Q&A for How to Sew a Shirt

Yes, but it will be more time consuming than if you sew it by machine.

The two sleeve pieces are the same until you sew them onto the shirt. You cut them out from the same shape, so left and right are identical.

No, but it is better if you do, because you want to make sure that it will not shrink afterwards.

Just add more length to the end of the back piece, everything from the armholes up shouldn't change.

The seam allowance is necessary all the way around. The shirt will become uneven if the allowance is on one part and not another.

You can model it off of a shirt that you already own. See Step 10 in "Create the Perfect Pattern" above.

Yes. First, figure out how wide you want the neck band to be. Then, double it and cut it out on a bias, the same length listed in the article. Then, fold it in half and pen it to the neck line with the fold facing out before sewing it down.

You can use any kind of cotton knit fabric, but because ribbing tends to be stretchier and easier to work with, it’s likely that it will work better.

Turn the shirt inside out and use a seam ripper (a pair of small-bladed scissors also works) to remove it from the shirt by ripping out each piece of thread.

Try a stronger kind of thread. Some brands are cheap and don’t work very well with sewing machines or with hand sewing. If you don’t know what kind of thread to get, you can go to a fabric store and ask someone who works there.

No, you do not need to use ribbing and you can use seam binding in its place. For the neckline you can use seam binding that you can buy at stores or create yourself.

For this purpose, use the back stitch. It is stronger than a running stitch as you go back on each stitch and create a long an unbroken line that won't gather or unravel. It's easy to learn; just make sure to keep the stitches even.

If you have done it a lot, it can be done in 2 hours. Or else, it can take a day to make, especially getting the round neck and armhole right.

Yes, it is generally applicable for all shirts of this style and pattern. For other cuts and styles, the basics might match with these instructions; however, the extra details may vary.