How to sew a T-shirt

A T-shirt is a familiar wardrobe item that can be worn in any situation. It is incredibly simple, but everyone needs it. It can be combined with different things and complemented with accessories. A T-shirt that fits well will be appropriate both on the beach and in the office. You just need to approach its choice with imagination. You can feel comfortable in a product made of high-quality fabric in the summer heat. And on a cool day it will warm you with cozy warmth.

You don’t have to buy a useful thing. We'll tell you how to make a new thing yourself.

We sew a T-shirt with our own hands

Preparing for work

To make a T-shirt you will need to take measurements. And besides, find out how much the knitwear will stretch during the process.

Required data

• neck circumference (NC).
• Chest circumference (CG). Removed strictly horizontally through the protruding points of the chest
• Hip circumference (H). Measured horizontally through the protruding points of the buttocks.
• Armhole depth (HD). This is the distance from the top of the shoulder to the armpit.
• Product length (DI).

If the fabric can be stretched by 130-150% without losing its appearance, then it is necessary to use a negative increase factor of 20%.

If the material has an average degree of elongation, then the increase in loose fit will be zero.

Important. Before working with knitted fabric, it must be washed in a gentle cycle and ironed (“knitwear” mode).

How to sew a simple summer T-shirt without a pattern

When you need to do the work yourself, quickly, in a short time, without a pattern, you need to perform several steps.

• Take your own T-shirt, the style of which completely suits you.
• Fold it in half, face inward, and trace the outline on paper.
• Fold the cut in half, place the paper pattern close to the fold and cut out the back.
• Deepen the neck to the desired size.
• Cut out the front of the T-shirt.

In places where seams are supposed to be seamed, maintain an allowance of 1 cm. First, sew the shoulder parts of the T-shirt with a regular seam, and then work it with a zigzag.

Sew the sides of the product in the same way. If the fabric is very elastic, then use only this stitch. This way the seam will not burst during wear.

Finish the neckline and armholes. Then bend it inward by 0.5 cm and sew a regular stitch (stitch length 2-3 mm). Do the same on the bottom.

Advice. To prevent the pattern from slipping on the fabric during the cutting process, you can fix it with needles.

For an attractive and neat look, the neckline is edged. This will prevent stretching during wear.

The piping will require knitwear of a similar or contrasting color. A strip 4 cm wide is cut from it on an oblique. The next procedure is as follows.

• Fold the strip face outwards and iron it.
• Unfold and place each half inside, iron. You will get a edging in 4 additions.
• Sew one shoulder.
• Starting from the free shoulder, attach the piping to the front side of the product. Baste to the neckline, pulling slightly.
• Attach the inner part of the piping so that the basting lines match and the neckline is covered with fabric as much as possible.
• Use a sewing machine to sew a seam at a distance of 1 mm from the edge.

Remove the basting and sew the second shoulder. You can process the armhole in a similar way. This must be done before the sides are sewn.

This way you can sew a homemade T-shirt from an old T-shirt for a little girl.

How to sew a women's one-shoulder T-shirt

Asymmetrical armholes are a fashion trend. To make a one-shoulder top yourself, you should build a pattern according to all the rules. Or you can use a ready-made T-shirt or T-shirt.

The procedure for making a fashionable top

• Lay the T-shirt on the surface.
• Move 2 cm down from the armhole on one side.
• Apply a long ruler and draw a straight line to the second strap;
• Cut off unnecessary parts with sharp scissors.

To secure the neckline, you will need an elastic band. Finish the edge with a zigzag, turn it inward and stitch so that you can thread the elastic through.

This neckline will not stretch, and the top will stay securely on the body. To decorate the product, you can attach a brooch or other decorative element to the shoulder.

Advice. You can do the same with a T-shirt, then you get a blouse with one sleeve.

How to sew a T-shirt dress

A tank dress can be a comfortable wardrobe staple. For this dress you will need:

• cut, width 140-150 cm and length equal to the length of the dress.
• Two T-shirts, one of which fits the figure, and the second has a loose silhouette.
• Scissors, needles and threads.

To construct a pattern grid, you need to draw a rectangle with the dimensions DI vertically and half-hip circumference horizontally.

• Fold the smaller shirt right side inward and trace it on the paper.
  Attach a large T-shirt to the armhole line. Extend its side line to the bottom.
  Cut out parts taking into account allowances.
• Deepen the neck and repeat all steps for the shelf.

Then proceed in this order: connect the shoulder seams, process the neckline and armholes, sew the sides, process the bottom.

How to sew a sleep shirt

In order to make a comfortable night shirt for sleeping, you will need two pieces of fabric measuring 50x50 cm.

Before

• Lay one of the cuts on a flat surface and fold in half.
• Measure from the upper inner corner 12 cm down (neck) and 10 cm to the side (shoulder point). Connect the dots;
• Set aside the width of OG/4 +1 cm, cut off the excess fabric.
• Place 7 cm down from the upper outer corner (armhole). Connect with a smooth line to the shoulder point.
• Place 6 cm down from the armhole and draw a horizontal line 11 cm long (bust point).
• Mark 1 cm up and down from the corner of the groove. Connect each one to a chest point to form a triangle.
• Sew the undercuts and smooth them out.

