I quilt some of my collars as one piece and cut them apart. These are ones that have just an overall design.
I have no idea what the measurement of the neckline is and I could measure it on the seamline. But I fold my collar piece in half You can see the fold at the bottom of the photo. The ends on the top of the photo have two pins, one on each end at the same length from that center fold.
The left side shows the facing sewn on and opened and the piping sewn on. The right side just shows it from the back. The next photo on the right is the facing turned around the edge like you would a binding and that is how I will finish that edge off later.
I started at the center back attaching the collar to the vest with pins. The top half is the pinned part. The vest inside is the floral fabric. I match the pins I had put into the collar after I had folded it in half. Then I match the second front of the vest to the collar matching the bottom of the vest to the edge of the collar the same distance from where the pins match. You can see below the pins matching and the edges of the vest fronts lining up equal distance from those pins. Then I pin the second half of the collar on. Now I know both sides are equal.
I choose to sew across the facing at the bottom edge to finish it off . I have folded the facing back right on the edge of the cut edge of the collar. I have folded back the excess of the facing. You have to look close to see the cut edge is just a little above those two pins Before I do this I would have the bottom of the vest finished with a binding.
If I turn the vest to the wrong side you can see just a smidge of dark fabric (the facing) just near my fingers. And of course the bottom of the vest would already have a binding on it.
When the facing is cut off on the bottom , the collar will be clean finished like in the bottom photo.
ITo finish off the bottom you could just ignore the last three photos and cut the collar bottom even with the bottom of the vest front and put a binding on from the edge of the collar all the way around the vest to the other side of the collar. I just realized that today. It would be far easier. and less bulky
Another way would be to just fold the end of the collar under and top stitch instead of doing the seam across like I have been doing.
I fold the facing so that it extends 1/8 to 1/4" past the collar onto the vest so that I can stitch in the ditch between the collar and vest to secure it.
You don't need the piping either but it is that nice touch that makes the vest look professional. I use my pin tuck foot to make the piping. I actually have string in the piping.. I have shrunk it. The piping fabric is put over the string and put into one of the grooves of the pin tuck foot. It makes piping really easy You can use the same foot to apply the piping to the collar.
I actually sew my collar on first to the vest because it is easier to manipulate and press while it is still flat with only the shoulder seams sewn.
Hope this helps Cindy. Email me if you need any other explanation.
