How to Fold Parts of a Shirt to Make a Pattern

If you’re experienced with sewing, you can fold a shirt to make a quick pattern for a new shirt or a costume. This technique works best for simple shirts and projects where you only need a rough pattern, not a perfect pattern for a complex fitted shirt. You can use an existing shirt as a pattern by placing it directly on the fabric and cutting around it, or by placing it on a piece of paper and tracing around it. Either way, you’ll need to add 5/8 inch around all the edges of each section of the shirt for seam allowance.

Things You'll Need

• shirt
• straight pins
• measuring tape or ruler
• large paper or piece of fabric
• pencil (optional)
• scissors

Instructions

Make a Pattern for the Shirt Back

1. Lay the shirt face up on a large piece of paper or the right side of a piece of fabric.

2. Smooth out the back (underside) of the shirt as much as possible.

3. Fold the sleeves forward along the seams onto the front of the shirt. Pin them in place.

4. Fold the collar, if any, down onto the front of the shirt. Pin it in place.

5. Measure 5/8 inch from the edge of the old shirt to mark the cutting line for the new shirt back. Use a pencil to mark this distance on the paper, or use a pin to mark it on the fabric.

6. Repeat step 5 all the way around the shirt back, so that the pencil or pin markings for the new shirt piece are 5/8 inch larger than the old one all the way around.

7. Cut out the paper pattern or fabric. Remove the pins from the shirt.

Make a Pattern for the Shirt Front

1. If you are using a button-down shirt, unbutton all the buttons and work with one side of the shirt front at a time.

2. Lay the shirt face down on a large piece of paper or the right side of a piece of fabric.

3. Smooth out the front of the shirt as much as possible.

4. Fold the back of the shirt (and the other half of the shirt front for a button-down shirt) over onto the shirt front.

5. Repeat steps 3 through 7 from the shirt back for the shirt front. For a button down shirt, also add 3 inches to the button areas, so that you can fold the fabric over to make placards for the buttons and button holes.

6. Make a pattern for the other half of the button-down shirt front the same way, if applicable.

Make a Pattern for the Shirt Sleeves

1. Fold a piece of paper or fabric in half right sides together.

2. Lay the shirt face up on the paper or piece of fabric, lining up the top of the sleeve with the fold in the paper or fabric.

3. Smooth out the sleeve.

4. Measure 5/8 inch from the lower edge and open end of the sleeve to mark the cutting line for the sleeve pattern. Use a pencil to mark this distance on the paper, or use pins to mark it on the fabric.

5. Fold the shirt over the sleeve to expose the armhole edge of the sleeve. Mark an armhole line for the pattern, 5/8 inch from the armhole edge of the sleeve.

6. Cut out the paper pattern or fabric. Use the same pattern to make the second sleeve.

Make a Pattern for the Shirt Collar

1. Place the collar on a piece of paper or fabric.

2. Smooth the collar flat.

3. Measure 5/8 inch from the upper edge and ends of the collar to mark the cutting line for the collar pattern. Use a pencil to mark this distance on the paper, or use pins to mark it on the fabric.

4. Fold the shirt over the collar to expose the lower edge. Mark the lower edge of the collar pattern 5/8 inch lower than the lower edge of the existing collar.

5. Cut out the paper pattern or fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are new to sewing, you may want to purchase a shirt pattern so that you’ll have exact pieces and sewing instructions to follow.