
All levels
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2 hours 3 min
01:00
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06:46
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28:30
|
15:08
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15:32
|
06:35
|
21:29
|
07:55
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08:24
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12:22
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Learn to stitch a shirt, sew seams, finish necklines and hem edges with just your hands, a needle, and thread. Hand-sewing clothing might seem like a wild idea, but you might actually save time since you can take your project on-the-go without being tethered to your sewing machine. Clothing designer and author Cal Patch teaches you four basic stitches, four kinds of seaming techniques, and four ways to finish edges including applying bias tape. You'll sew one sampler shirt that includes every technique or pick and choose your favorites. This class is perfect for people who may feel intimidated by the sewing machine but are curious about stitching their own garments. Take your slow-fashion wardrobe to the next level.
Learn how to:
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Fabric in light-to-medium weight woven cotton, linen or blend, in quantity as indicated for your size on pattern
- Front and back pieces of your pattern cut out
- Bias tape, 1 yard of ½” single-fold
- Thread including all-purpose, topstitching, or buttonhole threads, or Perle Cotton size 8
- Hand-sewing needles
- Pins
- Scissors
- Marking tool (chalk, wax or pencil) and ruler
- Thimble (optional)
- Needle grabber (optional)
- Beeswax (optional)
- Fat quarter or approximately 12-18” square fabric for stitching sampler
- Please use one of the following patterns:
- Cal's Creativebug Boxy Tee
- Lou Box Top
- Fen Top
- All Well Box Top
- Maya Top
- Shirt No. 1
Downloads:
- Sew a simple shirt by hand
- Sew the running stitch, back stitch, whip stitch, and combination stitch
- Construct a shirt with a French seam, mock French seam, flat-felled seam, and clean finish
- Finish edges with a bias tape facing, mini blind hem, rolled hem, and Cal's hidden hem
- Make hand-stitching easier using a thimble, needle grabber, and beeswax







Member Gallery
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Hand Sew A Shirt Reviews
105 users recommended this class to a friend
Julie R
Cal makes all the hard parts of sewing look so effortless, and at the end you have a shirt you made by hand. So fun! No sewing machine required.
12 hours ago
Vanessa Garcia
I absolutely loved this class, it was easy to follow directions, this is the first time I have felt that I will actually be able to sew myself an article of clothing and im very excited, thank you for this class. Cal has such a calm voice, I can listen to her talk for hours!
March 7, 2025
Jaime H
Watch out with this class- influenced me to buy a sewing machine and start sewing garments for myself!
February 17, 2025