How to Make a Men's Pullover
- 1). Choose a knit fabric for the pullover and a pattern for a pullover. Check the amount of stretch that the fabric has. Some patterns have stretch guides printed on the envelope that you can use to see if the knit is suitable for the pattern. Pullovers have simple necklines and collars and the knit has to have enough stretch go over the head. Sewing patterns have a list of the materials you need to sew items on the back. The pattern may call for ribbing. If it does, match the ribbing to the fabric as best you can.
- 2). Lay the fabric on a work surface and place the pattern pieces as the guide sheet recommends. Pin the pieces as you go. Cut the pattern parts out with the scissors. Remove the pins and fold up the pattern pieces, putting them back in the pattern's envelope.
- 3). Sew the front and back shoulder seams together with the sewing machine, using a narrow zigzag stitch. Knit fabrics stretch when worn and a narrow zigzag stitch has more give than a straight stitch.
- 4). Sew the neckband together, turn it inside out and fit it to the collar of the pullover, matching the notches. Verify that the right side of the collar and the right side of the shirt are facing each other. You need to stretch the neck to get it to fit the neckline. Pin the neckband to the shirt and sew it down, using the zigzag setting as you did for the shoulder seams. Since the neckline stretches each time someone puts it on and takes it off, it's a good idea to sew the seam twice to avoid pulled-out stitches.
- 5). Set up the ironing board and turn the iron on to the setting appropriate for the fabric. Turn a 3/8 inch hem toward the wrong side of the fabric at the bottom of both sleeves and press it down. Sew the sleeves to the shirt, matching the notches.
- 6). Turn the pullover inside out, and match the notches for the front, back, and sleeve seams. Pin them as you go. Sew the seams down using the zigzag stitch. Place the bottom of the pullover on the ironing board, right side down, and turn a 3/8 inch hem over and press it down. Make another hem about an inch wide and press that down. Make the final hem for the sleeve hems the same way. Sew the hems down using a straight stitch on the sewing machine. If your pullover requires ribbed cuffs, sew the cuffs just as you did the collar, described in step 4. Trim any loose thread. Press the pullover.