How to Sew a T-shirt in a Few Steps

How to Sew a T-shirt in Just a Few Steps

7 Materials

1 Hour

Easy

A T-shirt is an absolute closet essential! A tee is a staple piece that is super comfy and easy to wear! If you have been looking for your next, easy fashion and sewing DIY, the search is over! In the tutorial below, I show you how to sew a T-shirt from scratch. To get started on this awesome DIY, all you will need is some stretchy, knit fabric and a sewing machine. If you want to learn the ins and outs of sewing a T-shirt from scratch my tutorial is definitely for you. Follow a few simple steps and make an amazing, new tee to add to your closet.

Tools and materials:

T-shirt
Paper
Pencil
Scissors
Fabric
Pins
Sewing machine

How to sew a t-shirt

Draft a pattern

To kick off this amazing DIY, take a T-shirt you already own and fold it in half. Place it on a piece of paper and trace it adding seam and hem allowance.

T-shirt pattern

Trace around your back neckline and also mark the length of your front neckline. In this way you will only need one pattern but if you prefer you can make one back pattern piece and one front one.

DIY t-shirt

You can then go ahead and cut out your pattern piece.

How to make a t-shirt

I love to save my patterns so that I have them for the future. A great tip is to mark the size of the tee and where the pattern needs to be cut on the fold so that it’s easy to use again.

Cut the fabric

Cut out the fabric pieces

Next, fold your fabric so that the stretch is running horizontally. Place your pattern on the fabric and cut around it. You can choose any color fabric or design you like, just make sure it has a good stretch to it. Repeat this to get the front bodice piece, making sure to cut at the front neckline.

Place right sides together

Sew the T-shirt

Now that your pieces have been cut out, lay them right sides together. You can then sew along the shoulder seams and side seams using a stretch stitch or serger. Make sure to press the seams after you have sewed them to get them at flat as possible. You can then hem the armholes and bottom of the tee to get a perfect finish.

Cut the binding

Add neck binding

To get a professional finish, add binding to the neckline. Start by measuring your neck. Then cut a piece of fabric about an inch and a half less than what you measured. Sew the binding edges and then fold it in half lengthwise.

Pin the center

Find the center of your neckline and pin it to mark the middle point. Then match up the seam of the binding to the center back of the neckline. Next, match up the center front of the binding to the center front of the bodice and pin them together. To sew the binding to the tee, I suggest starting with a basting stitch to stretch the binding so that it fits properly. Then you can go ahead and finish off the neckline with a stretch stitch.

T-shirt tutorial

This T-shirt is so easy to make! What fabric would you use for this DIY? Let me know in the comments below!

Suggested materials:

T-shirt
Paper
Pencil

See all materials