How to Sew a Collar

Making a garment with a collar is easy when you read and follow the directions carefully. These tips can help you sew a collar to your next shirt. Even allowing for a wide variety of pattern directions, the process of adding a collar to a garment is basically the same.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Interfacing
• Pattern
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Steam iron
• Ironing board

Instructions

1. Lay out and cut collar pieces. Mark all notches, dots and center marks. Mark all notches on the garment front and back as well.

2. Apply interfacing to the upper collar piece according to the manufacturer's directions. Trim interfacing away from corners. Stay-stitch ½ inch all the way around both collar pieces.

3. Pin collar pieces with right sides together. Sew the long straight piece in a 5/8-inch seam. Then stitch the two sides of the collar with a 5/8-inch seam.

4. Trim and grade the seams. Trim one layer to 3/8 inch and the other layer to ¼ inch. Cut the bulk off the corners as well.

5. Turn the collar. Use a straight pin, if necessary, to pull out the points of the collar.

6. Sew the front and back garment pieces with a 5/8-inch seam at the shoulders. Stay-stitch the neckline of the garment.

7. Match the right side of the garment neckline with the appropriate notches and other markings of the under collar. Pin, being careful to not have any puckers or tucks. Stitch in a 5/8-inch seam. Trim and grade seams.

8. Follow the directions for your pattern carefully to complete the rest of the collar. Each pattern has different directions for front facings and for stitching the upper collar to the garment.