Omitting the Collar on The Garnet Dress / How to Sew a Neck Band on any Knit Tee

The Garnet Pattern features a knit bodice with drop waist and a twirly circle skirt that can be made from either knit or woven fabric. The sewing pattern includes options for making a dress, skirt, or top. You can choose from a single fabric skirt or paneled skirt, and long sleeves (plain or ruched) or short sleeves. That’s 19 ways to sew this pattern – it really is a versatile sewing pattern that you will grab over and over through every season. The pattern includes sizes 12/18 months through girls 9/10 and truly suits all ages!

The Garnet pattern also includes an adorable, petite collar designed for woven fabric.  It is sweet perfection. If you have purchased the Garnet pattern since January 2019 a no-collar option is also included in your pattern, if you purchased since April 2017 the updated version is in your account. If you have an earlier version, here is how to omit the collar and sew a neck band on your Garnet Dress or Top. Use this method when making the Top view and you get a perfect basic, girly tee for every day and layering!

Begin by printing and assembling and cutting out your Garnet Pattern. Do not cut out the collar or neck binding pieces.

• Sew and finish the shoulder seams.  You may wish to reinforce these seams with a piece of clear elastic.
• NEW: Cut a neckband 1.5″ long and the width (stretchy direction) as provided in this chart:

12-18 months: 13-3/4″

18-24 months: 14″

2T: 14-1/4″

3T: 14-5/8″

4T: 15″”

5: 15-3/8″

6/6X: 15-5/8″

7/8: 16″

9/10: 16-5/8″

• Fold with long edges together and press a crease.

• Open the neckband back up and sew the short sides with right sides together to form a loop.  Press this seam open and refold on the crease.

 

• Now mark quarter points on both your neckband and bodice neck edge. On the bodice first find center front and back by folding on the shoulder seams. then match center front and back to find the side quarter points. The side quarter points will be slightly to the front of the shoulder seams.

 

• Pin neckband and neck edge right sides together. Match quarter points, placing the neckband seam at the center back and adding pins between points.

 

• Sew using a stretching stitch as described in the Garnet pattern.  Be sure to stretch the neck band to match the neck edge, but do not stretch the bodice neck edge. Finish this seam.
• Press well using steam.  Press the seam towards the bodice.  Optionally, topstitch.  I prefer to topstitich and do so with a twin needle (if you’ve never used a twin needle check out Jen’s tutorial).  It keeps the seam neatly secured in place.

 

 

Finish your Garnet per the pattern instructions. Because my main skirt fabric is a directional print, I used the Pink Pin Tip on page 4 to add side seams to my skirt. The full circle skirt makes it nice and twirly!

 

 

 

Another option finishing the neckline is to make a neck binding (rather than this neck band we’ve made today).  The order of construction and measurement are the same.  Simply use this Neck Binding Tutorial for the actual sewing of the neck edge.  It gives a slightly different look.

 

I love the knit bodice on this dress.  It makes it perfect for everyday comfort wear.  Throw some Sterling Shorties (minus the ruffles) underneath and you’re playground ready.  Perfect for Back to School.  For more Back to School styles from this lovely Season of Love fabric, be sure to check back next week!

 The Garnet Dress, Top, and Skirt pattern is available for download at www.tiedyedivapatterns.com.

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