Estimated reading time: 15 min

Sewing a shirt: How to make a T-shirt yourself the easy way

04.04.2021 by Sabine Schmidt

Shirt nähen: So machst du ein T-Shirt super einfach selbst

What do I need for that?

Materials & Details

Fabric clips^*

Machine:: Zigzag stitchOverlock seamstretch seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H609

further information

Needle:: Stretch needle^*
Yarn:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Sweatshirt fabric is a soft, somewhat thicker fabric that is usually slightly brushed on the inside – which makes it feel nice and warm and cosy.

It is elastic or at least slightly stretchy, which makes it super comfortable. That is exactly why it is so popular for cosy clothing.

Depending on the type, it comes as French terry (with loops on the inside) or as brushed sweatshirt fabric (really fluffy on the inside).

Sweatshirt fabric is usually easy to sew; it hardly curls and is nice and stable.

It is perfect for hoodies, joggers, jumpers or comfy dresses.

In short: cosy, warm and the perfect fabric for relaxed feel-good pieces.

French terry^*

Machine:: Zigzag stitchOverlock seamstretch seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H609

further information

Needle:: Stretch needle^*
Yarn:: stretch sewing thread^*

French terry is a lightweight sweatshirt fabric with a smooth outer side and small loops on the inside. This makes it pleasantly soft, but not too thick or too warm.

It is slightly stretchy and therefore super comfortable – perfect for anything that should be cosy without feeling like a winter jumper.

Its airy wearing comfort is typical: it warms a little but still lets the skin breathe. That is exactly why it is so popular for transitional seasons and everyday wear.

French terry is pretty easy to sew because it is more stable than jersey but still stays flexible.

It is ideal for hoodies, T-shirts, dresses, joggers or casual leisurewear.

In short: comfortable, airy and the perfect all-rounder for relaxed outfits.

Jersey^*

Machine:: Overlock seamstretch seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H609

further information

Needle:: Jersey needle^*
Yarn:: stretch sewing thread^*

Jersey is a soft, elastic fabric that is super comfy and adapts beautifully to the body. It is stretchy, usually lightweight and feels pleasantly smooth on the skin.

Typical of jersey: it moves with you, which makes it perfect for everyday clothing. Depending on the material, it can be thin and airy or somewhat firmer.

When sewing, jersey likes to curl up a little at the edges, but with a few tricks it works well. It is ideal for T-shirts, dresses, sleepwear or kids' clothing.

In short: soft, stretchy and a true feel-good fabric for every day.

Quilted fabrics^*

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H200

further information

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Yarn:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Quilted fabric is a fabric made of several layers that are stitched together. It usually has a firm fabric on the outside and a warm filling on the inside – for example fleece or wadding.

Its padded look with the visible quilting seams, which give the fabric its structure, is typical. This makes it nicely voluminous and really warm.

Depending on the type, quilted fabric can be light or somewhat heavier, but it always insulates well. So it is perfect for cooler days.

It sometimes takes a bit more patience to sew because it is thicker and has several layers. In return, you get a very stable result.

Quilted fabric is ideal for jackets, gilets, bags or warm accessories.

In short: warm, padded and perfect for cosy outdoor pieces.

Romanit jersey^*

Machine:: Straight stitchBackstitch functionstretch seamOverlock seam
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H609

further information

Needle:: Jersey needle^*
Yarn:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Romanit jersey is a somewhat thicker, stable jersey fabric that is super comfortable to wear. It is elastic but not as “floppy” as regular jersey – more structured and nicely smooth. As a result, it drapes softly without clinging to every little curve.

The fabric usually feels cool and soft on the skin and hardly creases. So it is perfect for comfortable yet smart clothing such as dresses, skirts, blazers or trousers. Romanit jersey is pretty relaxed to sew because it does not curl as much.

In short: as comfy as jersey, but a bit smarter and neater in look.

Cotton jersey^*

Machine:: Overlock seamstretch seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H609

further information

Needle:: Jersey needle^*
Yarn:: stretch sewing thread^*

Cotton jersey is a soft, stretchy cotton fabric that feels really comfortable on the skin. It's breathable, rather matte and therefore perfect for everyday wear.

It's known for its good stretch without being too “slippery” – it moves with you and stays lovely and comfortable. Compared to viscose jersey, it has a bit more grip and isn't quite as drapey.

Cotton jersey is usually easy to handle when sewing, but the edges can curl – with a little practice, though, that's no problem at all.

