serger. One is easier with a sewing machine and one is easier with a serger. This tutorial is for attaching knit fabric to a stretchy knit item like a t-shirt or dress.
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I used the union st tee sewing pattern* to make both of these t-shirts. I love the simple look and slightly loose shape below the waist.
If you also love sewing a t-shirt here are some tutorials to help you when sewing a neckband on a t-shirt:
How to Sew a Neckband: Flat Method
The flat method for sewing a neckband is easier to do with a sewing machine since you can hold the fabric closer to the sewing machine needle.
The first thing you need to do is sew one shoulder seam and leave the other shoulder seam open. Don’t sew the neckband into a tube yet.
Fold the neckband in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press.
Pin one side of the neckband to one side of the neckline at the open shoulder. Pin the other side of the neckband to the other side of the neckline at the other open shoulder. Make sure the neckband isn’t twisted.
Pin the center of the neckband to the center of the neckline. Pin a couple of times throughout the middle to distribute the neckline evenly with the neckband.
Sew the neckband to the neckline with a zigzag stitch or a serger. Stretch the neckband to fit as you sew, but let the sewing machine feed the fabric through at it’s own pace.
I hold the front fabric with my right hand and the back fabric with my left hand to stretch the neckband as I sew.
Press the seam allowance of the neckband down towards the body of the t-shirt.
Topstitch the seam allowance of the neckband down towards the body of the t-shirt.
With right sides together pin the open shoulder seam together. Match up the edge of the neckband carefully.
Sew the shoulder seam with a zigzag or a serger.
Tack the seam allowance of the neckband towards the back of the t-shirt with a couple of stitches.
You finished!
HOW TO SEW A NECKBAND: In the Round
Sewing a neckband in the round can be done with a serger or sewing machine, but it is easier to do with a serger since you don’t need to control the fabric as much as you sew.
The first thing you need to do is sew both shoulder seams. Then sew the short ends of the neckband together.
Fold the neckband in half with wrong sides together and press.
Divide the neckband into four equal sections and pin each section. Divide the neckline into four equal sections and pin each section.
Match up the four sections of the neckband with the four sections of the neckline. Pin between each pin distributing the neckline evenly.
Sew the neckband to the neckline with a zigzag stitch or a serger. Stretch the neckband to fit as you sew, but let the machine feed the fabric through at it’s own pace.
I hold the front fabric with my right hand and the back fabric with my left hand to stretch the neckband as I sew.
Press the seam allowance of the neckband down towards the body of the t-shirt.
Topstitch the seam allowance of the neckband down towards the body of the t-shirt.
You finished!
How to Sew a Neckband
Learn how to sew a neckband on a t-shirt or a knit dress. There are two methods and both work well for a sewing machine or a serger.
Materials
- Neckband pattern piece cut out
- Shirt that needs to be sewn
Tools
- Sewing tools
- Sewing machine or Serger
Instructions
How to Sew a Neckband: Flat Method
- The flat method for sewing a neckband is easier to do with a sewing machine since you can hold the fabric closer to the sewing machine needle.
- The first thing you need to do is sew one shoulder seam and leave the other shoulder seam open. Don't sew the neckband into a tube yet.
- Fold the neckband in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press.
- Pin one side of the neckband to one side of the neckline at the open shoulder. Pin the other side of the neckband to the other side of the neckline at the other open shoulder. Make sure the neckband isn't twisted.
- Pin the center of the neckband to the center of the neckline. Pin a couple of times throughout the middle to distribute the neckline evenly with the neckband.
- Sew the neckband to the neckline with a zigzag stitch or a serger. Stretch the neckband to fit as you sew, but let the sewing machine feed the fabric through at it's own pace.
- Press the seam allowance of the neckband down towards the body of the t-shirt.
- Topstitch the seam allowance of the neckband down towards the body of the t-shirt.
- With right sides together pin the open shoulder seam together. Match up the edge of the neckband carefully.
- Sew the shoulder seam with a zigzag or a serger.
- Tack the seam allowance of the neckband towards the back of the t-shirt with a couple of stitches. You finished!
HOW TO SEW A NECKBAND: In the Round
- Sewing a neckband in the round can be done with a serger or sewing machine, but it is easier to do with a serger since you don't need to control the fabric as much as you sew.
- The first thing you need to do is sew both shoulder seams. Then sew the short ends of the neckband together.
- Fold the neckband in half with wrong sides together and press.
- Divide the neckband into four equal sections and pin each section. Divide the neckline into four equal sections and pin each section.
- Match up the four sections of the neckband with the four sections of the neckline. Pin between each pin distributing the neckline evenly.
- Sew the neckband to the neckline with a zigzag stitch or a serger. Stretch the neckband to fit as you sew, but let the machine feed the fabric through at it's own pace.
- Press the seam allowance of the neckband down towards the body of the t-shirt.
- Topstitch the seam allowance of the neckband down towards the body of the t-shirt. You finished!
If you sew a neckband using this tutorial, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!
I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather
Looks neat and professional neck band sewing. But what is the ratio of the neck band to the actual neck measurement of the t-shirt?
It really depends on the fabric, but I usually see that the band is 85% of the neck.
Thank you for both methods. I have done in the round but never tried the first method!! Great idea! Very good tutorial too!
When I see a neckband it gaps and falls forward instead of lying flat…I cut the neckband according to the pattern, and stretch it to fit around the neckline, but it still gaps…thank you!
What is the pattern? Not all patterns can correctly account for the amount of stretch in fabric since there’s so many different kinds of knits. I would shorten the neckband before sewing on to prevent gapping. It might take some trial and error and it will change every time you use different fabric.
Could you use this with bias tape? I don’t have enough fabric to make my own seam binding and the dress will be made with lightweight tencel denim.
Yes bias tape works well when using woven fabric