Sew a sweatshirt: easy DIY sweatshirt

Learn how to sew a sweatshirt with this easy step by step sewing tutorial. You'll learn how to modify a basic raglan t-shirt pattern and turn it into a sweatshirt pattern, then I'll show you how to sew up a DIY sweatshirt from start to finish.
For full written directions and where to buy ribbing and sweatshirting, read the blog post: elizabethmadethis.com/how-to-...
How to bleach dye: elizabethmadethis.com/dyeing-...
Take my beginner sewing class, Self-Reliant Sewing: elizabethmadethis.com/self-re...

[@barbaralies]

Missed you!

[@ElizabethMadeThisSEW]

Thanks for watching!

[@thejillykilly]

Please do a video on how to make sweatpants 1 size smaller?

[@deanalovessewn6117]

Hi Elizabeth!! Thanks for refashioning a sweatshirt… Love the bleach idea & method of putting shirt together…. 💜💜💜🧵🧵🧵

[@ElizabethMadeThisSEW]

You are so welcome!

[@rikkib7636]

Great video Elizabeth! So incredibly helpful to see how you modify a basic raglan shirt pattern to make a sweatshirt! I also like downsizing or repurposing RTW. Seems like I can get higher quality fabric that way:) Anyways, I learned lots, thanks for sharing!

[@ElizabethMadeThisSEW]

Hey Rikki! Glad this was helpful for you! That's one of the biggest reasons I refashion...finding fabrics that are much higher quality than most I can find in fabric stores. That it saves money is all the better.

[@IdahoMonor]

Hi Elizabeth...I really enjoy watching you sew. I am working with a very old Bernina and want to buy a new machine so I can make t-shirts and work with stretch fabrics. I see you use a Jenome. The Jenome 3160 QDC seems to be in my price range and has the double needle option for a sort of serged hem. Do you have any suggestions about a machine that will work well for sort of serging without the cost of a serger?

[@ElizabethMadeThisSEW]

The type of seam a serger creates is not equivalent to what a double needle will make. A double needle can make a hem that looks a bit like what a coverstitch will make. With an overlock foot you can approximate what a serger sort of looks like, though I will say that it takes a long time to finish seams like that on a standard machine. That being said, I always encourage people to get their feet wet sewing on a regular sewing machine before investing in a serger. Sewing with knits on a regular sewing machine will help you understand how to handle them even if it's less efficient. At some point, your hands will know better what to do and you'll be ready to upgrade to the speed of a serger. It's also not 100% necessary to serge knit seams either. 98% of knits do not fray in any kind of way: you can simply sew the seam and leave the edges raw on the inside of your project. You might find this article helpful as you're deciding: elizabethmadethis.com/can-you-sew-knits-without-a-serger/ At the end of the day, the best machine is the one that's in your price range and the one that you'll use.

[@saxbabe]

This is particularly timely! I have a hoodie that is perfectly fine everywhere else, but the sleeves were always too long and now the ribbing is all stretched out. I could use this tutorial to make new cuffs! My questions lies in what is the best way to determine how much to cut off?

[@ElizabethMadeThisSEW]

Glad to help! So, pop the hoodie on and fold up the fabric as much as you need so that the arm length sits at the end of your wrist. That's how much to take off, just be sure to factor in seam allowances when you add the cuffs back on.