Introducing the Cowl Neck Top Pattern. What is it about a cowl neck that we all love? As one of my pattern testers said when I was talking about my various plans for this pattern, “You had me at cowl neck….” I think this style is just universally flattering for all figure types and shapes. It can look both casual and dressy, flirty or formal, sexy or sassy!
This Cowl Neck Top comes with plenty of options to suit every taste and every occasion. Make it sleeveless in something slinky for a night on the town, or try one of the three different sleeve lengths is a soft jersey for something cozy and casual.
Available in 7 sizes with bust ranging from 31 to 46 inches.
You can take a sneak peek at how to sew the sleeveless version in this video, but of course, full instructions for both versions are included with the pattern.
Pattern Tester Reviews
The group did us proud again this time around with some stunning creations in a variety of knits, both plain and printed.
Linda – “I love this pattern! I made the sleeveless but plan on trying it with sleeve. I made some from commercial patterns before and I much prefer your way of putting it together. I like your way of making the armhole facing. Less puckering in the armhole this way. Goes together easily, could easily make it in the morning for an evening date or event. It wears very nicely under a jacket or a cardigan.”
Louise – “Very simple pattern! I have made other cowl necklines and I felt this one was well thought out and simple to make.”
Diane – made the top for her sister with a lovely smile. “I liked the design – cowl necks are usually flattering to any figure type.”
Mariana from Handmade by Maryall – “I liked the fact that there are very few pattern pieces. I like it being so simple, that a beginner doesn't need to be afraid of sewing with knits if he/she uses this pattern.”
Geni from Geni Knits – “It is simple. Cute. Versatile and wardrobe builder!” Geni recommended you fold the fabric and the pattern piece for the front and found this saved her space and made it easier to layout on her fabric. Good tip Geni!
Judy from Stoney Lonesome Sew Works – “This is an awesome pattern! Can see myself making many versions. Also, with the video only had to look at the written directions a couple of times. Came together very easy. Love all the sleeve options. Very nice!”
Jemma – “I like the cowl neck and having the options for sleeved or non-sleeved. I struggled with the video feed because my internet connection isn't great, but the explanations were excellent.”
Irene from Serger Pepper – “It's a winner! It's my style, but I didn't own something like this… until now! You did a great job, Deby, I love this one!”
Thank you once again, ladies. I couldn't have done it without you all, especially on this pattern which turned out to be quite challenging to draft.
Get the Cowl Neck Top Pattern
You can get the pattern from Craftsy. Just click through from here to go right to the page.
Sew the Cowl Neck Top. A great wardrobe builder, and versatile with the different sleeve options. Video tutorial, as well as step by step instructions.
Flattering, comfortable, quick to sew - perfect!
There are two parts to the pattern: the full written instructions and the pattern pieces. Make sure to download both parts.
I am on your site all the time, I don’t know how I could have missed the opportunity to download this gorgeous pattern for free. I hope should you do it again I don’t fall asleep at my sewing machine and miss if. Love your free patterns and going to cut out a top as soon as I heal from foot surgery. Continued success! Susie
Excellent pattern!I am sewing it right now for myself and my mom. Question: when do I use the stretch stitch in sewing this? All throughout, or just when sewing the side seams and the hem?
All throughout out if you do not have a serger.
Thank you for this lovely pattern. i have a very lightweight material that will show the back facing. Is it possible to make the top with a binding around the neck instead of the facing, or is it necessary to have the facing for stability of the neck
Hi Susan, For the neck to drape properly you need the facing.
Thank you so much for the pattern, however I am struggling to fit the pieces together. The pattern pieces are all numbered but your layout doesn’t show which pieces join where. Sorry if I appear stupid but please could you help?
Hi Lee, the instructions have the layout please refer to page 3 in there you will also find the video which helps a lot to understand the pattern.
Thank you so much! I have always wanted to try a cowl neck top and now I have a great opportunity. Looking forward to giving this a whirl. It is printing out as I am typing my note. Liz
I still cannot download the pattern. It seems that craftsy is not working.
yes the site is still suffering some hiccups. But this pattern is available from our website.
I have received receipts for my payment of the cowl neck top. How do I get the pattern? I was unable to download it.
Hi Ellen I do not have any prove of payment under your name or the email you are providing with this comment. Could you send me the email you used so I can give you a refund on PayPal. If you downloaded without paying it means you have downloaded the pattern already, you can find it in your device where ever your files go to. Ibook or files if using MAC.
I cannot download the pattern. The directions downloaded fine. What ccan I do? The message says I havae 2 attempts left to download it.
