How to Sew a Dress: sew a neck binding

Sewing the neckline on a knit fabric dress can be intimidating. I would like to show you how I sew a neck binding and maybe it can become less intimidating for you.

A neck binding is simply sewing fabric around the neck opening, wrapping the fabric around the seam and stitching the fabric down by topstitching or stitch in the ditch to complete.

Learning a few little tips can make the process so much easier and therefore, not such a huge task.

The Lucy Dress tutorial also has instructions for sew a neck binding, plus the full tutorial for the whole dress.

Measure and cut

First of all, you want the neck binding to be at least 1 inch shorter than the circumference of your neckline, so that your neckline will lay flat. The binding needs to stretch around the curve of the front neckline just a bit.

Fold bodice in half with shoulders matching. Measure from center back to center front. Now multiply that times 2.

My measurement came to 11 inches. Take that times 2. That makes my neckline circumference of 22 inches.

Now take 1 inch off that number. In my case, that is 21 inches. I need to cut my neck binding 21 inches long and 1.25 inches wide. The seam allowance I am using is 3/8 inch.

Sewing and attaching neck binding

First step. With right sides together, sew the ends of the binding together. Press the seam open.

Now fold in half and mark with a pin.

Now mark the quarters with pins. Next, move the quarter mark pins towards the seam 1/2 inch.

Now pin the neckband to the neck opening. Place the seam at center back and the half mark at the center front. Match the quarter marks to the shoulder seams. Ease the rest of the neckband between the pins. Pin well.

Sew using a stretch stitch or zigzag. Press with seam towards the inside of the dress.

Finishing the neck binding

Now fold the neckband around the seam allowance and pin. Make sure the edge of the neckband covers the previous seam.

Stitch in the ditch around the neck on the outside of the dress using a straight stitch. Here I like to use a little longer stitch than if sewing a regular seam.

Press again and you are finished the neckline. Ta da!!!

Now you know the basic steps to sew a neck binding and completing it. And remember, when you have the dress on nobody can see what it looks like on the inside. 😉 So as long as the outside meets your approval that’s all that matters!

And if you are more of a hands-on learner check out the video below!

What is your worst fear when it comes to sewing neck binding on your knit dress? Let me know in the comments below!