Sewn t-shirt samples from the Learn to Sew Knits + T-Shirts class by Closet Core Patterns in swirl print, cream rib, olive and white.

A complete foundation in sewing knits, no serger required!

Sewing Classes

Learn to Sew Knits + T-Shirts | Online Sewing Class

Name: Learn to Sew Knits + T-Shirts | Online Sewing Class
Brand: Closet Core Patterns
SKU: CLASS-KNITS-1
Price: 69.0 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (21 reviews)

$69.00 USD

Learn to Sew Knits + T-Shirts | Online Sewing Class

$69.00 USD

Knits aren't harder to sew. They're just different — and we're going to teach you why.
This class teaches you the insider fabric knowledge, precise techniques, and sewing machine setup that makes sewing knits a breeze, no serger required.

This class starts with the fundamentals: how knit fabric is actually constructed (and why knits behave differently from wovens, and from each other), how to set up your machine for success, and exactly which technquies to reach for and when. Then we'll sew a complete t-shirt together from start to finish, and you'll learn how to choose the right stitch for the right fabric, and how to nail three neckline finishes: a bound crew, a banded scoop, and a V-neck band, for flawless results every time. You'll walk away with t-shirts you'll want to wear every day, and skills you can apply to future projects.

Best of all? You don't need a serger! Every technique in this class works on a regular sewing machine, and we’ll show you where a serger genuinely helps if you already have one.

With over a decade of teaching sewing to thousands of students online and in sold-out workshops across North America and Europe, Heather Lou has watched exactly where knit sewing goes wrong for home sewists and built this class to save you time and frustration. You'll get her fail-safe methods delivered with the same humor and grounded practicality that runs through all of our classes.

Our teaching philosophy is simple: test before you sew, and focus on progress over perfection. You'll finish this class with a t-shirt you're proud to wear, and the skills and know-how to approach future knit projects with enthusiasm and confidence.

PATTERN INCLUDED

Enrollment includes the Amelie T-Shirt pattern

UNIVERSAL SKILLS

Every technique works on a regular machine

MAKE IT YOUR OWN

Bound crew, banded scoop, or V-neck, and 3 sleeve options

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

How to Understand Knit Fabric

You'll learn how to scope a knit before you buy it, including:

How the four fabric factors - structure, fibre, stretch, and weight - combine to determine how a knit will behave, drape, and sew
The difference between single knits, double knits, and ribbing, and what each is actually good for
How to test stretch percentage and find the Direction of Greatest Stretch (who let the DOGS out)
The needle, thread, and presser foot setup for best results
What types of knits are the easiest to work with
What causes pilling, and how to spot a knit that will hold up over time

SEW KNITS LIKE A PRO — SERGER OPTIONAL

Master the Stitches That Actually Work

You'll learn how to set up your machine and choose the right stitch for every job, including:

How to match a stitch to the task, from seams and hems to topstitching
Zigzag, lightning stitch, and twin needle settings for a domestic machine, and when to use each one
How to feed knit fabric evenly so it doesn't pucker, tunnel, or wave
Serger fundamentals for pro results
Why testing and troubleshooting is the single most important skill you can learn

BRING IT ALL TOGETHER

Construct & Finish Your Amelie T-Shirt

Following along step-by-step, you'll construct a complete t-shirt from start to finish, including:

How to stabilize tricky fabrics
Sewing shoulder seams so they don't stretch out over time
Three complete neckline finishes: a bound crew neck, a banded scoop neck, and a V-neck band
How to cut and sew a knit neckband that lies flat instead of gaping or puckering
A clean, enclosed back-neck finish for a high-end result
Tricks for seaming and setting in sleeves
Hemming a knit without stretching, tunneling, or wavy edges

Preview the Class

Lifetime access ~ Watch anytime ~ Revisit techniques forever

Amelie T-Shirt (XXS-6X)

Designed to Help You Succeed:

