question for seamstresses
 

If the collar was removed from a button-up blouse, would that be identical to a mandarin collar? Thanks!

if you remove a collar from a blouse, it becomes a collarless blouse. A mandarin collar is a piece of fabric which stands up rather than folding down like the collar you removed. At least that is how I see it.

A mandarin collar is about an inch wide and stands up rather than fold down

If your collar is attached to a "neckband" ( such as on a man's dress shirt--for clarification), then you can remove the collar, stitch closed the neckband, and have a simulated mandarin collar.

Exactly what Mermaid said.

You have the answer.

That's what I was thinking......starting with a collar that is sewn into a neckband, then taking out the seam, removing the collar, and stitching it back up. Thanks for the help!

Years ago, when I costumed LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE, I needed a bunch of red military uniform coats. I found a good shirt pattern -- with a collar set onto a neck band -- and made it without the collar portion. The neck band was just wide enough for a piece of trim to make it look a little military. I think your project will work just fine. Watch out when you remove the collar, though, as some blouses have a 1/16" difference between the outside and inside collar bands to make it stand more upright.

If your blouse has a separate collar band to which the collar is attached, then yes you can make a mandarin collar out of the blouse. I think Mermaid said it better. I do make all my husbands shirts and they all have a collarband and a collar.

Yup, I do it all the time. Sometimes it just takes the "ordinary" out of an ordinary shirt. Never had a problem as long as it has that collar band.