Choker necklines are all the rage right now, so we thought we’d give you the “how-to” so you can add it to your most loved top. I used the Favorite Tee since it already has a V-neck option but you can really use any of our t-shirt patterns and add a lower scoop neck or v-neck to it.
Once you have decided your pattern and cut your pieces, do not assemble your shirt! We need to finish the V-neckline first and is easier to do prior to construction. I chose to bind the V-neck, but you could also use a traditional neckband if you wish. (Need more help with knit binding? Check out our tips HERE)
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- Snip a small “v” 3/8″ inward, on either side of the center of the v-neckline.
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- Cut a binding strip 1.5″ x 90% of the neckline.
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- With right side of the binding to the wrong side of the neckline, pin in place.
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- Stitch with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Note: the binding will need to stretch slightly to fit the neckline.
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- Press seam allowance up and fold raw edge to meet center. Press.
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- Fold over again, covering seam allowance and press.
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- Top-stitch.
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- Fold V-neck in half width-wise and stitch down the center of the V.
Next, construct and finish your shirt as indicated in the tutorial, but do not use the existing neckband instructions. We will now finish the choker portion of the neckline.
I did not want the choker neckband piece to be too high on my neck, so used the Women’s Henley as a guide for placement. You can make your own adjustments if you prefer to have it higher or lower. Place a pin or mark on the neckline where you wish to have the choker band.
We are going to use the same binding method as we did the v-neck to finish the choker band. My binding strip is 2.5″ and finishes about 1″. Again, this is customizable and if you wish to have a thicker or thinner choker piece, adjust the height of your band accordingly. (just be sure to add 1/2″ to the height as we will be folding and enclosing the raw edges).
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- Lay your shirt flat and measure the distance between either side of the neckline where you wish the choker band to attach at the neckline. This is measurement “A”.
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- Measure the neckline from your marked point to center back. This is measurement “B”.
To determine the width of your choker binding: A + ((B x 2) x 90%)). For example, my measurement A is 8″. Measurement B is 8″. So my choker band is 8″ + 14.4 (or 8 x 2 then x 90%) = 22.4″ . To make it a nice even number I just rounded it out to 22.5″.
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- Fold binding in half width-wise and stitch short ends together, creating a circle.
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- Mark 1/2″ of measurement “A” from the fold.
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- With right side of binding to wrong side of shirt, match center back and two front points of neckline and choker binding.
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- Stitch using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
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- Press seam allowance up.
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- Fold binding raw edge down 1/4″ towards center. Press.
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- Fold and press the bottom raw edge 1/4″ between your V-neck.
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- Fold in half again, just covering your previously stitched line.
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- Continue folding and pressing the binding all the way around neckline.
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- Top-stitch near the bottom fold.
Voila! You’re all finished. 🙂
