V-Neck Knit Top with Elbow Patches | Simplicity S8950 

I love wearing a DIY knit top in the cooler weather. And I like this pattern because it has a V-neck, and I made variations with cute elbow patches.

I didn’t make all of them like this though, but they all turned out very cozy. So, this will be one of my go-tos. 

I’ll tell you about the materials I used, my process, and share photos. You might make one to add to your wardrobe too.

Simplicity S8950 Knit Top Pattern

I have a few knit patterns, but I like Simplicity S8950 because of the flattering V-neck. I can put this one on without messing up my hair! 

It is a loose-fitting, long-sleeve top with a few design variations. You can use contrasting fabric for the sleeves or add contrasting patches to them.

You can also cinch the front down the middle or front side using bias tape or a ribbon.

The neckband, coupled with the knit fabric, might pose a challenge for some. This sewing pattern isn’t easy to sew.

Materials

Here’s all the stuff I used to make this top. The fun part was finding the right fabric. 

Fabric

You’ll want to choose knit material with a more stable weave. You don’t want anything with a very loose weave. 

This pink sweater knit is a cotton-rayon blend from Joann. The soft, nice drape feels amazing on the inside. 

I also used a gray sweatshirt fabric in a cotton-polyester blend. It’s a heavier weight, and it feels soft inside. The contrasting navy blue patches are from my stash.

I got this fabric and a super soft light blue knit from the fashion district near me. However, I ended up tie-dyeing it.

I wish I could find more of these fabrics in other colors! They’re wonderful!

Some suggested fabrics to use include fleece, minky fleece, tricot, modal knit, bamboo knit, and sweater knit.

Notions

If you choose the variation to cinch the front, you will need bias tape or a ribbon. You’ll also need D-rings for one of them.

Needle

For the light blue and pink sweater fabrics, I used a size 90/14 ballpoint needle for knits. For the gray fabric, I used a size 100/16 needle because it was thicker. 

Thread

For my machine, I used matching Gutermann universal sewing thread made of 100% polyester.

I serged the seams using Maxi-Lock serger spun thread, made of polyester. I like to serge my knits, although you don’t need to worry about fraying.

Sewing My Top

I followed the directions, and they were straightforward. I made the basic patterns, so I can’t speak on the cinched versions.

For all seams, I used my serger. That’s the only way I sew knit fabric now. Before I had one, I used a zig-zag stitch. 

Prepping

You know when you cut knits and they roll in? With these knits being so stable, the ends didn’t roll. 

It was such a breeze cutting these fabrics. There were only 5 pieces to cut for the basic pattern.

Construction

I cut my usual size 12 for this sewing pattern. Since it’s meant to be a loose fit, I didn’t worry about sizing down.

It has a generous amount of ease around the middle. The arm width and length were perfect on me. 

The top is only 4 pieces if you make the basic version without patches. So, you have the front, back, sleeves, and neckband.

I sewed the top of front and back together. I didn’t stablize them, because the fabric was stretchy. 

Then sewed the neckband, which might be tricky. Since I’ve sewn V-necks before, it wasn’t an issue.

Just take your time around the “V”. After making a couple, you’ll get the hang of it. 

I had actually hacked many of my crew neck T-shirts in the past. So I got pretty good at this.

After sewing the neckband, I continued on with the side seams. Then I added the sleeves and hemmed everything.

After making my gray knit top, I added the navy blue elbow patches. If you sew this version, you’ll want to make sure you’ve marked them when cutting the fabric.

They came out very nicely. But this top reminded me of my grade school uniform sweaters I used to wear! 

Adjustments

The only change I made was to shorten the length by an inch. That may not seem like a lot, but it makes a difference to me.

I’m tall and I found this top slightly long. You may prefer yours at this length. That’s why I do my bottom hem last.

I’ll try it on and see if I like the length. Then I’ll either cut it shorter or make my hem wider.

Finishing Touches

As I mentioned before, I tie-dyed one of the tops. I just wanted to make it more colorful.

The original fabric was a light blue, and it was pretty too. But I added turquoise dye to it.

This fabric just absorbed the dye so well. It’s different and I do like the results.

Project Notes

Remember when sewing knits, you don’t want to stretch the fabric while stitching. I usually like to use a zig-zag stitch on my hems.

Knits can pill when washing and drying. I always wash my knit tops with cold water on the ‘delicates’ cycle. 

Then I hang them instead of throwing them in the dryer. This way, they stay pill-free. 

You can check out my blog post on washing handmade clothes for more tips.

I’ve made this same top a few times in different fabrics. They’ve held up quite nicely over the years. 

Final Thoughts

This top makes a great wardrobe staple, and I like them all. I don’t typically wear sweaters, so this is as close as I get to having one.

And they’re so easy to layer and wear under jackets. I’m thinking of making a couple more soon!

More Sewing Projects

• I like to layer my top with my upcycled denim jacket that I made from old jeans.

• I also made a denim jacket in sateen that you might want to see. 

• What about wearing a classic long jacket with your top?

Originally published: October 13, 2024