It's perfect for T-shirts, dresses, kids' clothes, sleepwear or cosy basics.

In short: soft, comfortable and the perfect fabric for your everyday favourites.

Viscose jersey^*

Machine:: Overlock seamstretch seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Iron-on patch:: Vlieseline H609

further information

Needle:: Stretch needle^*
Yarn:: stretch sewing thread^*

Viscose jersey is a super soft, stretchy fabric with a really beautiful, flowing drape. It feels cool and smooth on the skin and is especially comfortable to wear – particularly on warm days.

It's known for its light, often slightly “heavy” drape: it hugs the body without looking stiff. This creates beautiful, soft silhouettes.

The fabric has good stretch but can be a little slippery when sewing and tends to distort – it helps to work calmly and without pulling.

Viscose jersey is perfect for dresses, tops, skirts or anything that should hang loosely and feel comfortable.

In short: soft, flowing and ideal for feminine, comfortable looks.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

In this post, it's all about how you can sew a shirt, what you need to do it, and which tutorials are particularly well-suited for this purpose.

The most important things at a glance

In this post, you will find all the information and the matching patterns to sew a shirt
I recommend various shirt patterns (all perfectly suitable for beginners) and have a nice list of free shirt patterns in store for you
Stretchy fabrics like jersey are excellent for sewing a shirt yourself
Beginners need about 1 hour to sew a shirt (with some SewSimple patterns, even in 30 minutes)

Can sewing beginners also sew a shirt?

If you would like to sew your first piece of clothing as a beginner or do not yet have much experience with sewing clothes, a shirt is a perfect beginner project. For a beautiful variation, you can also sew the shirt with a V-neck.

Choose a beginner-friendly shirt pattern at the start so that you definitely have a sense of achievement and don't lose interest in sewing shirts.

My tip: There are also big differences in terms of beginner-friendliness and quality when it comes to shirt patterns. Better to invest a few euros in a high-quality pattern and don't cut corners in the wrong place – otherwise, there is a risk that the sewing experience will turn into a frustration marathon. With a good pattern, sewing a shirt becomes a fun sewing project with a beautiful end result.

Further down, I have linked our various patterns for all kinds of shirts; feel free to take a look at them, as they are all great for beginners.

The patterns for our shirts are clearly laid out, uncomplicated to cut out, and taping them together is also child's play.

If you are still unsure about using patterns, you will find plenty of information here on the topic of reading and understanding patterns.

After you have transferred the pattern to your chosen fabric, it's time to cut out the fabric, and then you can start sewing right away.

What do I need to know before sewing a shirt?

Before you get started with sewing the shirt, you should know the required size. To ensure everything fits perfectly in the end, you should measure yourself (or the person you are sewing for) precisely. Every one of our patterns includes a body measurement chart for this purpose.

Once you have decided on a pattern, read the sewing instructions in peace at the beginning. This way, you can familiarize yourself with the pattern and know what to expect. This helps avoid many sewing mistakes. Definitely check whether the seam allowance is already included in the pattern.

Furthermore, you should familiarize yourself with the chosen fabric. Is it more firm, soft, thick, or thin? Ultimately, this also determines whether the chosen size is appropriate.

Feel free to read Sabine's post on which fabric for what, in which she introduces more than 50 different types of fabric with their respective characteristics, processing methods, and uses. Truly very informative and worth reading!

Perhaps you are a bit unsure because you have little to no experience with sewing stretchy fabrics? Then we have a few more tips for you:

When sewing elastic fabrics, a walking foot can be very supportive. It helps you feed the fabric evenly and thus sew it consistently. This is especially helpful for sticky, thick, elastic, or slippery fabrics. You can find much more information on the topic of the walking foot in this post: Sewing with a walking foot.

For a beautiful and, above all, long-lasting result, it is very important to use a jersey or stretch needle when sewing elastic fabrics. To get an overview of the functions of different sewing machine needles, feel free to take a look at this extensive guide to sewing machine needles by Sabine.

Especially in the beginning, it is recommended to sew slowly. This is the only way to keep control of your machine and enjoy clean seams in the end. To sew slowly, simply be very gentle with the gas pedal.

Many sewing machines also have a lever where the speed can be adjusted. If it is set to a slow or medium level, no mistakes can happen if you accidentally step on the foot pedal too hard.

If you do not own an overlocker, you can use an elastic stitch or the overlock stitch that many sewing machines have. You can read more about it here: Overlock stitch with a sewing machine (here's how!).

