How to Make Your Own Hoodie

Wash your fabrics according to their directions. This will make them easier to work with by relaxing the fibers. Iron the fabric to smooth out any wrinkles which may ruin your project.

Lay your main fabric out, inside up, and place a T-shirt on top of it. Fold the sleeves over top of the shirt and use your ruler to measure an outline on the underlying fabric a 3/4 inch outside the shirt. This will be for seam allowance. Use chalk to mark your measurements and draw a pattern on the fabric. This is the back of your hoodie.

Fold your back piece in half and lay it on top of the main fabric. Using your chalk and ruler, mark out a pattern, adding 1 1/2 inches to the side without the sleeve cut out of it. Make two of these to be the front of your hoodie. Be sure they are even and the same size to ensure they match up when you sew the whole thing together.

Fold the fabric horizontally, right side out. Lay out the T-shirt along the fold, making sure to lay out the sleeve. Measure your arm with the measuring tape to decide how long to make your sleeves. Leave a few inches space if you want to make the ends of the sleeves in the ribbed fabric. Use your ruler to add a 1/2 inch to the bottom for seam allowance. Mark the measurements with chalk and cut out two sleeves this way.

Match the front pieces to the back, pinning them into place and sewing them together along the sides and shoulders. Be sure to pin the fabric wrong-side out so that the right side of the fabric will show when you flip it inside out. Press the seams afterward.

Make a pocket by cutting out whatever size and shape you wish. If you want to line the top of edge of the pocket with the ribbed fabric, measure the top of the pocket. Decide how wide you want the lining on the pocket's edge and draw this out with chalk on the fabric. Cut it out and lay it over the edge, pin and sew into place.

Fold the extra fabric of the front panels inside. This will determine where your zipper and pockets lay. Press the fold with the iron to secure it into place. When you figure out where the fold is going to be, pin the pocket into place. It should overlap the fold a bit for security, then sew it into place.

Measure out a band of your knit fabric about 2 inches wide. Make sure it is a bit smaller than the bottom of your hoodie and pin it into place there. You'll have to stretch the fabric, but this will ensure a snugger fit along the bottom to keep you warm. Sew it into place.

Pin the zipper to the underside of the folds of the front panels. Use your ruler to ensure it is even and flat. Sew each side into place. There may be extra fabric at the top depending on the length of your zipper. This should be folded inward and pressed and will result in a V-neck look.

Turn the fabric for the sleeve so that the wrong side of the fabric is outwards. Match the sides of each sleeve. Pin the sides into place and sew them. Turn each sleeve inside out. Unzip the hoodie and tuck the top of each sleeve inside of your main piece through the armhole. Pin it to the inside of the hoodie, making sure to leave at least a 1/4 of an inch for seam allowance and sew it into place. If you want to make cuffs, simply cut the ribbed fabric to the width you want. Make it slightly smaller than the sleeve. Turn the sleeve inside out and stretch the ribbed fabric to fit. Pin it into place and sew it.

Zip the hoodie closed and lay it flat. There will be a space at the top of it where your head should fit through. Using your measuring tape, measure this space. Take that number and divide it in half. This will be the measurement for the bottom of your hood.

Draw out what ever shape hood you would like on the fabric and the lining. The hood should be made of two halves sewn together to make the completed shape. Keep the bottom of the shapes the proper length. Cut out the pieces. You will have two of the normal fabric and two of the lining.

Pin the hood pieces together, right sides facing, main fabric to main fabric, lining to lining. Sew up along the back to connect them together to make two hoods. Tuck the lining hood into the fabric hood, pin in place and sew them together.

Fold the bottom hem of the hood to about 1/2 inch, press and secure it to the neck of the hoodie. Sew it along the neckline, making sure the right side of the fabric of the hoodie and hood are facing outwards. Check to make sure it is secure and the seam is hidden, then wear.