How to Sew Uniform Scrubs

Good, durable and functional clothing is a must for those in the health care profession.  Known as scrubs, or uniform scrubs, these shirt and pant combinations are fairly easy to sew at home. There are hundreds of fabrics available, and you can customize your uniforms to reflect your personality.

1. Search for a scrubs pattern that fits your uniform requirements. All the major pattern companies, such as McCall’s, Simplicity and Butterick, have a version. Each pattern will usually come with 3 or 4 styles to choose from. 


2. Choose fabric, along with matching thread. Follow the guidelines listed on the back of your pattern.


3. Customize the fit of the scrubs uniform if necessary. Measure your bust or chest, waist, hip and shoulder width for the shirt, and waist, hips, crotch depth and leg length for the pants. If customizing, start with the largest measurement first, then scale down other areas as needed.  Keep your shirt and pants pieces separate.


4. Pin pattern pieces to the fabric. Carefully cut out the pieces, following any pattern directions. There should be a 5/8 inch seam allowance around all edges, with a hem allowance of one inch at the bottoms of the shirt's body, sleeves and pants legs.  Transfer any markings to the wrong side of the fabric using a fabric pencil.


5. Pin the shirt--front and back together--at the shoulders, wrong sides together. Stitch next to the seam allowance. Press and trim and finish. 


6. Pin the sleeves to the body and stitch, then press and finish the seam allowances.


7. Stitch the side seams and press and finish the seam allowances. Fold under them allowances on the sleeves and body of the shirt, stitch and press.


8. Pin the center back seam of the two pants pieces together and stitch. Press and finish the allowance.


9. Pin the outsides of the front and back leg pieces together, stitch press and finish the seam allowances.


10. Pin the insides of the legs and stitch almost all the way up, but do not finish the seams. Stitch the center (or fly) piece, and then stitch the rest of the inside seams together. Press and finish all the seams.


11. Add the waistband piece to the trousers. Fold in half and stitch the bottom down, almost all the way around. Push a premeasured length of elastic through the opening, through waistband and out the other side. Stitch the elastic together and sew closed.