Sewing Bee Fabrics Tutorial
How To Copy A T-Shirt
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05/10/15
My little boy fell in love with this jersey as soon as he saw it. He asked what it was and I told him they were ninja men... he then very excitedly shouted over and over that he wanted the ginger men! So, the ginger ninjas had to be used as it made us giggle. He was starting to grow out of his T-shirts, so I used an old T-shirt to draft a new one. This is how:
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What You Will Need:
Enough Jersey Fabric for the size T-shirt your making
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How To Make It:
First off, lie your Tshirt down and trace around the front and back. Add a little extra all the way around for a seam / hem allowance except on the neck line. You will be making this a bit smaller in the end because of adding a neck band. So if, like me, you are making the next size up, keep in mind their head may have grown too so you might want to make the hole a little bit bigger instead but add a little extra fabric everywhere else.
Knit fabric tends to move and curl, so you may find it easier to draw around your t-shirt onto wrapping paper then pin that to the fabric to cut out... I was just in a hurry and winging it!
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Then you need to sew the shoulders together. I find that I get the best results sewing with knit fabrics if I use a Double Needle and a Knit Foot on my sewing machine. This foot has a gripper underneath to hold the fabric in place as you stitch, but a bar that hooks over the needle bar on the machine allowing it to lift up every time the needle raises out of the fabric. This stops it from stretching the fabric as you sew like a standard presser foot would do. I also use a longer stitch length and slightly reduce the thread tension.
Again this is FAR easier if you have a paper pattern (just pin the shoulders together to match your chosen seam allowance).
Lay it flat like this. Draw around the curve that the arm hole has made and draw it outwards to the desired length. Again, add a seam allowance for the sides and the arm hole curves and enough for a hem at the end.
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Hem the end of the sleeve - this is more important on smaller people's clothes as the sleeve may not fit around the sewing machine once you've sewn it closed... then your stuck with either unpicking or hand stitching.
I personally find that the easiest way to put the sleeve in when the fabric is prone to stretching as your pinning is to find the centre of the sleeve, and the centre of the hole, then work outwards to each side.
Then I sewed it in place.
Next, I sewed the sides up, starting at the sleeve, into the armpit then down the length of the body. This way any sleeve issues are usually hidden in the armpit, and any body misalignments can be rectified when you put the bottom hem in.
The last thing left is the neck line. First, find out how big it is. Just lie some thread around it then measure that.
Cut out a strip 90% of the neck measurement and twice the width. If you were to do it the same size, it wouldn't lie flat, so I find 10% (with no extra seam allowance) is about right.
With right sides together, sew the short edges together.
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Then fold it along the long edge so that the fabric faces right sides out. Sew close to the edge to hide your sewing in the neck seam, to hold it in place for the next part.
To line up the neckline on your top, pin a centre point at the front and back, and the 2 side seams. Remember to allow a little more for the front half as this is slightly longer.
Stretch it gently as you sew so that the raw edge of your folded neck piece lines up with the raw edge of your neck line.
Then put it on and enjoy it!
We hope you enjoy our tutorials and love hearing what you think so please leave us a comment or send me an email to linda@sewingbeefabrics.co.uk
Happy Sewing!
This T Shirt is fab – you make it look so easy! Love the material too. Kaz x
Thanks! I’ve just made a crocodile one too. I’ll pop a pic up later. They are great fun and easily done in an evening 🙂
Oh you are so clever! I wish my children went about their business in my own homemade clothes!
That’s a lovely design, well done. Anna x
Thank you. I love going out seeing them playing in things I’ve made them 😀
I love popping by to see what tutorial you have next. I really need to get that sewing machine lol. You make it look so easy 🙂
Thank you 😀
I love have clothes that are not run of the mill for the children. This is another great tutorial that many could use to create bespoke clothing.
Thanks. There’s so much more scope for fun clothes when you make your own, although good Jersey patterns are surprisingly difficult to come across compared to cotton
The t-shirt came out awesome! I’m so impressed with the neck, that is so tricky. You have fabulous tips here as always! x
Thank you. The neckline is surprisingly easy if you do it this way. 😀
As always another fab tutorial! I think I have a Blog Crush lol! Every time I read one of your tutorials I think I am going to try that! And you explain them so well with so much detail! ACE! x Thank you so muchx
That really is so kind of you. That’s really made me smile. I’d love to see what you do end up making 😀
Such a great tutorial, you are a very clever lady. I wish I have more time to start sewing again x
Thank you 🙂
I love the ninja fabric you are so creative I wish I could make a shirt but sadly I can’t even sew. You need to teach me!
Ana I would love to see you rocking the ninjas! I’m planning some complete beginner guides so I’ll see what I can do! x
Looks great Linda! Love the Ninja Fabric!!!
Thanks Nina. It’s fab isn’t it!