This blog post serves as some additional help for the Free Zoey Neckline Expansion. To use the add-on you will need to also have the original Zoey pattern. You will be using the original pattern for most of the instructions. For any additional help refer to this blog post and the additional photos included.
Pattern Pieces
The Neckline Expansion includes three additional pattern pieces for each of the neckline options. Print and cut out the pieces like normal.
Be sure to refer to your "READ FIRST" file to find out which pages to print for each neckline option (high neck, scoop neck or square neck).
I also recommend using the layers option in Adobe Acrobat to print only the size or sizes you need. This will make it easier to line up your neckline template.
The pattern pieces include :
- Front Neckline Template for View A&B
- Front Neckline Template for View C
- Front Neckband (to replace pattern piece 7)
Now that we have all of our additional pattern pieces ready to go, let's dive into each neckline individually.
High Neckline Option
First, let's add the High Neck Template to the original Front Zoey pattern piece. Note that I am sewing up View A (crop tank) for this blog post, but the steps are the same for the other views as well. Just make sure that if you are sewing up the dress view you are using the correct neckline template for View C which includes the added center front seam allowance.
Use the armhole notch and center front as guidelines to match the High Neck Add-on with the Front pattern piece. Because the High neckline is taller than the original, you simply need to tape it in place once it's lined up. It will look like this when you are done.
The other pattern pieces will remain the same, except that you will be replacing pattern piece 7 (Front Neckband) with the new High Neck Front Neckband. Here are all of my pattern pieces for the High Neck Cropped Tank.
Now let me show you some photos of me attaching the High Neck Front Neckband. It's pretty self explanatory, but let's go over it anyways.
You will prepare your neckbands according to the original instructions.
Pin the middle of the neckband to the middle of the front neckline, matching notches and right sides touching.
Stretch the neckband and pin the ends to the ends of the front neckline. Pin. Stitch.
Continue to finish the neckband according to the original instructions - folding towards the back, pinning, and topstitching in place.
Now, finish your Zoey according to the original instructions.
Scoop Neckline Option
First, let's add the Scoop Neck Template to the original Front Zoey pattern piece. Note that I am sewing up View A (crop tank) for this blog post, but the steps are the same for the other views as well. Just make sure that if you are sewing up the dress view you are using the correct neckline template for View C which includes the added center front seam allowance.
Use the armhole notch and center front as guidelines to match the Scoop Neck Add-on with the Front pattern piece. Because the Scoop neckline is lower than the original in some areas, you need to tape it in place once it's lined up and then trim off the excess within the scoop. It will look like this when you are done.
The other pattern pieces will remain the same, except that you will be replacing pattern piece 7 (Front Neckband) with the new Scoop Neck Front Neckband. Here are all of my pattern pieces for the Scoop Neck Cropped Tank.
Next let me show you some photos of me attaching the Scoop Neck Front Neckband. It's pretty self explanatory and is honestly exactly like the back neckband, but let's go over it anyways.
You will prepare your neckbands according to the original instructions.
Pin the middle of the neckband to the middle of the front neckline, matching notches and right sides touching.
Stretch the neckband and pin the ends to the ends of the front neckline. Pin ends and middles.
Stitch.
Continue to finish the neckband according to the original instructions - folding towards the back, pinning, and topstitching in place.
Now, finish the rest of your Zoey according to the original instructions.
Note : I highly recommend marking the back of this view because it's nearly impossible to differentiate the front from the back of the scoop neck zoey once it's sewn up.
Square Neckline Expansion
First, let's add the Square Neck Template to the original Front Zoey pattern piece. Note that I am sewing up View A (crop tank) for this blog post, but the steps are the same for the other views as well. Just make sure that if you are sewing up the dress view you are using the correct neckline template for View C which includes the added center front seam allowance.
Use the armhole notch and center front as guidelines to match the Square Neck Add-on with the Front pattern piece. Because the Square neckline is shorter than the original in places, you need to tape it in place once it's lined up and then trim off the excess. It will look like this when you are done.
The other pattern pieces will remain the same, except that you will be replacing pattern piece 7 (Front Neckband) with the new Square Neck Front Neckband. Here are all of my pattern pieces for the Square Neck Cropped Tank.
Next let me show you some photos of me attaching the Square Neck Front Neckband. It's pretty self explanatory and is honestly almost exactly like the back neckband, but let's go over it anyways.
You will prepare your neckbands according to the original instructions.
Pin the middle of the neckband to the middle of the front neckline, matching notches and right sides touching.
Stretch the neckband and pin the ends to the ends of the front neckline. Pin ends and middles.
Stitch. Make sure your pull the corners of the square neckline straight as you sew to be able to apply the Neckband smoothly and in one continuous stitch.
Continue to finish the neckband according to the original instructions - folding towards the back, pinning, and topstitching in place.
Now, finish the rest of your Zoey according to the original instructions.
And that is it. I hope it was helpful. I you still need to download the free Zoey Necklines, you can do so here.
If you need to purchase the original Zoey pattern you can do so here.