Sewing Your Own T-Shirt: A Homemade Guide

Sewing your own T-shirt at home is a fun and rewarding project. It's also a great way to save money on clothes. The first step is to make a pattern, which you can do by tracing around a T-shirt that already fits you. You can then use this pattern to cut out the individual pieces of your T-shirt from your chosen fabric. Once you have your fabric pieces, it's time to start sewing! Sew the shoulders together, then add the neckband, followed by the sleeves, and finally, sew up the side seams. Give your T-shirt a once-over with an iron, and you're done!

Choosing the right fabric

• Fabric type: The most common fabric options for T-shirts are cotton, polyester, or a blend of the two. Cotton is natural, comfortable, soft, and breathable in hot weather. Polyester, a synthetic fabric, is known for its durability, wrinkle and stain resistance, and quick-drying properties. Cotton-polyester blends combine the benefits of both fabrics and are a good choice for athletic wear. Other fabric options include linen, rayon, silk, nylon, spandex, and tri-blends (cotton, polyester, and rayon).
• Comfort: Choose a fabric that is soft, gentle, and comfortable against your skin. Natural fibres like cotton are generally softer and more breathable than synthetic ones.
• Durability: Consider a fabric that is long-lasting and can withstand wear and tear. Polyester is known for its durability and resistance to shrinking and stretching. High-quality fabrics like combed cotton or blended materials also tend to be more durable.
• Breathability: If you are sewing a T-shirt for hot weather, opt for a lightweight and breathable fabric like cotton or linen.
• Print compatibility: If you plan to print designs on your T-shirt, cotton is typically the best choice as it holds colour well and is suitable for high-resolution prints. Polyester is also a good option for certain printing techniques like dye sublimation, which can achieve vivid colours and designs.
• Climate conditions: Consider the climate you live in and choose a fabric that will keep you comfortable. For warmer climates, go for breathable fabrics, while for cooler climates, opt for fabrics with good insulation.
• Fit: The fit of the T-shirt is influenced by the fabric's stretch. If you want a well-fitted T-shirt, look for fabrics with a blend of spandex or elastane, which offer better flexibility.
• Ease of care: Consider how easy it is to care for the fabric. For example, cotton requires gentle washing to prevent shrinkage, while synthetic fabrics like polyester may need low heat settings for drying to maintain their shape.
• Price: Fabric costs vary depending on the type, quality, and brand. Compare prices and consider your budget when selecting a fabric.
• Sustainability: If you want to minimise your environmental impact, opt for sustainable fabrics made from eco-friendly processes and renewable resources. Look for certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or OEKO-TEX, or choose organic cotton, recycled polyester, or bamboo.

Creating a pattern

To create a pattern for your T-shirt, you'll need some special supplies. These include a large piece of cardboard, a piece of tracing paper, straight pins, a pencil, and a ruler. You'll also need a T-shirt that fits you well.

First, lay your cardboard on a flat surface and cut a piece of tracing paper that is a little bigger than the T-shirt you'll be measuring. Place the paper on the cardboard and lay your T-shirt on top, folding it in half vertically with the front half on the outside. Smooth out the T-shirt, then use your pins to start pinning the seam lines. Keep the pins upright and push them into the cardboard. Use more pins along curved seam lines to get a more accurate measurement.

Once you've pinned all the way around the shirt, remove the pins and lift the shirt off the paper. You should be able to see the holes you made. Mark these holes with a pencil so they're easier to see, then use your ruler to start connecting the dots until you've outlined the entire half of the T-shirt. After you've traced the entire shirt, go back through and round out the corners on the neckline and the armhole. When you've finished tracing your pattern, label it, including the original garment type, the size, and which piece of the pattern it is. Remember to mark the fold line of your pattern and make a note to cut one on the fold.

Now, repeat the pinning process for the back of the shirt. This time, fold the T-shirt in half with the back of the shirt on the outside. Lay it on the tracing paper and pin the seams, remembering to mark the fold line and label this piece of the pattern as the back of the shirt. The neckline, armholes, and hemline on the back of the shirt may be a little different than the front, so try to pin accurately so you have good measurements.

