How to Make a Tee Shirt

You can find tee shirt patterns in fabric store catalogs and on-line. Many tee shirt patterns come with other patterns or style options, so be sure to shop around to find the best value or a tee shirt pattern that comes with other patterns you like. You can sometimes find simple tee shirt patterns in the less expensive, easy pattern section. Some tee shirt patterns come with long and short sleeve options, different neckline or style options and optional pockets.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• tee shirt pattern
• knit fabric
• ribbing for collar
• matching thread
• scissors
• straight pins
• iron
• ironing board
• sewing machine

Make a Tee Shirt

1. Cut out the tee shirt pattern, using the cutting lines for the size you need.

2. Fold the knit fabric in half right sides together. Pin the pattern pieces to the fabric, following the guidelines in the pattern directions. Make sure to place any patterns on the fold that need to be. Cut out the tee shirt pieces.

3. Pin the front and back of the tee shirt right sides together. Sew the front and back of the tee shirt together along the shoulders and the sides below the armholes.

4. Hem the lower edges of the sleeves by folding them over 1/2 inch toward the wrong side and pressing them flat. Fold the edge over another 1/2 inch and press it flat again. Topstitch the fold in place using matching thread.

5. Pin the underarm edges of each tee shirt sleeve right sides together. Stitch across the underarm of each sleeve. Turn the sleeves right side out.

6. Put one sleeve inside the armhole of the tee shirt. Pin the upper edges of the sleeve to the armhole, with the fabrics right sides together. Stitch the sleeve to the armhole.

7. Attach the other sleeve to the other armhole the same way. Turn the tee shirt right side out.

8. Hem the bottom of the tee shirt by folding the lower edge over 1/2 inch toward the inside of the shirt and pressing the fold flat. Fold the edge over another 1/2 inch and press it flat again. Top-stitch the fold in place using matching thread.

9. Trim the ribbing if needed to make it 1/2 inch wider and longer than you want the finished collar. Sew the short ends of the ribbing together.

10. Pin the unfinished edge of the ribbing to the top of the tee shirt neck opening. Stitch the ribbing to the tee shirt using 1/2 inch seam allowance. Turn the ribbing right side up and press along the seam. Top-stitch the ribbing in place if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to pin the pieces of knit fabric together before sewing them, and guide them through the sewing machine, without pushing or pulling. This will help keep the fabric from stretching out of shape as you sew.
• Use caution when working with scissors, pins, irons and sewing machines.