Easy Boat Neck Top Pattern – Simple One Hour Project

This long-sleeved, simple boat top can be made in only one hour –assuming you have a fully functioning sewing machine.  The top is comfortable to wear and very functional.  It can be worn in a wide variety of settings and complements all kinds of different looks.

I was a little bit annoyed while making this top.  As you know, I took a few weeks off to go to Europe looking for inspiration.  I brought with me one of those hand-held sewing machines and was planning to share with you 4 or 5 projects made with it, so in case you ever needed to make something on the go, you could do the same thing.  Sadly, I didn't check to see if the machine actually worked!  So I didn't manage to get any use out of the thing at all.  If anyone has had any success with a machine like THIS, I'd certainly love to hear about it in the comments below.

After many attempts trying to make the machine work, I decided to take it apart and finally managed to sew a little.  However, the tension was never good enough to make anything that I would be happy to wear.  Needless to say, the machine ended in the rubbish bin.  That was plan A. On to plan B, sew by hand.

I decided to try to answer the question: “Can you really sew knit by hand?”  And if so, what stitch is the best? As it turns out, I had to use a combination of a back stitch and a running stitch but it seemed to come out OK.  The only reason I ended sewing the simple boat neck top pattern by hand is that I packed the wrong pile of clothes.  More on that later.

For Your Consideration

Are you a beginner and afraid of knits?  I hope you read this article about Sewing Stretchy Knits first before you proceed any further. Understanding knits and the types there are is a crucial step in buying the right fabric for your project.

The simple boat neck top pattern is really easy to make.  I used a linen jersey knit with a very appropriate print of the map of the world.  (Please see the image below.)  You can use rayon, cotton or a combination of all, soft and drapey is best since the sleeves are kimono style.  I love this top since it is very easy to make and even easier to wear with a pair of jeans, culottes or a pencil skirt.

When I got back home, I made another one for this tutorial which you can see above.  This time I only used a small stitch on my serger with no hemming was required. In total it took me 35 minutes to make this top.

Materials:

• 1 3/4″ yard of rayon jersey knit or soft ribbed knit 60″ wide
• thread to match

Fabric Suggestions

The exact fabric I used is on the right side of this selection.

Optional Tools

• jersey needle #70
• sewing machine (optional)
• serger (optional)

Finished Garment Measurements

Pattern Download

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Pattern Layout

How to Sew the Simple Boat Neck Top Pattern

For best results, prewash your fabric and dry and then leave the fabric resting on a table overnight.

There are only two pieces to this simple boat neck top pattern.  The boat neck neckline allowed me to make just one pattern piece and use it both as front and back.  That is the reason you must use a very soft and drapey fabric.

If you have a four thread overlocker, go ahead and sew the top with the overlocker and seal or clean all the seam allowances including the wrists and hemline.  Please note the seam allowance is 1/4″ for all seams.  It is perfectly fine not to hem this top, but for that, you will need to change the serger to a smaller stitch.

Step One: Sew the Arms and Shoulders

Place the back print side up.  Align the front on the top print side down.  Prints are together.  Sewing along the arms and shoulders as indicated in the diagram showing location 1.

Step Two: Sew the Sides

Sew the sides making sure you do not stretch the fabric when you are sewing.  Sew along the seams indicated in the diagram showing location 2.

Step Three: Sew the Boat Neck to Seal the Fabric Edge

The best way to seal the seam is with the use of your serger using a small to medium stitch.  This will depend on your serger.  Take a picture of your current settings.  Then,  practice on a fabric scrap before you decide to serge the top.  If you don't have a serger, use your sewing machine with a small zigzag.  If you're doing this project by hand, you can use a running stitch.

Step Four: Sew the Wrists Hem to Seal the Fabric Edge

This is the same as the neck.

Step Five: Sew the Hem to Seal the Fabric Edge

This is the same as the neck and wrists.

If your machine has a stretch stitch use it to make the hems at the neck, wrists, and bottom.  Try the stitch on a scrap of fabric.  If your fabric curls use a walking foot.

If you are using ITY knit the need for a zigzag or the use of the overlocker is not really necessary since this type of fabric does not ravel.

I made this top by hand, but you don't have to.  Use your sewing machine and in under an hour you will have a top to wear.

I know what you are thinking by now, why did I?  Remember when I mentioned I packed the wrong pile of clothes? Two days before traveling I usually make three piles of clothes:  The Yes Pile, the Maybe Pile and Probably Not Pile.

The Yes Pile has toiletries, makeup, jewelry, a light trench coat, a cardigan, socks and a very large silk scarf that can be worn as a top.  One pencil skirt, three blouses, a pair of jeans, one pair of walking shorts one long summer dress, one short black dress, and one in a “current fashion”.

The Maybe Pile contains things I like that might not be practical. Wedge sandals, stilettos, miniskirt, tight jersey knit dresses, white crispy tops, trendy tops in none natural fibers, dry cleanable dresses and pants,  tight outfits that I can wear if I fast for two days.  Spaghetti strap silk tops and dresses, pencil skirts in light colors. I think you get the picture.

The Probably Not Pile is everything I love but probably can't wear because I have put on weight or it is inappropriate.  Thick fabrics or too dressy for example.

Well, I ended up taking only the Maybe Pile.  I could make things work, but I was freezing in the cold of the Helsinki summer and cooking in the 105+ degrees (40+ degrees C) heat of Spain.  Dressing in layers saved the day and this is one of the tops that kept me warm during the very long, cold and windy days of the Baltic Region.

I am back home now and have since made another simple boat neck top which you can see in this tutorial.  This time I only used three threads and a small stitch on my serger with no hemming required.  It took me only 35 minutes to make this top and I'm sure you too can make on in under an hour.

Hope you enjoy it. Until Next time!

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