Crew neck slim fit T-shirt

I think everyone owns a T-shirt.  T-shirts are so cheap, is it worth making one?  It is.  You can design your own T-shirt if you know how to make one.  I am going to show you have to make a crew neck slim fit T-shirt, my favorite kind.  Here are the 2 T-shirts I made with the same pattern.  There are a lot of possibilities to use this pattern.

Pattern 

Let me show you have to make the pattern.  

You will see 3 numbers in every measurement.  The top one is Size Small or Size 4-6; next is Size M or Size 8-10; the bottom one is Size L or Size 12-14. You will use the number of your size.

We will start the Back Piece.

1. Draw a vertical line and separate it into 3 parts according to the lengths marked.

This line will be the middle or your back piece.

2. Draw the horizontal lines.  These line are references to shoulder, chest, waist and the bottom of the T-shirt.

3.  Now, we have the body of the back piece.  Next will be neck and shoulder.

Your will need to use a french curve ruler to draw the neckline.  If you don't have one, that's OK.  Here is a printable french curve ruler.  http://thesewingnotebook.blogspot.com/2013/02/printable-patternmaking-tools.html

4.  With the french curve ruler, we will do the next part of the pattern, the armhole.

After connecting the line from shoulder to chest, divide the line into 3 equal parts.  From the dividing points draw 2 perpendicular lines as marked to form the depth of armhole. Finally, use your french curve ruler to connect the dots to form armhole.

5.  This step is the easiest.  Connect the lines from chest to waist to the bottom.  The back piece is finished.

In order to make a smooth connection between front and back piece, we trim the bottom of the shirt on the connecting sides into right angles.

Let's continue on to Front Piece.

1.  Just like the back piece, we'll draw a vertical line, the center of the front piece.

Front

2.  Then add the horizontal lines that are shoulder, chest, waist and bottom lines.

Front

3.  We'll add the neckline and shoulder line.

To form a neckline, draw a reference line from shoulder to where the bottom of the neck we want.  Then, at the middle of the line draw an 1" perpendicular line to mark the depth of the neckline.  Use a french curve ruler to connect the dots to finish.  

4.  We will finish with armhole and sides.

Just like the back piece, to form a armhole, we draw a line from shoulder to chest and divide it into 3 equal parts, then draw 2 perpendicular lines as references to the depth of the armhole.  Finish it with a french curve ruler to connect the dots. 

Sleeve

Now we have front and back pieces.  We can make sleeve pattern.  In order to make sleeve pattern, we will need to measure the armholes of the front and back patterns we just make.

1.  We will draw a cross, measurement as marked.

I didn't mark the horizontal line because it's determined by the lengths of armholes.  

2.  The measurement of the front armhole will be the slope on the right.  The back armhole will be on the left.

3.  We have a rough shape of a sleeve.  Next will be adding the the curves to form the top of a sleeve.  

We will start with dividing the front armhole lines into 1/4s.  At the end of the first quarter, we'll raise 3/4" out, and dip 5/8" in at the end of the 3rd quarter.  Use a french curve ruler to form the curves as shown in the picture.  

The back piece is a little different. From the top of the sleeve to where you want to form the outward curve is 1/4 of the front armhole.  You will raise the curve here by 3/4".  At the end of the line about 1/6 of the back armhole is where you dip in 1/4".  Just connect the dots to form a curve like the one in my picture.

The last part is the bottom of the sleeve.  The numbers of this part in the picture are my measurement.  You have to measure your own arms to get the right number for you.

Neck piece

Neck piece is the easiest part of the pattern.  It's just a long strip folded into halves with a 1" width.

Cut

If you are going to sew with a serger,  you will leave 1/4" seam  all over except the bottoms of sleeves and the shirt.  The seam of the bottoms will be 1".

If you are going to sew with a sewing machine, you will need a wider seem.  I think 1/2" will do.  The seams of the bottom of the shirt and sleeves are the same, 1".

Sewing

I used a serger to sew T-shirts.  If you don't have a serger, sewing machine will do the job too.  The function I recommend is Flatlock and casing stitch (#13 and #14 in the picture).

I also use an edge stitch foot with guide.  This is really handy.  

This is how I put the pieces together.

connect shoulder-->install neckpiece-->install sleeves-->close the sides-->hem the bottom and sleeves.

You might have different approaches.  As long as it gets the job done,  it's a good way to sew.

Here are some links to help you sew.

Install neck piece

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw2XZcTtjJc

How to sew a T-shirt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAIfrCViTBY

Happy sewing!

In my next post, I am going to show you have to use your T-shirt pattern to make a shirt dress pattern.

Coming Soon!

How a Pattern is Created?

You probably don't know many people make their own dress patterns.  It's actually takes some time to learn.  However, I simplify the process and make it easy for you.

When I come up with a design, I draw it on the paper.  It's easier to visualize it this way.  Then, I started to lay out the pattern in a small scale and modify it to make sure it fits right.

After this process, I can enlarge it to the real size on the pattern paper.  At this step, I can kind of fit it on my dress form to make final modifications.  

Then finally, I use the pattern to sew an actual final product. 

 

You don't have to do what I do.  I'll make it really easy to copy my patterns.  I promise it's a lot less trouble then using a commercial pattern.  Give it a try.