How to Make a Hooded Sweatshirt

Hooded sweatshirts are extremely comfortable and durable articles of clothing that keep you warm in cold temperatures. They're also great for various activities like hiking, lounging and playing sports. If you enjoy the comfort of sweatshirts, and have a knack for sewing, making your own hooded sweatshirt is the perfect project for you.

Things You'll Need

• Needle and thread
• Fabric
• Sweatshirt pattern
• Sewing machine (optional)
• Scissors
• Fabric marker pen

Instructions

1. Purchase the fabric for your hooded sweatshirt. Most sweatshirts are made of fleece, cotton or cotton/polyester blend. About 3 yards should be enough to create your own hooded sweatshirt.

2. Purchase a pattern for your hooded sweatshirt. A pattern is necessary to help with the cutting and sewing of the fabric. Don't try to make a hooded sweatshirt without a pattern unless you feel comfortable with your sewing knowledge and experience to do so. You can purchase one at most arts-and-crafts or fabric stores. Patterns come in all sizes, so make sure that the pattern you purchase is in the size that you want the sweatshirt to be.

3. Carefully cut out the pattern pieces, and make sure to leave about 1/2 inch of space for where you will be sewing the pieces of the sweatshirt together. If you don't account for the seams, your sweatshirt won't be the right size at the end. The pattern will help you with the technical construction for every part of the sweatshirt including the hood and arms.

4. Lay out your fabric on a flat, solid surface. Using your fabric marker pen, trace the cut-out pattern pieces onto the fabric. When you're done, cut out the pieces of actual fabric, and set aside.
   Make sure you follow the pattern carefully when you are cutting out the hood. You should have two separate pieces of fabric, each resembling half a hood, if done correctly.

5. Begin sewing the pieces of cloth together using needle and thread or a sewing machine. Start by sewing the "body" of the sweatshirt. This is the part that will cover your torso when worn. Then sew on the arms.
   Finally, sew on the hood. First, combine the two pieces of fabric that make up the hood, then attach the finished hood onto the body of the sweatshirt.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you feel confident and comfortable undertaking this sewing project, as it requires quite a lot of skill. Embellish your sweatshirt with iron-on decals, beading or embroidery.