Crew Collar
Construction — one of 69 in the glossary
A round, close-fitting neckline finished with a ribbed band, and the most common neckline in the blanks catalogue. It sits at the base of the neck, which is what makes it the safe default for uniforms, promotional runs and anything going to a mixed audience. For printing it gives the largest uninterrupted chest area of any neckline, since nothing cuts down into the design space the way a v-neck does. The quality signal to look for is a tubular, spandex-blended rib band rather than a flat strip of jersey.
The safe default
A crew collar is a round, close-fitting neckline finished with a ribbed band, sitting at the base of the neck. It is the most common neckline in any blanks catalogue.
It is the default because it offends nobody and fits everybody: no depth to get wrong, no opening that varies with body shape, nothing to consider for a mixed audience.
For uniforms and promotional runs going to unknown recipients, that predictability is the whole argument.
What separates a good band from a bad one
The band should be a tubular rib knit with elastane, so it stretches over a head and recovers. A flat strip of jersey cut and stitched on will not recover and goes wavy.
It should be taped at the shoulders, which is what stops the neckline going oval over a year of hanging and washing.
Band width is a styling choice rather than a quality one, though a very narrow band on a heavy fabric tends to distort sooner.
The best print surface of any neckline
A crew gives the largest uninterrupted chest area available, because nothing cuts down into the design space the way a v-neck or a placket does.
The standard placement rule — measure down from the collar seam — works here and does not transfer to other necklines.
It is also the easiest to load squarely on a platen, which matters more on a long run than it sounds.
Common questions
- What is a crew collar?
- A round, close-fitting neckline finished with a ribbed band, sitting at the base of the neck. It is the most common neckline in blanks.
- What makes a good crew neck?
- A tubular rib band with elastane so it recovers after stretching, and shoulder-to-shoulder taping so the neckline does not go oval. A flat jersey band will wave.
- Is a crew neck best for printing?
- It gives the largest uninterrupted chest area of any neckline, because nothing cuts into the design space. It is also the easiest to load squarely on a platen.
See also
Last reviewed