Tutorial: Drafting a Boat Neckline

[@donnaschindlbeck7457]

Thanks for sharing this technique Whitney! I find one of the best parts of sewing your own clothes is the ability to mash patterns and take ideas from a pattern you love and use it to alter or improve another pattern and really make it your own😊

[@TomKatStitchery]

I completely agree!

[@debbierenee7896]

So glad you are feeling better Whitney!...Thank you for this tutorial, I have been sewing for a while but still always learn so much from watching you sew🤗!!

[@TomKatStitchery]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@Escape10mom]

I just made my first Concord Tee the other day & it is such a great fit & sew! I just cut out another one using this tutorial on the boat neckline!! It's coming together beautifully. Thank you for this 😊

[@TomKatStitchery]

Oh good! That is my favorite t-shirt pattern!

[@teresastevens2084]

Thank you for filming (again!!!) this tutorial on your technique of drafting and sewing a boat neckline. I completely agree that this method gives a very professional, high-end finish to the garment and, if you take your time, yields fantastic results! I would not have thought to use a light-weight interfacing for the facing but it makes sense. One question: What settings do you use to top-stitch the facing down? Thanks again, Whitney!

[@TomKatStitchery]

I should have said the stitch length! Sorry about that! I use a straight stitch at a 3mm length for my topstitching on this neckline.

[@teresastevens2084]

Thanks!

[@Elkycreates]

Thanks for this video. This is an elegant and one of my favourite necklines which im going to put on my black knit dress.

[@TomKatStitchery]

Glad it helped!

[@dianneandres3770]

Whitney, thank you so much for this tutorial. I love a good boatneck t-shirt!

[@TomKatStitchery]

Me too!

[@marathorne6821]

Really interesting and informative video, Whitney! Thanks for sharing.

[@TomKatStitchery]

My pleasure!

[@loreleig5062]

Thanks for this tutorial, I used your directions and dimensions on the Love Notions La Bella Donna and I really like the finished tshirt!

[@TomKatStitchery]

You are so welcome! I'm glad it was helpful!

[@msdecleir6389]

Bang on! Excellent tutorial. I had watched a few and none seemed that right/good…. But this is the one that looks good. Wish me luck!

[@msdecleir6389]

I have to make 9 of these tops. 😂

[@TomKatStitchery]

Oh good! This is one of my favorite necklines to wear!

[@Escape10mom]

This is a great way to do a neckline! I too don't like the fold under once & stitch. This looks so polished too. Understitching is so underrated. It really makes a difference!! Thanks for posting this!!

[@TomKatStitchery]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this! Understitching might be my favorite sewing technique!

[@amysheridan4496]

Would love to see how you match stripes when cutting. Your instructions on drafting the boat neck are so simple! And I love the tip on using a tracing wheel for marking the different necklines. I thought I had lost mine, but when I cleaned up my sewing cabinet drawers I found it...it's probably 50 years old but still works fine 😊

[@TomKatStitchery]

I need to do a video on stripe matching! I promise I will do one - maybe after the Ziggi sew along! Stay tuned!

[@amysheridan4496]

@@TomKatStitchery that will be great! Thanks 😊

[@nancynewman6592]

You are so right, a very high end finish and not too difficult to do :)

[@TomKatStitchery]

Thank you!

[@sherril5614]

Thank you Whitney for the tutorial and sharing all you great knowledge. You make it simple!

[@TomKatStitchery]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@amikrenzel5788]

Great tutorial. I really enjoy watching some techniques that can make a sewn garment just a bit more couture and extra. I also love the drafting part and being able to use any pattern. I have actually taken a thrifted well fitting t-shirt and copied it to make my favorite t-shirt pattern.

[@TomKatStitchery]

Oh good! I'm so glad this was helpful!

[@rmorine6394]

For patterns with multiple necklines, I trace one full bodice front (I use Pellon Tru-Grid tracing stuff). Then make partial tracings with the other neckline variations, down to some convenient marking like a dart or lengthen/shorten line. So I have a shorty version. When I cut out the pattern, I can fold down enough of the original piece to get it out of the way. Then lay my alternate neckline on top, match the markings and pin it to the original, the proceed as usual. So I have all the variations without having to fully trace the bodice front multiple times.

[@TomKatStitchery]

That is such a smart idea!

[@cynthiam8385]

Thanks Whitney! This was a very useful and insightful tutorial.

[@TomKatStitchery]

I'm so glad!