Supportive community

24/7 unlimited access

closed captions

transferrable skills

help from our team

Class Curriculum

Section One — Knit Basics
Intro (4 min) - Welcome to the class and an overview of what you'll learn
Lesson 1: Understanding Knit Fabrics (66 min) - Weave structure, fibre composition, stretch, weight, and how to choose the right knit for your project
Lesson 2: Machine + Supplies (33 min) - Needles, thread, presser feet, stabilizers, and what a serger/coverstitch adds if you have one
Lesson 3: Sewing Knits with a Domestic Machine (39 min) - Stitch selection, tension, and feeding technique for professional results without a serger
Lesson 4: Sewing Knits on a Serger + Coverstitch (21 min) - Differential feed, seam allowances, and attaching clear elastic
Lesson 5: Prepping & Cutting (32 min) - Prewashing, pressing, grain, and cutting with the direction of greatest stretch
Section Two — Sewing the Amelie T-Shirt
Intro: Project Overview & View Selection (19 min) - Choosing your view, fabric, and size for the fit you want
Lesson 1: Shoulder Seams (14 min) - Stabilizing and sewing shoulders that hold their shape
Lesson 2: Bound Neckline (Crew Neck) (32 min) - View A construction, start to finish
Lesson 3: Band Neckline (Scoop Neck) (24 min) - View B, including the ratio system for a flat, professional band
Lesson 4: V-Neckline Band (23 min) - View C, shaping and sewing a clean V point
Lesson 5: Finishing the Back Neck (18 min) - A ready-to-wear enclosed finish for all views
Lesson 6: Sleeves, Side Seams (18 min) - Setting in sleeves and sewing continuous side seams
Lesson 7: Hem Finishes (21 min) - Even, professional hems without stretching or tunneling

Total course length: 6 hours, 5 minutes

Meet Your Instructor

Heather Lou is the force behind Closet Core Patterns and Core Fabrics. As a pattern designer and sewing educator, she has been writing and teaching about sewing for over a decade, and has taught thousands of people to sew, both online and in sold-out sewing workshops across North America & Europe. Her work has been featured in Threads, Sew News, Seamwork, Love Sewing and Sewing World magazine.

With her contagiously positive attitude, Heather’s teaching style is fun, approachable, and filled with helpful tips and techniques to help you transform the outfits in your imagination into a self-made wardrobe you love — not one you’re limited to buying off the rack.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm ready to finally get knits right! How do I get started?

Click enroll and you'll be automatically enrolled after checkout. Your login link will be sent by email - check your spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox. Our classes are hosted on a platform called Mighty Networks; you'll need to create a profile there to access your class.

When does this class start and finish?

The class includes on-demand video lessons you can watch anytime, at your own pace. You’ll have lifetime access so you can revisit techniques whenever you need them.

Do I need a serger to take this class?

No. Every technique is taught on a regular sewing machine first. Very basic serger instructions are included as a bonus lesson for anyone who has one or is considering adding one.

If you're new to using a serger, we recommend pairing this class with our Serger + Coverstitch Basics class, which will teach you everything you need to actually use it.

What fabric do I need for this class?

A light to mid-weight knit with at least 30% crosswise stretch. The class teaches you how to evaluate any knit before you buy it, so you're not stuck guessing. Our top picks for knit beginners are 100% cotton jersey, or a cotton spandex blend.

What supplies do I need to get started?

A complete supply list is included in the class. At minimum, you'll need a sewing machine capable of a zigzag stitch, needles designed for knit fabrics, and high-quality thread. We also recommend a walking foot for your domestic machine.

A serger and coverstitch machine are optional, not required.

Can I choose which neckline and sleeve length to sew?

Yes - the Amelie pattern includes three neckline finishes (bound crew, banded scoop, V-neck) and three sleeve lengths (cap, short, long), and the class walks through all of them so you can pick what suits you, or make more than one.

How long does the class take to complete?

It’s completely up to you. The full class includes just over 8 hours of video across 12 lessons, but you don’t need to watch every lesson start to finish. You’re welcome to dip in and out, focusing on the techniques and sections that are most useful to you.

Binge-watch in a weekend, take it slowly over time, or return to specific lessons whenever you need them — there’s no time limit and you can revisit the class as often as you like.

How do I get my pattern? Is it PDF only?

The Amelie T-Shirt pattern is available in PDF format only. It's downloadable immediately after checkout; the file is also saved to your customer account for future downloads.

