inside: sew up this girls free tshirt pattern for comfortable shirts your kids can wear all year long. Short and long sleeve options in sizes 2-16 years in a fitted styled tee.
updated 6/2020
The girls free tshirt pattern is all new! I’ve been working my way through old patterns that needed a facelift and here is this weeks post. A girls free t-shirt pattern that has options for long and short sleeves all in the same pattern and is sizes 2 – 16 years. Make sure to check out all my Free sewing patterns here.
Girls free tshirt pattern –
Here are the details! I’ve compared the old and the new for you, in case you have already sewn up the previous version…
1 yard of knit will make all sizes and probably a couple of the smaller sizes. You can use the same fabric for the neck, or a ribbing fabric.
If you like this you should try the girls SWING TEE. It comes in both SHORT SLEEVE and LONG SLEEVE.
Photos of the previous version …
The reason I redid this pattern is I never liked how the shoulder sat… You can see in these two images below that the shoulder on the original were too wide.
Some of the larger sizes fit okay… This is the size 6, on my 7 year old model, but in the end I reworked the whole pattern for a more fitted shirt look.
The all new Fitted Tee
Here are a few more shots of the new shirt… My niece is wearing the larges size {16} I used her chest measurement for upper bust to determine sizing. My daughter is wearing the 4 in width and a size 6 in length.
The long sleeve version…
And the short sleeve version on an older girl. I’m much more pleased with the fit of this shirt now and the same top is used for my free t-shirt dress pattern. It comes in the same sizes and has an added circle or gathered skirt.
How to sew a t-shirt tutorial
Make sure to print at 100% and should look something like this when printed. The place where it says “add neck instructions” here is now the pattern piece for the neck ribbing {ha!} A 3/8 seam allowance is included. Download the pattern using the button here.
Use this size chart to determine the size to make. You can blend heights/widths to make the fit even more perfect if needed. Also feel free to add length. This should hit right between the waist and hip, but if you like it a bit longer feel free to add about 1.5″. I would rather have extra than the shirt be too short for you.
Let’s put it together…. If you’ve sew t-shirts before you can sew as you like…. Here’s how I put my kids shirts together. With RST {right sides together} sew one shoulder seam.
The NEW pattern does not have neckband piece. Cut a band using your favorite technique OR this PERFECT NECKBAND tutorial HERE.
Fold the neck ribbing piece with wrong sides together. Start pinning at the open shoulder and around the entire neck. You will have to stretch the ribbing slightly to fit.
Sew the neck ribbing, then sew the other shoulder seam.
Top-stitch if desired. I use a double needle with woolly nylon thread on the bobbin. This has a great stretch for knit shirts. Open up the shirt and pin the sleeve to the front and back as marked. Work your way towards the center easing the curves. Then sew. Repeat with other side.
Hem the sleeve. Again I use the woolly nylon thread and a double needle. I used a .75″ hem.
With RST match the sleeve hems and the sleeve seam. Sew from sleeve end to bottom of shirt.
Turn up a 1″ hem and sew.
You did it! Please let me know if you have questions and I’d love for you to join the facebook group to show off your creations!! Here’s one more link to go DOWNLOAD THE FREE PATTERN.
Bonnie says
I cannot get your patterns to download. Thank you.
Emily says
All my patterns? Are you able to download others from Craftsy? Im sorry it’s giving you trouble. E-mail me at nap-timecreations@hotmail.com and I will send you the pattern directly…
Denise/DIY Crush says
Oh your little one is so cute, modeling for you!! I’d love to have you come over and link your post up to my craft party which starts at 7pm EST. and is new every Thursday! I also pin every post!
http://www.diy-crush.com/blog/category/link-party/
Quinn Caudill says
So cute. Thanks for sharing with us at #Throwback Thursday. Hope to see you again this week.
Laura Brooks says
Great! My kids are the same size, I’m hoping it’ll fit them! Also, I thought that those are store bought clothes, I still can’t believe it’s DIY. I really wanna try this, I hope I’d have the time as Christmas is fast approaching and I really want to give them something hand made…
Thanks for posting this!
Emily says
YEah! I hope you have success making this! I’d love to see a photo when you finish!
Julie says
Hi!
I really found this t-shirt cute. I like it’s fitted. I sewed two of them for my daughter today. But I had one issue.
I printed the pattern from Craftsy. My printer is set to print at actual size. The test square was perfect.
In Montreal winter is cold so I decided to sew shirt with fleece. And it’s stretchable. I cut my pieces in size two. Then I started by sewing the shoulders. I felt something went wrong. My daughter couldn’t pass her head through the neck. I didn’t know what to do. I decided to cut 3/8″ to the neck. Then I added my ribb.
The wrists were a bit too tight for my taste. Maybe it was the fleece? So I ended up sewing sides and sleeves at 1/4″. No offense I wonder if the pattern could have a default or I made a mistake?
My girl really like her new shirts. They will be warm and soft. I’m please with the job I’ve done. Your pattern looks good, your design is cool.
Thanks for this free pattern!
Have a nice day!
Emily says
Hi! So sorry to hear it didn’t work so well. My guess is that the fleece is stretchy, but not as much as a knit would be. You were smart to make the neck bigger. Could you make the sleeve better by cutting off the tight part and adding a more stretchy cuff of knit fabric? I would suggest you size up for fleece in the future.. Hope this helps, let me know if I can help more.
Julie says
I just unstitched , and sew sleeves at 1/4″. And shirts fit perfectly. I learnt fleece wasn’t the best idea. I was sure a size 2 would be ok because my daughter has a small 18″ chest… But not with this fabric. 😉 I will follow your advice and choose a size up if I use fleece again.
Thank you again!
Have a nice day!
Jarrod says
Great Share!
I would definitely try this lovely way of crafting and creating our own t-shirts for our loving kids. These beautiful dresses make your baby more charming. I loved the design and style given here. Keep sharing more ideas.
Kristen says
Hi! I’m making one for my daughter but there is no “neck instructions” piece on my pdf (there is a size chart where it is on your diagram). I’m guessing the piece is a rectangle so could you let me know how tall the piece should be (size 6) ? I can take a stab at it but I figured might as well as first! Thanks 🙂 (And thanks for such a great free pattern. I may have to make one for myself after!)
Emily Thompson says
Hi! I cut mine 1.5 inches wide x 80% if the neck length. So measure around the neck, then find 80% of that length… sorry for the confusion!
Theresa says
Hi, thank you so much for this free pattern – I’ll be making some for my granddaughter. Just like Kristen (above, October 14) I have no pattern piece for the neckband on my pdf, but a size chart instead! I can probably work it out myself but it would be so great if you could let me know what length I need to cut for size 2T?
Thank you!
Emily Thompson says
Hi! I cut mine 1.5 inches wide x 80% if the neck length. So measure around the neck, then find 80% of that length… sorry for the confusion!
Theresa says
Thanks Emily! I must get cracking with this now, no excuse!
Brandi says
Thanks for the pattern, it was exactly what I needed!
alina says
Thank you :)!!
Elaina says
Thanks for this cute kids t-shirt pattern. I have been experimenting on making clothes for my daughter. She also just got a new hello kitty kids sewing machine and I have been teaching her some of the basics of sewing. Hoping she can help me some on making her a few t-shirts on her kids sewing machine!
Lisa says
Hi how do you know how much you need for neck ribbing? And will this pattern work ok in woven cotton?