How to Sew a Shirt in 7 Steps

Sewing a basic T-shirt is straightforward, but there are a few tips that beginner sewers should follow to yield the best product. Review these hacks before sewing your own shirt at home.

1. 1. Choose the right fabric. If this is your first attempt at sewing a basic pullover T-shirt, select a knit fabric that’s easy to work with. Jersey knit or fabric with ribbing—vertical lines that stretch upon donning the garment—are popular choices. Alternatively, make your first shirt out of basic cotton fabric.
   
2. 2. Find a simple sewing pattern. Look for a basic pull-over T-shirt pattern that doesn’t require buttons or too many seams. Even with this simple silhouette, there are many options for T-shirts, including long and short sleeves or fitted and oversized styles. Find a sewing pattern with a simple detail like a front pocket or V-neckline.
3. 3. Keep the fabric flat. Knit fabric is very stretchy, so keep it flat as you measure, cut, and sew. Fabric stretching under your hands or hanging off the edge of your workspace will interfere with the accuracy of your measurements.
4. 4. Use sharp tools. Use sharp fabric scissors to ensure straight cuts and protect against fraying. Every few sewing projects, replace the needle in your sewing machine to keep it sharp and working properly.

To sew a shirt at home, you need a few basic materials. If you have made DIY clothing before, you may already have some of these items on hand.

1. 1. Fabric: Choose a fabric—like knit—that is comfortable and easy to work with.
2. 2. Pattern: A sewing pattern provides the template you’ll use to make your shirt. Choose a T-shirt pattern from the local fabric store in your size with a silhouette you enjoy. Alternatively, browse the thousands of free patterns online.
3. 3. Sewing machine: A sewing machine will help you sew with ease in less time. Since the knit fabric is easy to work with, you will not need a serger—a specialty sewing machine used for edge finishes—for this project. Learn how to use a sewing machine.
4. 4. Sewing tools: You will need basic sewing tools for your shirt, including pins (to hold down your pattern), tailor’s chalk (to mark your pattern), a measuring tape, and fabric scissors.
5. 5. Iron: Use an iron to press the seams and remove the wrinkles in your fabric throughout the sewing process.

Follow this sewing tutorial to make a DIY T-shirt at home.

1. 1. Prepare your workspace. Set your workspace up to make your tools, fabric, and pattern easily accessible. Unfurl your fabric on your work surface so that it lays flat and is not hanging over the edge. The wrong side (or underside) of the fabric should be facing up. If needed, place a mat underneath it to protect your work surface from pinpricks, cuts, and scratches.
2. 2. Pin and cut out the pattern. Cut out your pattern pieces, lay them out on your fabric, and pin them down. Use tailor’s chalk to trace the pieces onto the fabric, and cut them out according to the pattern, leaving a half-inch seam allowance on all sides.
3. 3. Sew the shoulder seams. Lay the front piece of the shirt on top of the back piece so that the edges are in alignment and the inside of the fabric is facing out. Pin the shoulder pieces together. Using the sewing machine, sew the front and back of the shirt together to connect the pieces.
4. 4. Make the neckline. Sew the strip of fabric you cut for the neckline so that it makes a loop. Open your now-connected front and back pieces like a book and lay them flat so that the neck hole makes a complete circle. Pin the neckband onto this hole. Sew the fabric all the way around the neckline to attach.
5. 5. Add sleeves. Keep your T-shirt open and flat on your workspace so that the neckline still makes a complete circle. Pin one sleeve to the appropriate shoulder so that it lies flat like the rest of the shirt. The seam allowance on the sleeve should be underneath the shoulder to hide raw edges. Add pins to attach either side of the sleeve to the front and back pieces, stopping at the armhole. Repeat for the other sleeve. Sew the sleeves in place where you added pins.
6. 6. Finish the sleeves and close the sides. Pick your shirt up and fold it in half at the neckline so that it resembles a finished T-shirt, and the front panel is lying stacked over the back one. The inside should still be facing out. Lay your T-shirt back down on your workspace. Leaving the armholes open, add pins from the underarm to the bottom of each side of the shirt. Sew along the right side to add a side seam. Repeat for the left side.
7. 7. Hem the bottom and sleeves. Fold the bottom edge of your T-shirt under twice to hide the raw edges. Use an iron to press. Straight stitch the bottom hem of the shirt. Repeat this process for each sleeve to complete the project. Turn the shirt right-side out.

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