How to Crop a Sweatshirt: 3 Ways

Learn how to crop a sweatshirt that is too long. Shorten a sweater three different ways by cropping, hemming, and resewing the waistband.

I ordered a sweatshirt to make a Christmas inspired top, but the sweatshirt came too long. It’s always frustrating when you buy something, and it doesn’t fit the way you want it too. Luckily, it’s so easy to crop a sweatshirt to make it the right length.

There are different three ways to crop a sweatshirt. You can chop it off and leave it raw, you can cut off the waistband and hem it, or you can cut and resew the waistband higher up on the sweatshirt.

I love wearing a cozy sweatshirt during the winter. It’s my favorite way to stay warm and still look put together. Wearing one with comfy pants is like wearing secret pajamas!

Do you want to learn how to alter your clothing? Try some of these fixes:

• How to shorten a sweater
• How to shorten a sweater from the bottom
• How to shorten sweater sleeves
• How to shorten the sleeves on a bottom up shirt
• Sewing and alterations you can do yourself

How to Crop a Sweatshirt

How to Crop a sweatshirt No Sew

This first way to shorten a sweatshirt is the easiest. It doesn’t require any sewing, it’s easy to get it to the right length, and it still creates a soft edge. I love doing a half-tuck with this version.

First, put the sweatshirt on and measure how much you want it to be shortened. It has to be above the waistband for it to work.

Take a ruler and a marking tool and mark from the bottom how much is going to be cut off. Mark all the way around the bottom of the sweatshirt.

Cut the amount off of the sweatshirt including the waistband.

If you have a sweatshirt with a kangaroo pocket you have to cut below or above the pocket. If you cut below the pocket, you’ll have to resew the bottom of the pocket closed.

You finished and the sweatshirt is ready to wear! The bottom will roll slightly as it gets washed and worn, but the knit fabric will not fray.

How to Hem a Sweatshirt

This second way to shorten a sweatshirt is a clean and simple look. It only requires one line of stitching (the hem), it’s easy to get it to the right length, and it still creates a soft edge while looking finished. I also love doing a half-tuck with this version.

First, put the sweatshirt on and measure how much you want it to be shortened. Minus 5/8 inch from this amount. This new amount must be more than the height of the waistband since you don’t want to cut through the waistband.

Use your found amount to cut up from the bottom (somewhere above the waistband.) Mark this amount all the way around the sweatshirt. Cut along the mark all the way around.

Get some Soft stretch hem tape* to make the hem easy to create.

Apply the hem tape all around the bottom of the sweatshirt with an iron. Let it cool.

Peel the paper backing off of the hem tape.

Fold the hem up on the edge of the hem tape (5/8 inch) and fuse in place with an iron.

Use a twin needle to sew a hem 5/8 inch from the edge. If you don’t have a twin needle you can sew a narrow zigzag stitch instead.

You finished!

How to Shorten a Sweatshirt and Keep the Waistband

This last way to shorten a sweatshirt makes it look like the original. It does require sewing, but I love how it looks like you didn’t change it at all.

First, put the sweatshirt on and measure how much you want it to be shortened.

Carefully cut the waistband off of the bottom of the sweatshirt. Mark from the cut edge up how much you want removed. Mark all the way around the sweatshirt and cut off along the mark.

Divide the bottom of the sweatshirt into four equal sections. Divide the waistband into four equal sections. Match up the sections of the sweatshirt with the sections of the waistband.

Pin the waistband to the right side of the sweatshirt.

Zigzag or serge the three layers together.

Press the waistband down and the seam allowance up. You finished!

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!