As long as you know how to use a sewing machine, there's always an opportunity to sew a t-shirt yourself. However, if you have no previous t-shirt sewing experience, it may be easier for you to start with a simple t-shirt. You can start working with a ready-made pattern or break up the pattern yourself.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Making the Perfect Pattern
Step 1. Find a shirt with the right size
The easiest way to break up a pattern is to copy the shape of a shirt that fits you.
While this tutorial only explains how to break up and sew a pattern, you can apply the same basic steps to help break up patterns for shirts of different styles
Step 2. Fold the shirt in half
Fold the shirt vertically with the front side facing out. Place the folded shirt on a large sheet of paper.
Ideally, you put the paper on top of the thick cardboard before placing the t-shirt. The cardboard will provide a hard enough surface for you to make patterns on the paper. Also, you'll need to pin the pins to the paper and this will be easier to do with cardboard backing
Step 3. Pin the pins along the outline of the shirt
When pinning pins around the shirt, pay attention to the seams behind the neckline, under the collar and sleeve seams.
- The pin pins are pinned along the shoulder seam, and the bottom hem doesn't need to be placed precisely because the needle only serves to hold the shirt from sliding.
- For sleeve stitching, thread a pin through the seam and paper. Leave no more than 2.5 cm between the pins.
- For the back collar line, pin the pin through the seam that connects the back neckline and collar. Adjust the distance between the pins of about 2.5 cm.
Step 4. Draw the outline of the outline
Use a pencil to trace the entire outline of the t-shirt's outline.
- Draw lines along the shoulders, sides and bottom of the shirt.
- After drawing these lines, remove the shirt and look for the holes that mark the seam of the sleeves and neckline. Draw a line connecting these holes to complete the pattern for the back of the shirt.
Step 5. Glue the front of the shirt
Transfer the folded shirt onto a new sheet of paper, then pin the pins on the front of the shirt, not the back.
- Perform the same procedure as when you patterned the back of the t-shirt by threading the pins around the t-shirt and the front sleeve.
- The front neckline is usually lower than the back. To mark it, pin the pin under the front of the neckline, just below the collar. Leave a distance of 2.5 cm between the pins.
Step 6. Draw the outline of the t-shirt
Use a pencil to outline the front of the shirt as you did with the back.
- Draw a thin line with a pencil along the shoulders, sides, and bottom of the shirt that has been pinned with a pin.
- Remove the shirt and thread the pinholes along the neckline and sleeves to complete the outline of the front of the shirt.
Step 7. Pin the needle to make the sleeve pattern
Unfold the shirt. Flatten one of the sleeves and use a pin to attach it to a new sheet of paper. Draw the outline of the outer skeleton of the arm.
- As before, pin the pin through the seam that connects the arm to the rest of the body.
- Draw a line following the top, bottom, and outer edges of the arm while the arm is still on the paper.
- Remove the shirt from the paper and draw a line connecting the pin holes to complete the pattern.
Step 8. Add a seam allowance for each pattern
Use a flexible ruler and pencil to draw another line along the outline of the existing pattern. This second line is for hammock.
You can choose the width of the seam to your liking, but in general, 1.25cm of seam is usually enough to allow you to sew easily
Step 9. Mark each pattern piece
Write appropriate labels for each part of the pattern, such as back body, front body, and sleeves. Also mark each crease line.
- The crease lines on the front and back of the body are straight lines that you make along the creases of the t-shirt.
- The crease line is the straight line you draw on the top edge of the arm.
Step 10. Cut out the pattern and match each piece
Carefully cut each pattern following the outline of the outline. When you're done, make sure each piece fits together.
- When placing the exposed sides of the front and back pattern, the shoulders and arms should meet each other.
- When you place the sleeves in the armholes of each of the main body patterns, the actual size (excluding seams) must also fit.
Part 2 of 4: Preparing the Ingredients
Step 1. Choose a suitable material
Most T-shirts are made of stretchy material, but you can choose an elastic material with a low stretch to make sewing easier.
In general, the easiest way is to use a material with the same weight and properties as the shirt that was used to make the pattern shards
Step 2. Wash the cloth
Wash and dry the cloth before you start doing anything.
Washing the fabric first will shrink the fabric and stabilize the color. This way, the pattern pieces that you make and will sew together have a more accurate size
Step 3. Cut the fabric according to the pattern
Fold the material in half and place the pattern pieces on top. Pin the pins so the pattern doesn't shift, then draw a line around the pattern and cut the material according to the pattern.
- Fold the material in half with the good side (the side of the fabric you want to “show” when the garment is worn) facing inward and make sure the fabric is as flat as possible when you spread it out.
- Match the folds of the fabric to each of the "fold" labels on the pattern.
