How to Custom Make a Sweatshirt

If you love to sew, start this project from scratch and sew your own sweatshirt with the exact fabric and the pattern you want.

For all others, there are many locations at which you can find solid-colored sweatshirts to use as your palette for the art you are about to create with your custom made sweatshirt.

With so many options to choose from for designing and decorating your custom sweatshirt, be as creative as you wish!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Fabric paint
• Fabric markers
• Glitter
• Sewing thread
• Embroidery thread
• Sewing needles
• Embroidery needles
• Novelty buttons
• Transfers
• Beads
• Sewing Machine
• Tie-Die Kit

Creating a custom sweatshirt by sewing it and/or decorating it

1. 
   Prepare for your craft project before starting on it.

   Gather the necessary materials and prepare your workspace for continuous usage in case you need to set the project down and continue it at another time. Your materials may be purchased from craft stores, garage sales, flea markets, or major retailers such as Target and Walmart.

2. 
   Sewing it yourself adds many choices!

   If making the sweatshirt from scratch, you will need to set up your sewing machine with the appropriate sewing thread. The thread you choose should be compatible with the fabric structure and fiber content that you pick for your sweatshirt. Using a serger in addition to or instead of a sewing machine will make your sweatshirt sturdier. Follow the directions included with the pattern you have chosen unless you want to alter the pattern to make your sweatshirt different before adding the decorations.

3. 
   Solid-colored sweatshirt

   You may choose to purchase a solid-colored sweatshirt without any initial designs or print, rather than sewing it yourself. You may find these at a local craft store. Large craft stores such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby carry these for sale. Major clothing retailers also supply these.

4. 
   Embroidery example

   If you are skilled at embroidery, you can embroider any pattern you wish. If you want to embroider the sweatshirt, but have not previously done any embroidery, it is relatively easy to learn by purchasing instructions from a craft store or by looking these up online. Be sure to choose the correct embroidery thread.

5. 
   Fabric Paint

   Painting on the sweatshirt directly using fabric paint or drawing on it with fabric markers are both fun ways to decorate the sweatshirt. Along with the paint, you may want to make it sparkle by using some form of glitter!

6. 
   Many fun choices to pick from

   Sewing or gluing any little novelty items such as buttons or beads or any other little items to the sweatshirt can provide added flair. Sewing these on is recommended to prevent a little wear from rubbing these additions off.

7. 
   Choose from a multitude of iron-on images

   Print transfers, whether they be pre-printed or individually designed is a popular way to custom make a sweatshirt and may also be one of the easiest ways. Some of these can simply be ironed on. Screen printing is another method that is more complex.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to get the right kind of thread Sewed on pieces will stay on longer than glued
• Be careful not to forget the first step of preparation. If you don't have all the materials you want and the right space for your project, this could dramatically slow down your progress and you may find yourself with a half-completed sweatshirt sitting in the closet years from now.

Resources

• Craft Ideas
• Free Craft Projects
• DIY Projects