[@musicis4thesoul]

Thank you! I'm making my first shirt without a pattern and I wasn't sure how create the neck band... It turned out perfect!

[@TomKatStitchery]

I"m so glad to read this!

[@yvetteschroed741]

Thank you! I am planning a spring/summer wardrobe and was looking for a boatneck that had a facing. You were the inspiration for that. Thank you for all you do.

[@TomKatStitchery]

Perfect timing!

[@yvetteschroed741]

@@TomKatStitchery Finished my boatneck with your instructions! Drafted a boatneck from the LN classic tee. Thank you again for your great tutorial.

[@evalucilledixon3879]

Thank you. This lesson is a bit of magic. The boatneck is a nice classic style--perfect paired with a blazer or moto. ~ L

[@TomKatStitchery]

I agree! The boat neckline is one of my favorites!

[@caraid9263]

Awesome, I’m going to try this!

[@TomKatStitchery]

Oh good!

[@mysewingpractice]

I appreciate you telling us which side goes against the feed dogs

[@TomKatStitchery]

My pleasure!

[@beckyunderwood4220]

Thanks for the advice to put the less-stable section on the feed dogs. I feel like this has caused me issues in the past, and I look forward to better success in the future!

[@TomKatStitchery]

I hope it helps! I definitely notice a difference doing it this way!

[@k3of5ks]

Thank you Whitney. I’m going to try this. I also love under stitching. 💗

[@TomKatStitchery]

Oh good! Understitching is my favorite!

[@norakathleenbertoglio4414]

Thank you so much! Maybe … not really sure why but my Tessa sheath dress has the facing neckline version. I noticed when I tried it on that the top stitched facing doesn’t lay flat against my upper chest area. So possibly because I didn’t have the un-interfaced side against the feed dogs? Hmmm… I guess that I will try making the boat neck Concord and see if I can get the facing to lay flat. Great tutorial.

[@TomKatStitchery]

It's my experience that everything seems to just lay better when I sew with the uninterfaced side against the feed dogs. Let me know how it goes!

[@reneemorgan9320]

Thank you so much for doing this tutorial!! I also love a good stripe! I have some striped Tencel cotton jersey coming from Etsy that I am hoping to use to make a boatneck tee. I think understitching is so satisfying! Thanks again for sharing your expertise! 💕

[@TomKatStitchery]

I agree! Understitching might be my favorite sewing technique!

[@sharonrimsza7960]

Loved this. Thanks.

[@TomKatStitchery]

I'm so glad!

[@texasproud8822]

Great instruction. Thank you

[@TomKatStitchery]

My pleasure!

[@victoriahannah1633]

Thank you. This will really be helpful. My next project is to attempt to sew a tunic first time and I might try this neckline.

[@TomKatStitchery]

It's one of my favorite necklines!

[@kristincrocker6204]

HI WHITNEY, First time commenting WAHOO!!!!! #1. When you were measuring the cutting line of the facing could you have used your french curve and just measured out the 3/8 at the beginning and end. #2 Love to hear all your thoughts on to prewash/dry or not and why you serge your woven & knit fabrics. So love your channel and your bubbly personality. Oh, great knowledge and experience that your sending our way. I am so appreciated of you.

[@TomKatStitchery]

Thank you so much for commenting! #1 You can totally use your French curve to draw out the facing. As long as you have it uniform in width, it should be fine! #2 I prewash all my fabrics (with a few exceptions like wool coating) and I usually dry the yardage in the dryer (to avoid laundry mistakes later down the road). I serge the cut ends of my woven fabrics before washing to keep the yardage from raveling. Does this answer your questions? Let me know if I can answer more!

[@cynthiatennant9896]

Hi Whitney, thank you for showing us this. What kind of scissors are your favorite to use?

[@TomKatStitchery]

My brother in law got me a pair of LDH scissors for Christmas last year and they are fabulous! They are a small company out of Canada and are just lovely!

[@cynthiatennant9896]

Thank you I will check them out 🤗

[@isewnow]

If you add a thin interfacing that can be fused to the back of the paper instead of tape it lasts longer.

[@TomKatStitchery]

That's a great idea!

[@makeitanywear]

My favorite way to finish the facing edge is to "face the facing". Instructions start at 2:30 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZXcZmqBZtp2pM0 i think you will like this.

[@TomKatStitchery]

That's a great finish! I do this quite often when I'm sewing the facing onto the right side of a garment!

[@anessaharris9947]

🇨🇦😃

[@TomKatStitchery]

❤️❤️❤️