Sorry there are only 3 tries for free,
I have purchased the pattern via pay hip. Was able to download the instructions but not the paper pattern. Will try again if I can get the link from you. Thanks Myra
HI ELlen, you only get a couple of tries, if at the end it does not work and since you purchased the pattern, I will be refunding your money. Kind Regards, do let me know please.
I think your site is loaded with too many ads too many pop-ups it’s so confusing I’m no longer interested. I’ve been on it for about 5 minutes and I can still not find how to download the pattern. Ridiculous in the extreme.
We do not have pop up adds, in fact they are prohibited by google ad sense policy. The adds you have depends on your surfing history and they reside in your browser. Erase your cookies and download history and you will have a better surfing experience. As for the adds that we do have, they are what pays for free patterns, hosting the site, security, email, all asdds up to a 4 figure bill for me.
Thank you for the pattern!
Question for anyone who knows – does the wrong side of the fabric show on the cowl or is there a front facing?
Nancy the wrong side does not show on the cowl.
I’m just wondering if it has to be printed on “Letter” paper or can it be printed on “A4”? I’m in Australia and we use the same as UK namely “A4” paper.
If it’s “Letter” I guess it means I’ll have to trim more off the “A4”? Would that work?
Hi Wyn yes that is right you will need to trim more.
Than you for such a gorgeous top I am anxious to sew it Your generosity is so appreciated
It is my pleasure!
Thank you so much.
Thank you, I have been wondering how to do cowl necks. I love them.
I bought the pattern Cowl neck top& i got the instructions but not the pattern
Please send me an email with the email you used to pay for the pattern and I will sort it out. Kind Regards, MC
This pattern is fabulous. I am a moderately experienced sewer but hadn’t worked with knits before. I made this in a medium-weight stretch cotton (95% cotton, 5% spandex) and the fit and drape are perfect. The pattern was easy to use and the video tutorial was really helpful. Thank you so much!
Where is a sizing chart for this pattern. It only says fits busts fun 31″-47″ but what is the bust size for each line?
It means it will fit a woman with a bust size 31 to 47 inches, there are 7 sizes with an increment of 2″ per size.
I have having a hard time putting this pattern together !
What happened?
I am also having problems printing out the pattern (this is the first time I’ve had a problem with your patterns). For example – pages 7-8 of the pattern should spell sleeves, but page 7 ends in the middle of the e and page 8 starts with the middle of the s. The circles also are not full. any tips? I tried printing out those page separately and it did not help. Thanks!
I just bought this pattern. Page 6 of pattern is off. It’s not matching up at all with page 5. I have been following Deby for a long while..
Hello Cass, can you print the page on its own? Are you suing the latest version of Adobe Reader? With PDF patterns it is rare that just one page is off. Do let me know if you still have problem printing the pattern. Kind REgards,
Mayra
My fabric, for this pattern, has an obvious pattern and I don’t really want to cut the front on the bias, since it wouldn’t match the back & sleeves. The fabric is a very light weight 4-way stretch knit with a lot of drape. Do you think it will turn out alright if I cut it on the grain? Should I alter the cowl at all? Also, I wear a size 2/4 in RTW, will the size 2, in this pattern work?
TIA, Cherie
Hi I bought this pattern and love it but the cowl hangs too low for me – I am quite petite – What is the best way I can adapt the pattern to make the cowl less deep?
Hi Fiona, on the pattern raise the neckline and you shall have more fabric to cover that part.
Thanks Mayra I will give that a try.
Hi, I’m trying to reduce the drape of the cowl, what do you mean exactly by raising the neckline?
Using your pattern, tape extra paper on the neckline and trace the neckline as high as you want it to be. Make sure the shoulder seams match.
Hello Deby and Mayra, I bought this pattern a while ago, only now I have time to sew it. One question: As I love the cowl neck tops, I already made other shirts but I never had to cut the front on bias. Why is it different with this shirt?
And is there a different between the two sleeves?
It is just the way it was designed. In this case, in order for the cowl neckline to drape elegantly and correctly without adding bulk to the chest area it needs to be cut on a bias. Happy sewing!
I love this shirt pattern, I have made 5 of them so far; 2 sleeveless for 1 daughter
and 1 with sleeves for the other daughter and 2 for me. More fabric is on it’s way.
Hi Deby, I would like to buy patterns but I am finding it difficult to check-out and to pay. There is only one option to pay and that is with Pay Pal which I dont want to do. I would like to pay with my credit card. Perhaps I am not reading the page correctly or that is the only way to pay. Please help!!!!. Veronica Simpson, Durban, SAfrica.
Hi Veronica, sorry if you’re having any difficulties with this. We just checked the site and all seems fine. You should be able to pay using your credit card via Paypal. The sale goes through Craftsy and their systems are pretty good. Please let me know if you’re still having any issues. Kind regards, Mayra
Hi, May I ask for the size guide per colour please. I’ve just put the printed pieces together but have no idea what sizes the colours correspond to. Thanks.
