How to Design Your Own V-Neck Shirt
- 1). Turn the shirt inside out. Use seam rippers to separate the front of the neckband gently from the shirt itself by tearing the threads that attach it. Work from one shoulder seam to the other, separating only the front half of the band and leaving the back portion intact. Pull out loose, broken threads with your fingers and discard.
- 2). Grasp the loose half of the neckband in your hand. Find the spot midway between both shoulder seams, and use scissors to make a vertical cut at that midpoint.
- 3). Find the middle of the front and back necklines. Form vertical creases downward from both points to fold the shirt in half sideways, lining up the shoulder seams in the center, then lay the shirt flat on your work surface. The fabric of the front and back halves of the shirt should be separated from one another.
- 4). Use a pencil to mark your intended location for the deepest point of the "V." Mark along the crease that runs down the front center of the shirt. Use a ruler to draw a straight line from this point to the spot where the neckband detaches at the shoulder seam. Cut both pieces of fabric on either side of the crease simultaneously along this straight line.
- 5). Unfold the shirt, leaving it inside out. Lay shirt flat with the front side facing upward. Guide one half of the broken neckband along the new neckline, stretching the neckband piece to fit, until the end of the piece is about 1/4 inch past the midpoint of the "V." Pin as you go, leaving the extra bit at the end loose. Make sure the neckband lays flat on the shirt. Repeat on the opposite side of the neckline. Be consistent with the percentage of the neckband that peeks above the neckline.
- 6). Sew the pinned neckband to the shirt. Leave the unpinned 1/4 inch on either side loose. Gather the loose ends together at the middle of the "V." Sew a vertical stitch along both pieces together where they meet, and trim the excess fabric. Remove pins.
- 7). Turn the shirt inside out again so the correct sides are visible. Lay flat with the front facing you. Print your envisioned designs on transfer paper. Decorate the new neckline and the bottom hem with small, intricate designs or place one large embellishment in the center of the shirt. Combine the colors of your choosing and experiment with different placements. Follow directions on the transfer paper packaging to iron the designs onto your shirt.