Important tip: Hemming correctly

Once you have finished sewing your shirt and only the hems are missing, I have a few tips for you. Since you will need this technique for practically every shirt, I will show you how to hem in a short, easy-to-understand pictorial guide.

Reading tip: You can find maaaany more details about the different types of hems here: Sewing hems (you must know these 20 hems).

There are many different ways to hem a piece of clothing. To ensure you are satisfied and achieve a beautiful result, I have a few tips for you:

To make the hem nice and smooth, you can reinforce it with elastic stay tape. With this trick, you can tame fabrics like this jersey that curl up significantly at the edges.

Hems sewn with a twin needle look particularly professional and are very durable. This is because the seam remains elastic and the stitching runs exactly parallel. By the way, there are also triple needles that work just like twin needles. Definitely read more about it in our blog post Sewing with a twin needle.

You can use the walking foot to ensure your hems are nice and even. The walking foot ensures that both layers of fabric are fed through together. This results in a particularly even stitch pattern.

You should not pull on the fabric while hemming, otherwise unsightly and conspicuous waves will form.

Perfect fabrics for sewing a shirt

To sew a T-shirt, you have a huge selection of different fabrics. It is important that you ensure your chosen fabric is stretchy (unless the sewing instructions recommend non-stretchy fabric).

These fabrics are particularly well-suited for sewing shirts:

Interlock jersey has proven to be particularly recommended for beginners. Unlike single jersey, it is knitted with two needles. The result: the fabric lies nice and flat and does not curl at the edges. Here you can see a blue interlock compared to striped single jersey.

Tip: Definitely check out my post on the topic of sewing stretchy fabrics.

Which sewing machine do I need to sew a shirt?

Of course, you can sew shirts with your regular sewing machine. You should make sure to use a jersey or stretch needle and set an elastic stitch. A narrow zigzag stitch or an overlock stitch, for example, is suitable for this.

Naturally, all kinds of shirts can be sewn particularly easily, quickly, and comfortably with an overlock machine. This is because the overlocker can sew wonderfully stretchy fabrics and produces beautiful, elastic seams. This is great especially for nice shoulder and side seams.

Especially when sewing with elastic fabrics, it is great if you can use an overlock machine. You can read about the best tips and tricks for sewing with an overlock here.

What accessories do I need to sew a shirt?

If you want to sew a simple, beginner-friendly shirt for the first time, you don't need to have that many materials at home. Perhaps you first want to test whether sewing clothes is something for you and not immediately equip yourself with a ton of sewing supplies?

If you want to test it out for yourself first, these are the materials you should definitely have at home:

The matching pattern
Elastic fabrics (e.g., sweatshirt, French terry, jersey)
Marking pen^*
Scissors^*
color-coordinated sewing thread^*
Pins^*
Sewing machine or overlock

When choosing the matching pattern, make sure it is suitable for sewing beginners. Feel free to look at the shirts below; they are all very beginner-friendly.

Most shirts are sewn with elastic fabrics. Further down, you can read which fabrics are particularly nice for your first garment sewing attempts.

You need a marking pen to transfer the pattern and the corresponding markings onto the fabric. Feel free to also read the comprehensive post on textile markers, fabric pens, and chalk on this topic.

Good scissors are essential for sewing. You won't be happy with cheap scissors for long, and frustration is pre-programmed. It's worth spending a bit more money here.

With color-coordinated sewing thread, your first sewing projects will be even more beautiful. If you don't want to spend that much money at the beginning, you can treat yourself to a few spools of neutral sewing thread. A light gray or a warm beige tone, for example, is suitable for this.

Pinning is twice as fun with grippy, sharp pins! We really like using these pins from Prym^*. They sit well in the hand and aren't expensive, either.

Well, when it comes to the sewing machine or overlock, I cannot recommend buying a cheap one from a discounter first. It really pays to buy a good sewing machine so that the sewing experience is pleasant and the joy of sewing is truly lasting.

If you liked your first attempt at sewing a shirt, you can always upgrade later :).

For even more joy when sewing clothes, it's nice to have a few supplemental materials at home. This includes the following items:

Cutting mat^*
Rotary cutter^*
Fabric clips^*
possibly elastic stay tape^*
possibly elastic fusible interfacing^* for the facing
possibly walking foot

Sewing a shirt: The best tutorials

SewSimple offers several beautiful tutorials for all kinds of different shirts with an anti-frustration guarantee. Here, I present the most beautiful and popular patterns, including the eBook.

