Home >> Hobbies >> Sewing

How to Take in the Neck on a Shirt

When a neckline gets stretched out or you want to refashion a shirt for someone smaller, you will need to take in the neck. Figuring out how to do this has stumped many tailors and seamstresses. Though you will need to take apart the garment to get the neck and shoulders to lie smoothly and fit the way you want, taking in the neckline may be easier than you thought.

Things You'll Need

Shirt to be altered
Seam ripper
Sewing machine
Scissors
Straight pins
Shirt with neckline to match
Iron

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the sleeves using a seam ripper to pull out the stitches. Set aside for later use.
- 2
  Use the seam ripper to open the shoulder seams. Cut off the seam allowances, which otherwise will prevent the shoulders from lying flat.
- 3
  Match up the shoulder seams with right sides together, then raise the front shoulder seam so it is 1/2 inch higher than the back shoulder seam. This will shrink the size of the neck in the front of the shirt where it is widest. Pin seams together.
- 4
  Compare your new neckline to the neck of the shirt you want to match. If the neck is still too big, offset the front seam still higher against the back and pin the new seam.
- 5
  Sew both shoulder seams with a 5/8-inch seam allowance. Iron the open seam allowance so that the seam will lie flat against the shoulder.
- 6
  Measure the sleeve pieces against the new arm opening of the shirt. Determine how much you need to take in the sleeves to fit the neck opening. Open up the sleeve seam and sew again with a greater seam allowance to shrink the sleeve opening.
- 7
  Reattach the sleeves with right sides together.

Sewing