We offer PDF patterns in the following formats: print-at-home, copy shop, and projector files. Our print-at-home letter/A4 files are "no trim" making them fast and easy to assemble!

Can I use this class with any t-shirt pattern — not just Closet Core?

Absolutely. While your enrollment includes our Amelie tee, all of the techniques you learn apply to any t-shirt pattern you choose — including patterns from other designers.

How long can I access the class?

All day, every day — but yes, for real, this class includes lifetime access. Once you enroll, the class is yours to revisit as often as you like, on any device, with no expiration.

So much content in this class

I have tended to stay away from sewing knits as I was always disappointed in my t shirts. This class has clarified so much I didn't know and given me the confidence to try again. I realised that of all the classic shirts in woven fabrics that I have made, I would really prefer to wear t shirts. Investing in this class is a game changer. I especially like the attitude that you are going to make mistakes and your first t shirts are going to be not too great. But Heather gave me permission to fail or to make slightly dodgy t shirts but to persevere with more knowledge and to improve each time.

Brilliant class

I've really enjoyed this class. Learning how to do a bound neckline was an excellent technique that I'm now going to use a lot. Lots of useful information about fabric choice and the differing effect of various fabrics, even in the same sizes. I've just finished 2 Amelie tops and am starting on a third. The 2nd top was a very challenging fabric, lots of stretch but no recovery. It wouldn't have been wearable expect for the information I gleaned from the class re the importance of stabilisation, which allowed me to figure out how to make the neckline work. Also as a result of this I figured out how to use a double needle, which given a lovely high end finish to necklines. A very worthwhile class. This is the 2rd class I've gotten (how to sew, how to sew trousers) and they have all been excellent. Kudos to Heather Lou and the team !

This is it. Stop searching. You found it.

OK, stop searching endlessly for a book or course that will teach you to sew knits the way a design school would. This is it. No more collecting tiny scraps of useful information from hundreds of different sources, then trying to piece everything together in your mind and hoping it all works. If you want meaty yet manageable instruction for grown-ups, this is it. Heather has now officially “made eye contact” with all of us through her brilliant Gestalt classes and now I vote we make her break down all the confusing, scary, and overwhelming things in life (like seeing with knits) for us. Heather and co…thank you for making these courses. I imagine thousands of hours went into their creation and it definitely shows. You have officially set the standard!

Comprehensive course

I really appreciated how deeply the course went into the different types of fabric and how to adjust your techniques, how to prepare the fabric and how to set up your machine(s) for the best results. I had sewn a few T-shirts before, with varying results, but the Amelie crew neck I have just finished is by far the best. I've now started on the v-neck version. Feeling confident!

Excellent for novice as well as experienced knit sewists!

Like others who have posted, I am experienced with knits, but I still learned SO much from this course. Heather's scholarly yet down-to-earth and friendly teaching style is golden. It was especially helpful to learn about all the different types of knits and be reminded to slow down, find the grain, use a rotary cutter, and most importantly, test the stitch for a professional-looking result. The chart on figuring out neckband/binding length for the stretch of the fabric you are working with is priceless (and really works!).
The class uses the Amelie t-shirt pattern, which is excellent, but you can apply the content to any pattern calling for knit fabrics.
I feel this class would work just as well for a novice sewist, and Heather demonstrates on a regular sewing machine as well as a serger to accommodate everyone. Finally, it is just fun to watch!

Learn to Sew Knits + T-Shirts | Online Sewing Class

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Just starting

I just started cutting out my pattern last night. Looking forward to jumping in to get my best completed before Thanksgiving. So far, I’m loving it.

Soft and cozy - perfect for pjs

Title says it all. This was purchased to make cozy jersy pj bottoms for my whole family, and it was a hit! Too bad it was deadstock, but I'd watch for something similar again for sure.

Soft as a dream!

This crepe is so soft and flowy! My only disappointment is that the selvedge was cut off, so there was a raw edge on all four sides. This made it a bit annoying to prewash as it is very prone to fraying, and it also made establishing grain quite a pain due to characteristics in the weave (due to it being crepe). Given that it is quite shifty and delicate, I was hesitant to play with it too much and end up warping it.

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