Make your own athletic running shirt in any style you like.
A running shirt can differ from a regular, everyday T-shirt only in function; technically, any shirt could become a running shirt. However, due to the nature of the activity, regular clothing often lacks the necessary comfort and flexibility. Running and other athletic clothing is often made from sports materials like Lycra, nylon and mesh, which have high degrees of stretch. You can make your own running shirt, tailored to your tastes, from any of these fabrics.
Instructions
Create the Running Shirt Pattern
1. Find an old T-shirt that you do not mind ruining. The shirt does not have to fit you, but should not be too small for you.
2. Put the T-shirt on your body, or on a dressform that is your size. Draw a vertical line at the center front and center back of the shirt. If you are wearing the shirt yourself, have a friend help you draw on the shirt.
3. Pinch the excess fabric at the side seams and pin it together, moving the sides of the shirt closer to your body. Adjust the pins to get the fit you want. Draw vertical lines beside the pins to mark the new side seam placement.
4. Draw a horizontal line at the level you would like the shirt to end to adjust the length. Also redraw the neckline to suit your preferences.
5. Mark the sleeves to the desired length, or cut them completely off of the shirt for a sleeveless look.
6. Remove the shirt. Cut the shirt at the drawn side seams, the horizontal waistline and the armhole seams. Cut along the new neckline, then cut the sleeves apart at their side seams.
7. Lay the shirt pieces on top of a single layer of your athletic fabric. Pin the pieces to the fabric, then add an extra 1/2 inch to all sides of each piece, using the fabric pencil.
8. Cut along the fabric pencil lines. You should have one front piece, one back piece, and two sleeve pieces.
Sew the Running Shirt Together
9. Pin the front piece to the back piece at the shoulder edges. Sew the shoulder edges together, using a serger or a zigzag stitch on a regular sewing machine. Trim the seam allowances to 1/8 inch.
10. Fold the neckline under 1/2 inch. Sew the neckline down into the inside of the shirt.
11. Pin the armhole edges of the sleeves to the armhole edges of the shirt body, matching the raw edges. Sew 1/2 inch away from the edges.
12. Pin the body of the shirt together at the side seams. Also pin the side seams of the sleeves together. Sew from the sleeve edge to the shirt bottom, 1/2 inch away.
13. Fold the bottom of the shirt and the sleeve edges under 1/2 inch. Sew them in place.
Tags: side seams, running shirt, armhole edges, back piece, clothing often, Draw vertical, fabric pencil