How to Sew a T-Shirt

Sewing your own T-shirt is one of the easiest sewing projects a beginner can do. By making a T-shirt, you can learn how clothes are put together without having to wrestle with patterns or draping before you are ready. This project is ideal for any style T-shirt, from men's large shirts to women's fitted babydoll shirts. To sew your own T-shirt, follow these directions.

Things You'll Need

• Existing T-shirt
• Seam ripper
• T-shirt fabric and matching thread
• Sewing equipment and supplies
• Fabric pencil
• Iron and ironing board

Instructions

1. Find an old T-shirt you don't mind destroying. Make sure your new T-shirt fabric is the same type as your old one. If the fabric is stretchy, you need to buy stretchy fabric for the new shirt, otherwise it will not fit properly. Take the T-shirt apart at all of the seams, using a seam ripper. Make sure you have a piece for the front, back, sleeves and collar.

2. Fold your new T-shirt fabric in half, so that it is in a wide double layer. On top of the fabric, lay the front, back, collar and one of the sleeves, all stretched open. Pin these pieces to the fabric. With the fabric pencil, draw an extra 1/2 inch at the seam edges of each piece where you took the T-shirt apart originally. Also draw an extra 1 inch at the hem edge of the sleeve, front and back. Cut the pieces out through both layers of fabric, using your lines as guides.

3. Pin the front and back together at the shoulders, with the right, or outer, sides of the fabric together. Stitch the shoulder seams 1/2 inch away from the edge. Iron the seam toward the back of the shirt.

4. Take one of the collar pieces and fold it in half lengthwise. Iron it flat, then stitch the short edges together. Pin the collar to the neckline, right sides together, and stitch the collar to the neckline 1/2 inch away from the edge. Iron the seam toward the body.

5. Pin the curved side of each sleeve to each armhole, lining up the middle of the sleeve with the shoulder seam. Stitch 1/2 inch away from the edge, and iron the seam toward the sleeve. Fold back 1/2 inch of the straight side of each sleeve and iron it flat. Fold back another 1/2 inch and pin in place, then stitch.

6. Put the front and back of the T-shirt together, right sides touching, and pin the sides together from bottom to sleeve end. Stitch 1/2 inch away from the edges and iron the seam flat. Turn the shirt right side out, then fold the bottom edge under 1/2 inch and iron it flat. Turn the edge under another 1/2 inch and stitch in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Finish the loose edges of the seams by serging, handstitching or binding, or leave them raw if you like.

Resources

• Not Your Ordinary T-Shirt
• T Is for T-Shirt
• Making T-Shirts as Gifts