Intro to Garment Sewing: Woven Tee Shirt

Ready to elevate your sewing abilities? This advanced-beginner workshop teaches you how to sew garments using commercial patterns. Whether you want to understand garment construction, develop pattern-reading skills, or begin creating your own custom-fit clothing, this hands-on class is designed for you.

During this intensive workshop, you will gain practical experience working with purchased sewing patterns and complete a custom-fitted tee shirt tailored to your unique measurements. By the end of class, you will leave with both the technical skills and confidence needed to tackle additional garment projects independently.

You Will Learn:

• How to take body measurements accurately to ensure a perfect fit in finished garments
• Working with commercial patterns, including understanding size charts, reading pattern instructions, cutting pattern pieces correctly, and navigating pattern layouts
• Essential garment sewing fundamentals such as fabric preparation, proper pinning techniques, cutting precision, pressing, and solving common construction problems
• Understanding sewing terminology and abbreviations commonly used in commercial pattern instructions
• The correct process for cutting and assembling garment pieces to professional standards
• Adding details such as patch pockets to finished garments
• Working with ribbing as a finishing element
• Completing hems, creating faced necklines, and other essential finish work

This workshop uses the Merchant and Mills The Tee Shirt pattern, which is designed for woven, non-stretch fabrics. Students will complete one finished garment during class.

Skill Requirements:

• This course is for beginner garment sewers; prior clothing construction experience is not required. However, basic machine-sewing skills are essential.
• Completion of Sewing 101 or equivalent experience is a minimum prerequisite for enrollment in this class.

Materials and Supplies:

Materials for this course are available for purchase at our shop with a 10 percent student discount. Please note that the pattern and all materials are separate from the class registration fee.

For your T-shirt project, you will need:

• The Merchant and Mills The Tee Shirt pattern (available at Brooklyn Craft Co beginning mid-April)
• 1.5 to 2.5 yards of light to medium-weight woven, non-stretch fabric, depending on your size and whether you choose the tee or dress option. We recommend cotton, cotton blends, chambray, or poly-blend gingham. After taking your measurements, consult the size chart on the pattern back to determine the exact yardage needed. Note that pattern sizes differ significantly from standard ready-to-wear sizes.
• Matching all-purpose thread in a color that coordinates with your fabric. Be aware that this pattern features substantial topstitching, making thread color very visible in the finished garment.
• Ribbing measuring 15 to 20 inches of 4-inch-wide stretch knit. We carry neutral ribbing shades available for purchase on class day. If you purchase ribbing elsewhere, the pattern is designed for ribbing that stretches by approximately 50 percent. Test the stretch on a 10-centimeter measurement; if it stretches less than 15 centimeters, cut with a generous 5-centimeter seam allowance and pin, tack, and try on before final stitching.

Pre-washing fabric before construction is always advisable, as many fabrics shrink, particularly those containing cotton or linen. To pre-wash, launder, and dry the fabric exactly as you would the finished garment. If you purchase fabric on class day without time for pre-washing, remember that finished garments must always be washed in cold water and line-dried to prevent shrinkage.