How to Make a Vintage Shirt

Many styles that were once popular come back into fashion again. Whether you want a vintage shirt for a period costume or you like the vintage look as part of your modern style, making your own vintage shirt will allow you to capture the vintage look in just the size and color you want. You can use a current shirt pattern in a vintage style (some pattern catalogs offer styles specifically marked as vintage), or look for out of print patterns on-line. You can make the shirt from new fabric or, for a genuine vintage look, find old fabric through thrift shops or on-line auctions. To complete the shirt, make sure to use vintage style buttons and accessories.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• shirt pattern
• fabric
• matching thread
• buttons (optional)
• fusible interfacing (optional)
• scissors
• straight pins
• iron
• ironing board
• sewing machine

Make a Vintage Shirt

1. Look for a vintage or vintage style shirt pattern from the era that you want. If you buy a new pattern, or a reproduction of an old pattern, it should have complete patterns and instructions. If you buy an original, out of print pattern, check with the seller to make sure the pattern still has all the pieces.

2. Check to see if the vintage or vintage style shirt pattern comes in the size you need. Patterns often use different sizing systems than modern, store-bought clothing, so be sure to check the size chart on the pattern envelope or catalog. If you can’t find the size you need in the style you like, you can modify the next closest size if you’re experienced with sewing.

3. Buy vintage or vintage style fabric for the shirt, using the guidelines on the pattern envelope. If the pattern doesn’t have a fabric chart, you can lay out the pattern pieces to figure out how much fabric you need.

4. Buy matching thread, and any other accessories you need, such as buttons, trim or interfacing. You can substitute modern conveniences, such as fusible interfacing instead of sew-on interfacing, if you like.

5. Cut out the patterns you need. Be especially careful if you’re using an old pattern. If the paper is very fragile, you may want to make copies of the patterns, or tape them to sturdier paper so they don’t tear.

6. Follow the cutting guide in the pattern directions to pin the patterns to the fabric and cut out the pieces. If your pattern doesn't have a cutting guide, check for any markings on the patterns themselves, such as pieces that need to be placed on the fold. Unless the shirt is bias cut, line all pieces up with the grain-line of the fabric.

7. Follow the directions that came with the pattern to sew the pieces of the vintage shirt together. If the directions are missing or incomplete, use the picture of the finished shirt as a guide.

Tips & Warnings

• If you’re working with an incomplete pattern or resizing a vintage pattern, you may want to test the pattern by making it out of muslin (cheap cotton) first, before trying it out on your real fabric. That way, you can make any adjustments you need to the pattern and perfect the techniques before working on a more costly garment.
• Use caution when working with scissors, pins, irons and sewing machines. Buy carefully when buying from unfamiliar sellers and be sure to check out the product and the return policy.