-Zen
There is a key on page 3 of the instructions. These are the lines – Size 1 – inside line, pink solid, Size 2 – brown line, Size 3 – pink dotted line, Size 4 – blue line, Size 5 – green line, Size 6 – red line, Size 7 – outer black solid line. As you would expect, the smaller sizes are on the inside of the pattern piece and the larger sizes are on the outside, if you know what I mean.
This does not tell us what the measurements for Size 1, 2, etc are. Also how much seam allowance is included?
Hi Deby, love your blog. I just watched the video on this – am planning on getting the pattern. Have a question on the facing for the cowl – did you leave it as is, just folded down, no sewing in place, but only held up at the shoulder seam?
Yes, it was only secured at the shoulders so that it hangs freely. You certainly could add a few hand stitches in the center front if you felt your fabric needed it and it would be probably hidden in the folds.
Thank you Deby, going to make this – soon 🙂
Hello Deby,
I really like that top, so I bought the pattern but I’m having difficulties putting it together. I followed your instructions setting up my printer, but when it comes to putting the pieces together some of them won’t fit right. Any tips anyone please?
I just can’t wait to get sewing! 😉
Thank you
Asaliha
I managed to make the pieces of the pattern fit by making sure that every sides of a piece were the same mesurements. And then I used Swedish tracing paper to test it. I am sooooo pleased with this pattern! Thank you so much! I am a beginner and this is the first REAL EASY pattern I have used so far. The result is stunning! I will use it again and again.
Hi Asaliha, sorry I just got to your comment, but it looks from a later one that you have it sorted out OK. Glad to know you love your new top.
No problem, 🙂
Thank you for making and sharing such beautiful patterns!….And easy too!
I have a question about this pattern, namely does it have the seam allowence included or not?
Yes, all of my patterns include the seam allowance.
Thank you for your quick reply! I’ll continue wondering where I went wrong then.
a very pretty top, Deby thanks for the tutorial! One question, it appears the front would fit better with a FBA adjustment> would you comment please? thank you so much!
It all depends on how you like to wear your clothes I think. I prefer my tops to be more fitted at the bust and usually sew to ft exactly or with some negative ease, but you can see from some of the pattern tester versions that some are more closer fitted than others. It also depends on where you carry the measurement. For a smaller back and a fuller bust, then yes, that might be appropriate. For a wider back but a smaller bust, probably not. It’s a personal fitting adjustment decision I suppose.
I love the look of this top. Would look great under blazers or sweaters for winter. I have a larger bust. Usually my size tops in knits are 48 inches. Could the pattern be adjusted to fit the larger bust by adding some in the side seams or front?
Thanks,
Brenda <
It already comes as a 46, so it should be easy to add just a little more to make it a 48 inch bust. Depending on how close you like the fit and how stretchy your fabric is, you might not need to add much at all. You could compare the pattern piece to a top you already have that you like the fit or, just to compare. If you do sew it, I’d love to see how you get on. Will you send a photo?
I will send a photo. I am slow to get things done so will have to look for some nice knit fabric.
May be a bit before I get it done. I am working on a cardigan right now,
Maybe I will have enough fabric left over from it to make this top. Do you think a Ponte knit would work?
Hmm, I don’t think I’ve ever bought a Ponte knit so I’m not sure what that’s like. So long as you hold it up and it drapes softly for the neckline, I think it should be fine.
It is a little heavier and thicker knit. I am not sure if the neckline would drape as well either.
I think I will look for a thinner one that drapes better.
this is such a flattering shirt. Hi! Just stopping by to let you know you have been featured at Nap-Time Creations from the Create Link Inspire party. I’ve got some fabulous fabric themes features this week. So glad to have you part of the group. I’ve spread the word {and tagged you} around my social media. Would love if you could help to spread the word as well. Thanks and see you at the party next week! Emily
Will do Emily. Thank you so much for the feature and the sharing.
I don’t know what it is about cowl necks either, but they are very flattering. Love your top!!!
What a super cute shirt! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Very flattering shirt! I like it a lot. Tricia
great look a style anyone can wear
Looks great on all the models 🙂
That looks great. I’m so going to try this after pay day. Deby you have inspired me. I’ve signed up for some craftsy sewing classes. I’m determined to conquer my fear of knits and bias binding!
Yay, well done Misha. Most of the sewing techniques aren’t difficult. It just needs someone to show us how to do it. These things used to be passed from Mother to daughter, now we have these sewing experts online ready to help us learn and master these new techniques. I really hope you love this top, its been my favorite pattern so far.