Tools and materials:
- Sweater
- Pattern paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Pins
- Fabric
- Measuring tape
- Sewing machine
by Made at Home
How to Make a Sweatshirt
8 Materials
$15
4 Hours
Easy
A sweatshirt is a staple, especially in the winter! Learn how to sew a sweatshirt from scratch with this simple DIY project. From creating a pattern to adding the finishing touches, you will be sporting the perfect homemade sweatshirt in no time.
How to sew a sweatshirt
Draft a pattern
To kick off this DIY, Trace a sweatshirt you already have to create a pattern. Make sure to trace both a front and back neckline for your pattern piece.
Trace the sleeve
Once you have the bodice pattern piece, you can trace the sleeves.
Pin on the pattern piece
Cut out the fabric
Next, take the pattern piece and pin it onto a piece of fabric.
Add seam allowance
Take a piece of chalk and add seam allowance around the pattern piece.
Cut the neckline
Once you have your back piece cut out, trim the neckline on the pattern piece and repeat the same for the front bodice piece.
Sew a sweatshirt
Next, fold your fabric and cut the sleeve on the fold.
Sew the shoulder seams
Attach the bodice pieces
Time to assemble the sweatshirt Place your front and back pieces, right sides together, and sew along the shoulder seams.
Make a sweatshirt
Trim the shoulder seam and then zig-zag stitch over the seam.
Measure the neckline
Add a neckband
Grab a measuring tape and measure around your neckline. Multiply that measurement by 0.8.
Cut a strip of fabric
Next, cut a strip of fabric according to your neckline measurement multiplied by 0.8 and sew the ends together.
Make a notch in the band
Make a small notch in the center front of the neckband. Match the center notch with the seam at the back and then notch each side of the band.
Notch the neckline
Then, notch the center front and center back of the neckline.
Sew on the neckband
Fold the neckband in half and match up the notches on the band with the notches on the neckline. Sew the neckband in place. While you are sewing, stretch the neckband to fit.
DIY sweatshirt
Once your neckband is sewed on, grab a pair of scissors and trim around the edges. Then sew a zig-zag stitch around the neckline.
Press the neckline
To get a neat and clean neckline, press it using your iron.
Match the pieces
Attach the sleeves
Next, it’s time to attach the sleeves. Match the center of the sleeve with the shoulder seam and sew all along the armhole. Then go ahead and sew the sides of the sweatshirt together and the sleeves closed.
Add cuffs
Cut two strips of fabric to be used as cuffs for your sleeves. Make sure that when folded they match up perfectly with your sleeve. Once you have the right size, sew the two ends of the cuff together.
Match up the two seams
Fold the cuff in half and place it over the sleeve, matching the seams. Then sew the cuff all the way around, attaching it to the sleeve. Just as you did for the neckline, trim the edges and then sew a zig-zag stitch.
Fold the bottom
Hem the sweatshirt
To hem the bottom of the sweatshirt, fold the bottom inward and pin the fold in place.
Sew the fold
Then sew the hem in place.
Easy sweatshirt
This sewing tutorial is so easy and leaves you with the perfect sweatshirt! Let me know what you think about this DIY sweatshirt in the comments!
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SO where is the pic of the final "transformed" look???
I think that the original sweatshirt was used only to create a pattern for the new shirt.