How-to: Make Crew Sweatshirts to Zip Fronts
- 1). Mark the center of the sweatshirt. Draw a vertical line down the center of the front of the sweatshirt. Use a marking pencil to draw your line. The mark will wash out of the sweatshirt. You can find the pencils at your local fabric store.
- 2). Unzip the zipper fully, so you have two independent sections. Make sure the zipper is longer than the sweatshirt. It's easier to trim a zipper than to perfectly fit a zipper.
- 3). Cut the front of the sweatshirt. Cut down the line you drew, creating an opening from neck to waist.
- 4). Set one side of the zipper in place on the sweatshirt. Fold the cut edge of the shirt inside the shirt and put the zipper in place. Pin the zipper to the shirt, keeping the cut edge folded in, starting at the bottom and moving up the sweatshirt. Allow the excess zipper to hang over the neck of the sweatshirt. Pin the second side of the zipper in place in the same way. Zip the sweatshirt to make sure it zips up properly. Unpin and adjust the zipper up or down, if needed.
- 5). Place your sweatshirt in place on your sewing machine and sew your zippers. Use a top-stitch and sew from the front of your sweatshirt. Make sure the stitches are catching the folded-over section of fabric, sewing a hem in place along your vertical cut. Sew from the bottom to the top on both sections of the zipper. Cut away your excess zipper at the top of your sweatshirt.