Sewing a T-shirt with dolman sleeves

The simplest shirt variation you can sew consists of exactly 2 pattern pieces. This means the sleeves of the shirt are cut into the bodice and are not sewn on separately. So: two seams fewer than with a basic shirt. This is ideal for beginners.

Our T-shirt MEENE is a pattern that consists of only 2 pattern pieces. The cut-on sleeve part acts as a short sleeve:

https://sewsimple.de/en/produkt/shirt-schnittmuster-meene/

Sew a T-shirt

https://sewsimple.de/en/produkt/schnittmuster-t-shirt-mirabell-32-60/

Pattern name: "Mirabell"
Sewing time: Approx. 1 hour
Sewing level: Beginner
Suitable materials: Elastic fabrics
Special feature: The T-shirt has a loose fit in the bust area and does not require bust darts

About the T-shirt

The Mirabell T-shirt is the perfect choice for you if you're looking for a quick, easy women's T-shirt. The pattern for Mirabell is available in sizes 32-60 and fits perfectly, even in larger sizes.

The T-shirt is cut loosely in the bust area and is sewn without bust darts.

Mirabell's dolman sleeves are included in the pattern in 3 lengths and also feature a casual fit.

The waist and hips are cut to be slightly more figure-hugging on this shirt.

The hems are simply turned up and topstitched.
This way, your lovely new shirt is finished in no time!

Review

"Hello Sabine, a great pattern that is quick and easy to sew, even for beginners. I'll definitely be trying out one or two more patterns. Thank you very much!"
Review by Ricarda (read here)

Download

Click here for the pattern directly: Sew T-shirt now

Sew a simple women's shirt

https://sewsimple.de/en/produkt/ebook-shirt-santje-groesse-32-60/

Pattern name: "Santje"
Sewing time: 1 - 2 hours
Sewing level: Beginner
Suitable materials: Elastic and non-elastic fabrics
Special feature: Round hem finish and bust darts

About the simple women's shirt

Interlock jersey, French terry, and sweatshirt fabrics are particularly well-suited for the Santje shirt. Using these materials, even beginners can sew a beautiful shirt in no time.

When looking at Santje, the eye is often drawn first to the hem and the neckline. You should therefore work carefully in these areas.

You can also finish the inside of the neckline beautifully with jersey strips, for example. Sabine explains exactly how to do this in this post: Finish the neckline with jersey strips.

The Santje pattern is available in sizes 32-60. It includes three sleeve lengths (long sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, short sleeve), and you can choose between a straight or rounded hem finish. If you like, you can upgrade the shirt with a hood.

You can also finish Santje with cuffs; there is an amazing cuff tutorial on the blog for this topic.

Review

"Santje is the third shirt pattern of yours that I've used, and this one is perfect too. The instructions are detailed as usual and the finished piece draws exclamations of admiration."
Review by Yarmila (read here)

Download

Click here for the pattern directly: Sew simple women's shirt now

Sew a women's layer shirt

https://sewsimple.de/en/produkt/damen-layer-shirt-schnittmuster-aenni-groesse-32-60/

Pattern name: "Aenni"
Sewing time: 1 - 2 hours
Sewing level: Beginner
Suitable materials: Elastic and non-elastic fabrics
Special feature: Casual, loose-fitting shirt in a layered look

About the layer shirt

The Aenni layer shirt pattern actually includes two beautiful patterns. A boxy, oversized shirt and a longer, slim-cut top with side slits. You can wear the shirts individually or layered over one another. Or, of course: sometimes one way, sometimes the other :).

The Aenni layer shirt is not just easy to wear: it is also very quick and simple to sew. The perfect pattern for quick sewing successes.

If you would like to sew the Aenni shirt, feel free to check out the video tutorial, which you can find in the link below.

Review

"All your patterns have always fit great! Good patterns, good instructions, super comfortable to wear! Everything is great........"
Review by Birgit (read here)

Download

Click here for the pattern directly: Sew layer shirt

Sew an oversize shirt

https://sewsimple.de/en/produkt/ebook-oversize-shirt-selma-32-60/

Pattern name: "Selma"
Sewing time: Approx. 1 hour
Sewing level: Beginner
Suitable materials: Elastic fabrics
Special feature: Casual oversize shirt with slim sleeves

About the oversize shirt

Selma is a casual, wide-cut oversize shirt with slim 3/4 sleeves. The detailed and illustrated step-by-step instructions make this pattern perfect and also great for sewing beginners.

