Make Your Own DIY Shirt With This New Original Pattern

DIY Mode
by DIY Mode
6 Materials
$15
2 Hours
Medium


I am so excited to share with you all my very first sewing pattern! I have been dreaming about doing this for so long and I am so excited that now it is finally time to get started. This pattern is a DIY shirt pattern that can be used to make a basic t-shirt or mini dress. It is simple, classic, and (if you ask me) a staple!

Tools and materials:

  • Pattern
  • Marker
  • Fabric
  • Pins
  • Sewing machine
  • Scissors
Sew a DIY shirt

Prepare your fabric 

Cut your pattern parts out - the seam allowance is included. For the two main parts (front and back) cut while folded. Cut out the sleeve pattern twice and the collar once. Next, use a marker to transfer the markings from the pattern onto the fabric. 

Easy DIY shirt

Connect the shoulders 

Place the two main parts right sides together and pin the shoulders together. Sew the shoulders together using an elastic stitch. Next, use an iron to press the seam allowance onto the back so that the seam allowance lies flat on the shoulder. 

Basic DIY shirt

Sew your fabric 

Pin the side seams together on both sides of the fabric. Next, take your collar and lay the narrow edges together, right sides together. Pin to secure. Do the same for the sleeves and then stitch all the pinned areas. Iron the seams and make sure your fabric lays flat. 

Beginner DIY shirt

Take your collar and fold it in half (wrong sides together) until there’s a crease running through the center. Iron it down. 

DIY shirt pattern

Hem your fabric 

To hem the fabric we have two options: a simple one-fold hem, or a double fold. For the one-fold hem, simply fold your fabric (wrong sides together) two centimeters (or an eighth of an inch) and sew it down. For the double-fold, fold your fabric one centimeter (approximately half an inch) and then repeat. Sew down using a stretch stitch. Do this for your sleeves and body. 

DIY shirt tutorial

Attach the sleeves 

Turn the body of the shirt inside out but keep your sleeves right side out. This allows me to put the sleeve into the main part so that the fabric is right sides together. It also helps me align the seams - the upper part of the seam needs to align with the shoulder seam and the seam of the sleeve aligns with the side seam. I then add an extra pin between the bottom of the sleeve and the shoulder. That part must be stretched and sewn correctly. Sew the pieces together with the main part laying over the sleeve and make sure to only sew the edges. Finish with an overlock seam. 

How to sew a DIY shirt

Cut off the remaining threads at about four centimeters (or 1.5 inches). Next, find the two threads that are running straight and next to each other. Pull these threads to dissolve the thread loops and then knot the four loose threads together. Finally, finish by pressing the seam allowance into the t-shirt. 

How to make a DIY shirt

Attach the collar 

Mark the front and back center of the neckline. To do this, pull the t-shirt apart and place the two shoulder seams on top of each other. Follow the new line you’ve created and you will find the center front and center back. Pin to mark. Next, pin the collar onto the shirt. The seam should align with the left shoulder, the middle mark to the right shoulder, and then align the front and back markings to finish. Sew the collar to the shirt - you will have to pull at it slightly so that it fits the neckline. Repeat the same process as earlier and pull the threads out to knot the seam. 

Make a DIY shirt

Finish the shirt 

To finish the shirt, choose an elastic stitch and add a seam right below the collar (on the main body of the shirt). I start by the shoulder seam and finish with a backstitch once I’ve worked around the entire neckline. 

Finished DIY shirt

I hope that you guys liked the instructions and have managed to successfully sew a Kemi shirt or dress. This DIY shirt tutorial is a real passion project for me, so if you’ve used my pattern I’d love to see it! 

Suggested materials:
  • Pattern   (https://www.etsy.com/de/listing/708873178/t-shirt-dress-pattern-with-v)
  • Marker
  • Fabric
See all materials

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