Tailoring & Construction

Yoke

A yoke is a shaped fabric panel that sits across the shoulders or at the waist of a garment and supports the fabric hanging from it. On shirts it spans the upper back and shoulders; on skirts and trousers it sits at the waist. The yoke gives structure and controls how the rest of the piece drapes.

A shoulder yoke lets a shirt fit the shoulders cleanly while the body below can be gathered or pleated for room. A split or two-piece yoke is a sign of better shirt construction. A skirt yoke replaces darts to shape the waist smoothly.

Yokes work with darts and pleats as the main ways garments build shape into otherwise flat fabric.

Yoke

See also