Back

• From the upper inner corner, set aside 12 cm downwards (cut).
• Measure the width of the product OG/4 +1 cm.
• Connect the cutout point with the outer upper corner with a smooth line and cut it out.

To strengthen the top of the T-shirt, you need to cut strips of fabric 10 cm wide, repeating the top lines of the pattern. Prepare the straps: cut out rectangles 3 cm wide and stitch them together. You can use ready-made bias tape.

Assembly

• Process all parts using an overlocker or zigzag stitch.
• Sew the sides.
• Baste the straps.
• Sew the facing to the top.
• Process the bottom.

If the fabric is loose, then you can use a linen or “Moscow” seam. The technology is as follows: fold the parts back to back, stitch, turn them inside out and stitch again so that the edges are inside the seam. Iron the finished product.

Advice. To make adjustable straps, use a buckle with a jumper. You need to thread the fabric through the buckle before it is sewn to the shirt.

If you additionally sew shorts, you will get a wonderful pajama set for sleeping.

T-shirts, similar to linen tops, are now at the height of fashion. It is not at all difficult to sew such a product with your own hands. For decoration you will need black lace. It can be stitched on top, or it can be inserted between the facing and the shelf.

Tips for Beginners

• It is not always possible for a beginning seamstress to work with knitwear. Often, due to inexperience, the side seams are too tight, so the product wrinkles.
• To prevent the side seams from being pulled together, you can use tracing paper. It is attached with needles on both sides of the product. Then a seam is laid and the paper is carefully torn off.
• To avoid damaging the product, you must try on the shirt at every stage. In addition, basting stitches and using an iron will help.
• Necessarily treat fabric before sewingto prevent shrinkage of the finished product.

Features of sewing a T-shirt with straps and spaghetti straps

When making a tank top with straps, you can use several ways to attach them.

Mounting options:

• strong threads;
• decorative rings with threaded straps;
• straps made of bias tape.

The peculiarity of the cut of a tank top with straps is that the details are cut without taking into account the straps. This means it requires less fabric.To make straps, identical fabric, ready-made binding, or any other material can be used.

Specifics of working with different materials

Each fabric has its own unique properties that must be taken into account when working. By following simple rules, you can avoid difficulties.

When working with the atlas

• Wash and iron before use, as the fabric may shrink.
• Iron along the warp thread so as not to stretch the fabric or deform the product.
• Before cutting, cover the surface of the table with a non-slip cloth.
• Take seam allowances into account when creating the pattern.
• Choose thin and sharp needles so that there are no puffs left on the surface.
• Baste the satin pieces so that they move synchronously under the sewing machine foot.

When working with knitwear you need

• Take into account the direction of the grain thread when cutting.
• Do not stretch the material to avoid warping.
• When processing cuts, add bias tape to prevent the seam from lengthening.
• Use special needles with a rounded end.
• Check the quality of the seam on a separate flap.
• Do not stretch the fabric when stitching.
• Iron all seams through a damp cloth to make them smoother.

The main advantage of knitwear is its elasticity and ability to return to its original shape. This feature must be taken into account in your work and used for your own purposes.

How to decorate a T-shirt with lace

Lace is a decorative element that will turn even the most ordinary everyday T-shirt into an exquisite evening outfit.

Use Cases

• Make a cut along the back from the bottom, leaving 5-10 cm to the top, and insert a lace triangle with a wedge.
• Sew lace elements in the form of a collar.
• A piece of cotton lace can be sewn anywhere on the T-shirt, and then the excess material can be cut off from the inside.

You can use lace in the color of the T-shirt or in contrasting colors.

Unusual DIY T-shirts

How to sew a T-shirt for a doll

Making clothes for dolls is jewelry work. Our advice will help even a girl cope with it. To create a pattern, the doll is placed on a surface, shoulder lines, armholes and vertical lines are indicated. They are carried out tangentially to the body.

You need to make two such sketches: for the back and for the shelf. Deepen the neck on the shelf part. Cut the back in half lengthwise.

Cut out three pieces with seam allowances. The details come together. When sewing the back, the size of the doll's head is taken into account. After trying it on, you can determine how to stitch the back. And at the top you will need to sew a button or Velcro.

How to sew a T-shirt for a car seat

To sew T-shirt-type protective covers for car seats, you need to make a pattern. Using paper (polyethylene) and a marker, outline the following details:

• front backrest;
• backrest;
• sitting

The side parts of the seat should not be covered with covers, because they will block the airbag modules.

When choosing fabric for covers, you should give preference to thick knitwear. The front part of the cover will be made of two elements (seat and back), the back part will be made of one. The top of the parts is sewn together like a T-shirt, so that the headrest passes through the “neck”. To process the side cuts, you should choose a thick, wide elastic band and use it to make ties for fastening.