Horay it’s the last day!! Here is day 1, day 2, day 3 and day 4 if you are catching up. Today we are attaching our neck band. Neck bands can be tricky for a few reasons. One is ALL knit fabrics are different. If you are new to knits it can be tricky to decipher what knit to buy and how to gauge the stretch of your fabric. For the neck band you need something with great recovery, meaning it stretches a lot but will bounce right back in to shape. Ribbing, cotton lycra and something with 75% stretch are the best type of knits for neck bands. You can absolutely use different types of knits! I have used everything from a cotton-rayon, jersey and interlock. You just have to be able to gauge the amount of stretch and cut your neckband accordingly. Below is a jersey I got from Girl Charlee, radiant orchid solid jersey blend. It is light weight with 30% stretch. I made a Ruffled Doubloon by Patterns for Pirates dress and just cut the neckband 1/2″ wider than called for in the pattern. If I were using something with 40%-50% stretch I would cut the neckband 1/4″ wider. The little bit of added width will make a big difference!

Another reason they can be tricky is while you’re attaching your neckband you must evenly stretch the neckband ONLY, not the bodice. To do this the easiest way is to quarter both your neckband and bodice. You will match the pins while sewing, again only stretching the neckband to fit the bodice. If you stretch each quarter, marked by the pins, to each other than your neckband should be even! I always flip my bodice inside out, with the neckband on the inside. That way when you start stitching the bodice is under and it is easier to only stretch the neck band to fit. If you’re having trouble and it feels really tight and hard to stretch the neckband to the bodice opening then I would STOP, cut off what you have sewn, re cut the neckband a little wider and try again using a 1/4″ seam so your neckline isn’t too low. It is no big deal to cut it off and try again! When you’re through hit that neckband with a lot of STEAM to ‘bounce’ the knit back into shape and if you’re a top stitching gal, top stitch along the seam.  TA-DA neckband complete! Hop on over to the facebook group and add your pictures to the album! We have some awesome prizes to giveaway so ‘like’ your favorite photos in the final album. Prizes are listed below and include patterns from myself, both my sisters, Patterns for Pirates and Cole’s Creations AND a gift certificate to Purpleseamstress. Comment below and tell me which patterns from each you would choose if you win 🙂