T-Shirt Sewing Patterns for Production Runs

The t-shirt is the base of any line that gets printed and resold, and the pattern has to be well resolved at the neckline, armhole and length. The catalog offers basic crew-neck and V-neck t-shirts, oversized, boxy, raglan, cropped and long-sleeve styles. Adults have a range from XS to 4XL and kids from 2 to 18, ready for spreading and cutting in volume.

The Modeltex catalog has 88 t-shirt sewing patterns (41 for women, 26 for men, 15 for girls, 3 for boys, 2 for unisex kids, 1 for unisex adults), all approved with a sewn sample and with the size range available on each product page; the most affordable PDF starts at US$23 with the standard size selection.

T-shirt styles by print and fit

Basic crew-neck t-shirts are the base of the line. Oversized and boxy styles, with a drop shoulder and low armhole, sell on the graphic. Two-tone raglans and athletic styles with panels open up the team line, and cropped and ribbed styles round out women's. Each pattern page shows the style and its sizes.

If you print, decide on the technique before choosing the pattern. For screen printing or vinyl, a plain, wide front works best. For all-over sublimation the fabric is printed before cutting and the pattern has to fit the graphic on each piece; the sublimation guide explains how it is prepared.

T-shirt fabrics and spreading knits

The t-shirt is cut in cotton jersey, cotton with spandex, rib knit or athletic polyester. In every case the knit has to rest relaxed before cutting, because if it is cut under tension it relaxes later and the garment shrinks or twists. Spread without stretching, with the wales aligned to the grainline of the pattern, and cut in low lays.

The ribbed neckband is cut shorter than the opening and stretched as it is sewn, and that is the adjustment that changes most from one fabric to another.

T-shirt production checkpoints

The typical t-shirt fault is a wavy neckline: it is fixed with the proportion of the ribbing and the machine tension, not with another pattern. Check the hem length across sizes in cropped styles, which can come out too short in the small size, and review the armhole on oversized styles, where the dropped sleeve changes the fit. If you cut large runs, ask for the marker in MRK and build the spread from it to reduce waste.

Common fabrics for t-shirts: cotton jersey, cotton with spandex, ribbing, rib knit, athletic polyester.

Available t-shirt sewing patterns

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T-shirt sewing patterns by category

Frequently asked questions about t-shirt sewing patterns

Which t-shirt pattern is best for printing?

For screen printing or vinyl, the basic crew-neck t-shirt or the oversized one with a plain front works best, because they leave a flat, wide area for the print. For all-over sublimation, choose a pattern with few pieces and no seam panels, which makes it easier to fit the graphic. Check the recommended fabrics on the pattern page before launching the batch.

How do I keep the t-shirt neckline from turning out wavy?

Cut the ribbed neckband shorter than the opening and stretch it evenly as you sew, with the knit already rested. If the neckline still opens up, the cause is usually a fabric with poor recovery or a stitch that is too tight, not the pattern. Validate it on a sample in the fabric you will use before cutting the run.

Are there oversized and cropped t-shirt patterns?

Yes. There are oversized crew-neck t-shirts and drop-sleeve styles, boxy, cropped, cropped oversized and ribbed. On oversized and boxy styles, the low armhole and drop shoulder change how the pattern is graded. Depending on the style, the range is women's and men's from XS to 4XL or kids' from 2 to 18.

Guides for producing t-shirts

Related garments

See all garments, the full catalog (more than 2,000 sewing patterns), the PDF A4, plotter and DXF/AAMA formats, or request custom patternmaking.