The instructions also contain a description for a cool tiered hem, which gives the shirt an interesting focal point.

Review

"A really great pattern. The result looks super. After making Kjella several times, I was looking for an oversize pattern without raglan sleeves. Selma is exactly right. The slightly different sewing method is no problem thanks to the exact, precise instructions. The instructions include several examples for cuffs or the hem. This leaves a lot of room for imagination. The shirt fits me great even though I'm short and round. The sleeves are long sleeves for me, but that doesn't stand out at all. So, an all-around beautiful, simple pattern."
Review by Kathrin (read here)

Download

Click here for the pattern directly: Sew oversize shirt

Sew a basic shirt

https://sewsimple.de/en/produkt/ebook-damenshirt-sedona/

Pattern name: "Sedona"
Sewing time: 1 - 2 hours
Sewing level: Beginner
Suitable materials: Elastic fabrics
Special feature: Longer, rounded hem at the back, worked with a facing

About the basic shirt

The Sedona women's shirt is a very figure-friendly, brilliantly fitting basic shirt. Made to make little curves disappear. Sedona is incredibly versatile and goes perfectly with any style, from elegant to sporty.

The subtle boat neckline and the slightly longer hem at the back are sewn with a facing.

The pattern is perfect for sweatshirt fabrics, jacquard knit, or other, slightly thicker fabrics. If you want to sew it out of jersey, you should perhaps sew 1-2 sizes smaller.

Review

"Moin Sabine! I've already sewn this shirt twice and the 3rd one is currently on the cutting table. Simply brilliant! It's quick, fits, doesn't wobble, and has room! A very, very great pattern!..."
Review by Inka (read here)

Download

Click here for the pattern directly: Sew basic shirt

Sew a child's shirt

Pattern name: "Luv"
Sewing time: 1 hour
Sewing level: Beginner
Suitable materials: Elastic fabrics
Special feature: Versatile basic shirt for children

About the child's shirt

Sewing the Luv child's shirt is easy, even for beginners: the pattern for this basic item is intentionally kept clear. This makes it easy for beginners to keep track.

The Luv long-sleeve shirt is available in sizes 50-128, so it is suitable for babies, toddlers, and school children.

You can also easily use Luv to sew a children's dress with or without ruffles. Luv is also wonderful for working with panels as a long shirt.

Review

"Very good instructions. Good idea to make the patterns individual files. Many thanks, I recommend it."
Review by Cordula (read here)

Download

Click here for the pattern directly: Sew child's shirt

BONUS: +20 Free shirt patterns

If you still haven't had enough cool patterns for the various SewSimple shirts, we have something great for you here!

We sat down and created a huge freebook collection for clothing. This list contains over 20 freebooks for shirts – simply browse through!

Click here for the large collection: Freebooks: Clothing for adults (including shirts).

Conclusion

Sewing a shirt is a great project for both absolute sewing beginners and advanced sewing fans. The nice thing about sewing a shirt is: you sew something homemade for everyday life that you really wear often!

Tip: When choosing a pattern, make sure it has good reviews. Otherwise, you risk a sewing experience full of frustration – and that would be a great shame.

Everyone can sew according to their individual skills and taste, whatever they can and like – and will achieve a beautiful result.

And above all, no matter what your height is, whether you wear plus size or not, you can sew a shirt yourself, exactly how YOU want it to be. If you start sewing your own clothes, new doors will open for you. And that is just a beautiful thing!

And once you are into it and have the hang of it, you can sew so many different variations of shirts: T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, shirt dresses, children's shirts, women's shirts, men's shirts..., there are so many possibilities!

Was the right shirt for you included, or do you have any questions about this post? I look forward to a comment from you!

Happy simple sewing,

yours, Sabine

Frequently asked questions

What fabric do I need to sew a shirt?

You can sew shirts from many different fabrics. Interlock, French terry, and sweatshirt fabrics are particularly beginner-friendly. But other elastic and non-elastic fabrics are also suitable for sewing; be sure to check the fabric recommendations for your selected pattern before you begin.

What sewing machine can I use to sew a shirt?

You can sew shirts with your regular sewing machine or an overlocker. If you are sewing with a sewing machine, you should definitely use an elastic stitch or an overlock stitch.

How long does it take to sew a shirt?

The sewing time depends on the respective patterns. There are SewSimple shirts that can be sewn in about 30 minutes, while others take 1-2 hours. The sewing time also naturally depends on your individual skill level.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.