- When pinning the pin to the pattern piece to keep it from shifting, make sure the needle goes through both layers of fabric. Draw a line around the outline of the pattern with a sewing pencil, then cut the material along the line without removing the pattern.
- Remove the pins and pattern when you are finished cutting the fabric.
Part 3 of 4: Preparing the Rib
Step 1. Cut the rib for the collar
Measure the entire neckline of the shirt with a flexible ruler or tape measure. Subtract 10 cm from the measurement, then cut the rib according to that length.
- Rib is a kind of jersey material with vertical bones. Technically you can use regular fabric for the collar, but it is recommended to wear rib because it has high elasticity.
- Cut the ribs to twice the width of the final collar.
- The vertical bone should be parallel to the width of the collar and perpendicular to the length of the collar.
Step 2. Fold the ribs and iron
Fold the ribs in half lengthwise, then use an iron to press down the folds.
Make sure the good sides are facing each other while doing this
Step 3. Sew the rib to close
Fold the ribs in half crosswise. Sew the edges of the rib together with a 6 mm wide seam.
Make sure the good sides are facing each other while doing this
Part 4 of 4: Sewing a T-shirt
Step 1. Unite the body parts with a pin
Place the back and front of the body together with the good side facing in. Pin the pin only on the shoulder.
Step 2. Sew the shoulders
Use a straight stitch to sew one shoulder. Cut the thread, then sew the other shoulder as well using a straight stitch.
- Choose a standard straight stitch on a sewing machine for shoulder sewing.
- Follow the path you have marked on the pattern. If you follow this tutorial carefully, the width of the seam will be about 1.25 cm.
Step 3. Attach the rib to the neckline with a pin
Extend the t-shirt with the shoulders flat, nice side down. Attach the rib collar along the neckline opening and use a pin to hold it in place.
- Aim the cut end of the collar toward the neckline and try to keep it above the fabric. Use a pin to attach it to the center of the front and back of the shirt.
- The collar may be smaller than the neckline opening. So you have to stretch the collar carefully when attaching it to the neckline with a pin. Try to keep the ribs at equal intervals.
Step 4. Sew the rib
Select a zigzag stitch, then sew along the edge of the collar (the rough part) with a 6mm wide seam.
- You should use a zigzag stitch, not a straight stitch. Otherwise, the thread won't stretch with the collar when you thread your head through the collar holes once the shirt is finished.
- Gently stretch the ribs by hand as you sew them to the shirt. Stretch the rib so that there are no creases in the stitched part of the fabric.
Step 5. Glue the sleeve to the armhole
Make sure the shoulders are open and flat, but turn the fabric over so the good side is facing up. Position the arm with the good side down and use a pin to hold it in place.
- Position the rounded part of the arm right in the armhole with the same arch. Pin the pin in the center to hold it in place.
- Slowly bring the two halves together and pin the pin all over the arch of the arm. Finish one side first, before moving on to the other side.
- Repeat the same procedure for the other arm.
Step 6. Sew the sleeves
With the good side down, use a straight stitch to connect the sleeve to the armhole.
The width of the seam must match the seam that you marked in the initial pattern. If you follow the steps shown in this tutorial, the seam should be 1.25 cm wide
Step 7. Sew the sides of the fabric
Fold the shirt with the good sides facing each other. Sew the right side of the shirt with a straight stitch, starting at the seam at the end of the armpit, working your way down to the opening at the bottom of the shirt. Once done, repeat the same process with the left side.
- Use a pin to thread the sides of the sleeve together before sewing. Otherwise, the fabric may shift.
- Follow the path you marked in the initial pattern. In this tutorial, the recommended seam width is 1.25 cm.
Step 8. Fold and sew the bottom hem
With the good sides still facing each other, fold the bottom edge of the shirt according to the early seams. Pin the pin or press the crease to keep it from shifting then sew around the t-shirt opening.
- Make sure you only sew the hem on each side. Do not let you sew the front and back together.
- Most jersey materials don't break down easily. So you don't need to sew the hem of the hem. However, it will look neater if you do.
Step 9. Fold and sew the hem at the sleeves
With the good sides of the fabric facing each other, fold the edges of each sleeve to the width of the seam in the original pattern. Pin the pin or press the crease to keep it from sliding, then sew along the sleeve opening.
- Like when sewing the bottom of a t-shirt, you need to do this along the opening so the front and back don't come together.
- You may not need to hem the sleeves if the material you're using doesn't break down easily, but you can do it for a neater look.
Step 10. Iron the seam
Turn the shirt over so the good side is on the outside. Use an iron to even out all the seams.
That means you have to iron the seams on the collar, shoulders, sleeves and sides. You can also iron the hem if you haven't done so before sewing
Step 11. Put on your custom made t-shirt
At this stage, the shirt is ready and ready to wear.
