The Boat Neck Top

Every summer I look for that simple pull-on top that I can wear with wide-legged trousers or a pencil skirt and this is how The Boat Neck Top evolved. The wide line of a boat neck seems so right for balmy summer days and holidays. 

Starting with that neckline I realised that facings would be needed. However rather than have a ‘hidden’ neck facing, I decided to make a feature of this. Initially I was just going to ‘expose’ the facing on the outside of the garment but decided instead to cut identical upper and under neck facings to create a yoke for the style options to ‘hang’ from. 

For the samples shown here, no interfacing was used on the facings as I didn’t want the neckline to be too stiff. However as they are curved, there is a tendency to stretch or distort these pieces when sewing, so care should be taken and stay stitch within the seam allowance if necessary.

If the fabric weave is very open, interfacing may be required – if this is the case, select an ultra-fine fusible interfacing and interface the fabric first before cutting out the facing pieces. 

For the short sleeved option, I mirrored the neck facing construction, at the cuff. This meant that the body of the top could a simple shape with a grown on sleeve. The result is a fairly boxy, but still feminine, shape. 

The longer, bracelet-length sleeve top has a two piece raglan sleeve; here the cuff is finished with a simple turned hem. Above the hem and cuff are as the pattern, a small 1cm turn followed by a further 1cm turn and machined in place. 

On this linen version, the cuff and hem have been overlocked and turned with a 5cm hem so the finished garment measurements are shorter by 3cm. 

This style lends its self to print or plain fabric. In the sample above, the colour woven, checked fabric has been used with one face for the body of the garment, and the other for the neck and cuffs, highlighting these features.