Pinning the sleeves is a little different. Flatten the sleeve on the paper and pin the seams, keeping the sleeve as flat as possible. Follow the same tracing process as you did with the front and back of the shirt. When you label the sleeve piece, make a note that you will need to cut two on the fold.

To make a neckband pattern, turn your shirt inside out and match up the shoulders. Pin the four corners of the neckband and place some pins in the centre. Use your ruler to make the neckband piece a rectangle—remember that the neckband is folded in half, so make sure you double the width on your pattern piece. Subtract about an inch from the length of the pattern to account for the stretch of a neckband. Label the pattern piece accordingly, and make a note to cut one on the fold.

Finally, use your ruler to go back through your pattern pieces and add about a 1/2" seam allowance. Measure the hems on the sleeves and shirt bottom and add that amount to the corresponding pattern. Cut each piece out around the outer edge, leaving some space so that you are not cutting along the seam allowance lines. You should have a total of four pieces: one sleeve, one front, one back, and a neckband. Make sure each piece is properly labelled, and store your pattern in a folder or a large envelope.

Cutting the fabric

Before you start cutting your fabric, you'll need to prepare your fabric. Wash and dry your fabric as you usually would, to pre-shrink it and set the dye. This will ensure that the pattern pieces you cut out and sew together are accurately sized.

It's important to work at a table, rather than on the floor, so that you have a hard, smooth surface to work on. Lay out your fabric, giving yourself plenty of room. Fold the fabric in half, making sure the selvages (the woven edges of the fabric) are together, and keeping the right sides (the front of the fabric) facing each other. Keep the fabric as smooth as possible when you lay it out.

Now you can arrange your pattern on the fabric. Take the pieces of your pattern and arrange them on your fabric according to your cutting instructions. Some pattern pieces will say "cut one on the fold," or "cut two on the fold." Line these pieces up along the fold of your fabric.

Use straight pins to pin your pattern pieces to your fabric before cutting. Pin the corners of your pattern first, and then pin along the edges. If you prefer, you can weigh the fabric and then use chalk to draw an outline on your fabric.

Hold the fabric down with one hand, and use your other hand to cut the fabric. Take your time cutting. Use long strokes, and keep the scissors at a 90-degree angle to your cutting surface.

Sewing the shoulders

Now that you have cut out the fabric pieces, it's time to start sewing your T-shirt!

Place the front and back pieces of your T-shirt together, ensuring that the right sides are facing each other. Pin the pieces together at the shoulders. Sew the shoulders together using a straight stitch on your sewing machine. When you're finished sewing, iron out the seams.

If you're using knit fabric, you may want to stabilise the shoulder seams with something that will also stretch. This will prevent the shoulder seams from popping out when you pull the T-shirt over your head. You can use a 1/2" strip of Pellon tricot interfacing or a product called SewKeysE Stay Tape.

Attaching the Sleeves

Lay the shirt out flat and pin the middle of the sleeve curve to the middle of the armhole. Keep the right sides of the fabric together. Pin the sleeve along each side of the armhole. Use a straight stitch to sew the sleeve onto the shirt, stretching the fabric slightly as you sew. Repeat this process with the other sleeve. Once you have attached both sleeves, iron the seams.

Adding the sleeves

Now it's time to add the sleeves to your T-shirt. This is a relatively simple process, but it's important to take your time and be careful when pinning and sewing the sleeves to the armholes.

Firstly, lay your T-shirt out flat and identify the middle point of the sleeve curve. Line up this middle point with the middle of the armhole, keeping the right sides of the fabric together. Pin the middle point in place.

Next, working from the middle point outwards, pin the sleeve along each side of the armhole. Be very careful with this step, as it can be tricky to pin curved edges together. Don't be afraid to use lots of pins to keep the fabric in place.

Once you're happy with the positioning of the sleeve, use a straight stitch to sew it onto the shirt, removing the pins as you go. Repeat this process with the other sleeve.

After you've attached both sleeves, iron the seams to keep the fabric smooth and flat.

Frequently asked questions