A sweatshirt is a long-sleeved knit top finished with ribbing at the neck, cuffs and hem; give it a hood and a front pocket and it becomes a hoodie. It is one of the most worn things you can sew, and a comfortable project once you have made a T-shirt. Sewly drafts the body and sleeves from your chest, shoulders and arm length, then sizes the cuffs and hem band from your wrist and the hem width.
Sweatshirt and hoodie options
- Fit: regular, relaxed (the default) or oversized. Relaxed and oversized move the shoulder seam down the arm for a slouchier look.
- Neck: crew neck with ribbing (default) or a lined hood.
- Kangaroo pocket: off by default.
- Length: cropped, waist, high hip, hip (default) or tunic, plus a length adjustment of up to 25 cm (10 in) either way. The length includes the hem band.
The sleeves are always long and finished with ribbed cuffs.
Sizes for women, men and children
Use your own measurements or a standard size: women's EU 32–54 (US 0–22, UK 4–26), men's XS to 3XL, or children's 2 to 14 years. Your head measurement sizes the hood, so add it to your profile if you are making a hoodie. Our post on sewing for men has more on sizing tees and sweatshirts for men.
Best fabrics for a sweatshirt
Choose a medium-weight knit: French terry, sweatshirt fleece, brushed-back jersey or organic cotton sweat. For the bands, use matching or contrast ribbing, which stretches and springs back better than the main fabric. The pattern asks for a piece of ribbing about 40 × 50 cm (16 × 20 in).
How hard is it to sew?
An advanced beginner project. Sweatshirt knits are stable and easy to handle; the skill is in stretching the bands evenly as you sew them on. Allow 3 to 4 hours for a crew neck, 5 to 6 for a hoodie with a pocket. A regular machine with a stretch needle is enough.
What's in the pattern
- Front and back, each cut on the fold
- Sleeve, cut twice
- Neckband in ribbing, or a hood and a hood lining, each cut as a pair
- Kangaroo pocket, cut on the fold
- Two cuffs and a hem band in ribbing, given as cutting dimensions
Notions: ribbing and a ballpoint or stretch needle. The hood is lined with the main fabric, so both sides look finished when it falls back. The guide gives the fabric quantity for 110, 140 and 150 cm (45, 55 and 60 in) wide fabric, with a cutting layout.
How to sew a sweatshirt or hoodie
- Sew the shoulder seams.
- Assemble the hood and its lining and attach it, or sew on the neckband.
- Topstitch the kangaroo pocket to the front.
- Sew the sleeves in flat, then each side seam in one pass.
- Attach the cuffs and the hem band, stretching the ribbing evenly, and press.
Our project post sew a hoodie with a lined hood shows each stage, including how to keep the hood seam neat at the center front.
Frequently asked questions
How much fabric do I need for a sweatshirt?
A hip-length crew-neck sweatshirt usually needs 1.5 to 2 m (1 5/8 to 2 1/4 yd) of 150 cm (60 in) wide sweatshirt fabric, plus a piece of ribbing. A hoodie adds roughly 0.5 m (5/8 yd) for the lined hood, and oversized fits or larger sizes need more. Sewly computes the exact quantity for your size and fabric width.
Can I make the bands without ribbing?
Ribbing recovers best, which keeps cuffs and hem snug. If your sweatshirt fabric has good stretch and recovery you can cut the bands from it; check that each cuff still slides over your hand before sewing it on.
Is the hood lined?
Yes. The hood and its lining are cut from the same pattern piece, so the inside is as neat as the outside. You can cut the lining from a contrast jersey for a pop of color.
Can I sew a hoodie for a child?
Yes. Choose a children's size from 2 to 14 years or enter the child's measurements, including the head for the hood, and the pattern is drafted to them.
