Selecting and preparing fabrics - What to look out for

When combining fabrics of different colors, you need to choose ones that will not bleed the dye. I always pre-shrink woven fabrics and wash knits before sewing. I soak my new colored knits in warm water and lightly massage them - this way I know if any of them will bleed the dye. Then I sort them (according to their colors) and put them in the washing machine. I will use the settings that I will use later when washing finished clothes. I only put a small amount of washing powder or gel in the washing machine (no fabric softener) and I usually wash knits at 40°C. I wash the fabrics like this for four main reasons:

You can read more about (not)washing fabrics before sewing here:

It is clear that in large factories that sew clothes for huge retail chains, fabrics are not washed (with some exceptions). It is not possible to simply put the whole roll of fabric into the washing machine and washing individual pieces would increase costs quite a bit. That is why fast fashion clothes often deform, shrink, and bleed colors. You can find more about why T-shirts deform here: Why fast fashion clothes deform (

Recycle - Sew a new T-shirt from an old one

You can reuse materials from old clothes that you no longer wear. T-shirts or leggings sewn from men's T-shirts are a classic. Take a look at how I sewed a T-shirt made of a fabric that came from my husband's old T-shirt here:

Sewing a Shirt: Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

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Are you ready to learn how to sew a shirt? With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be constructing your own custom garments in no time! We’ll go over all the basics of sewing a shirt from scratch and provide tips for working with stretch fabric along the way.

Plus, we’ll show you techniques for attaching collars and cuffs as well as button stands and yokes.

Table Of Contents

• Key Takeaways
• How to Sew a Basic T-Shirt From Scratch
  • Supplies and Materials
  • Choosing the Right Fabric
  • Step-by-Step Instructions for Sewing a T-Shirt
  • Using the Right Stitch for Stretchy Fabrics
  • Selecting the Right Sewing Machine Needle
  • Techniques for Sewing Neckbands
  • Preparing the Collar and Bodice Pieces
  • Attaching the Collar to the Bodice

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  Your actions will help me reaching out more people and helping them learn the ins and outs of refashioning. The ultimate goal: the more we are, the more valuable textiles saved from being wasted!

  Go to the show page here and click “Listen on Apple Podcasts”. In iTunes then select the “Ratings and Reviews” tab à click 5 stars to rate and select “Write a Review”. Make sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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