The newest lesson in our Cut & Sew knit drafting series, Drafting a V-neck Knit Top – 2 Variations. (Image credit: University of Fashion).
A V neckline creates a bold, angular break at the top of the garment, bossily redirecting the eye straight down the center front and tricking it into seeing a longer neck and torso than higher necklines like crew, scoop, or square ever will—basically the visual equivalent of standing a little taller without having to enter tense diplomatic talks with your shoe collection.
This lesson new lesson is your backstage pass to drafting a V‑neck knit top in two flavors: one sleek, clean-finished V, and one snazzy mitered V-neckband for when you’re feeling extra sporty.
Reading the V-Neck Sketch
Planning the V-neckline: neck drop and distance away from the neck. (Image credit: University of Fashion).
You’ll use the fashion sketches like a GPS, zeroing in on details such as how deep the front V drops and exactly how far the neckline scoots in from the shoulder/neck intersection.
Reading the V-Neck with Band Sketch
Planning the V-neckline with neck & armhole band finish. (Image credit: University of Fashion).
When you graduate to the V-neckline with a neck and armhole band finish, you’re basically signing up for a tiny knit-fabric science experiment. You still have to plot your neck drop and the distance from the base of the neck like a responsible pattern engineer, but now there’s extra drama: how wide should those neck and armhole bands be, and are they going to behave nicely or stretch out like overcooked spaghetti the minute you stitch them down?
Stretching the neckband a bit as it is guided along the neckline draft. (Image credit: University of Fashion)
To create the pattern neck & armhole band you must cut a trial band whose length equals the total of your front and back neckline, measured on the cross grain, and whose height is double your desired finished neckband width, cut on the length grain. Then fold the band in half and stretch that brave little test band along the drafted neckline, and reduce the band so that the band is a wee bit smaller than the paper draft. You’ll do the same for the armhole band. This helps stabilize the neckline and armhole and provides a clean finish.
Drafting a V‑neck knit top in two irresistible flavors—one smooth and sophisticated, the other boasting a snazzy mitered neckband—is basically your VIP all-access pass to the secret world of cut & sew knits. Think of it as fashion’s version of discovering the magician’s trick… but with fabric, not rabbits.
