How to Make Your Own White Fleece Hoodie
Hooded sweatshirts, also known as "hoodies," are simple, functional clothing items that provide warmth and comfort. Handmade hoodies can also reflect personal style, especially if made from a unique fabric or embellished with personalized designs. Making a fleece hoodie from scratch is not a difficult project, as long as you have access to the right equipment, a few basic sewing skills and a little bit of patience.
Things You'll Need
- Sewing machine
- Hooded sweatshirt pattern
- Fleece fabric
- Pins
- Scissors
- Thread
Instructions
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Selecting Your Materials
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First, choose a pattern. Some skilled and experienced sewers can make garments without the use of pre-printed patterns, but in most cases it is unlikely that the hoodie will look right or fit properly unless you use a pattern. Almost any store that sells fabric will also sell patterns. They are also available on the Internet.
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Once you have chosen a pattern, select your size. Measure your chest (at the widest point) and waist (at the narrowest point) and consult the chart on the pattern to determine your correct size. It is important to note that pattern sizes do not correlate to retail clothing sizes at all, so do not be concerned if your measurements indicate a size number that you would not normally wear.
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Using the information provided on the back of the pattern envelope, purchase the necessary amount of fabric. An anti-pill fleece will look fresh and feel soft much longer than traditional fleece.
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In addition to fabric, be sure to purchase matching thread and any other extra items, such as a zipper, that are listed on the back of the pattern envelope for your particular hoodie design.
Preparation and Cutting
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Wash your fabric. New fabric should always be washed before being cut in order to remove any chemical preservatives and to pre-shrink it.
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Read through the directions that come with your hoodie pattern and cut out the pieces you will need. It often helps to press pattern pieces smooth with a cool iron before attempting to pin them to the fabric.
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Pin the pattern pieces to the laundered fabric according to the directions. Transfer any markings (dots, squares, etc.) to the fabric with chalk or a washable marking pen. Cut carefully around the edges of each pattern piece, including notches. Leave the pattern paper attached to each piece until it is ready for sewing. This will help you keep track of which piece is which.
Sewing
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Following the directions that come with the pattern, assemble the pieces of fabric to create your hoodie. Periodically check the fit to ensure that the hoodie is coming together properly and that you are leaving the right amount of seam allowance. Most patterns call for a 1/2-inch seam.
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If you make a mistake, simply use a seam ripper to remove the necessary stitches and redo them properly. Do not get frustrated, because even the most experienced sewers occasionally sew things together the wrong way.
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If your hoodie design has a zipper, you will need to use the zipper foot for your sewing machine to attach the zipper to the fabric. Be especially careful to leave enough space between the zipper teeth and the seam to allow the zipper pull to pass.
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The final steps in your pattern instructions will involve turning the edges of the fabric over at the bottom and at the ends of the sleeves and sewing it to itself. This is known as finishing. As fleece does not usually unravel, these steps may be skipped if you prefer an unhemmed look.
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