Transform Your Old Shirt Into A Stylish Tank Top

how to covert a shirt into a tank top

Tank tops are a great way to repurpose old T-shirts. You can make two types of tank tops: basic tank tops and racerback tank tops. All you need are a pair of scissors, a washable marker or pen, and a tank top or sports bra to use as a template. You can finish the hems with a sewing machine for a neater look, but it's not necessary as T-shirt fabric does not fray.

Characteristics Values
Required items T-shirt, scissors, sewing machine (optional), washable marker or pen (optional), sports bra or racer-back tank top (optional), pins, needle and thread
Preparation Wash and dry the t-shirt, iron out any wrinkles
Cutting Cut the sleeves, cut the collar, cut the front neckline and armholes (optional), cut the back of the shirt into a racerback shape (optional)
Assembly Fold and pin the cut edges, iron the folds, stitch the folded edges, tie knots and wrap fabric to create a racerback (optional)
Finishing Try on the tank top, make any desired adjustments to length or fit

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Cut the sleeves off

The first step to converting a shirt into a tank top is to cut off the sleeves. This will give the shirt a more sleeveless, tank top-like appearance. Here is a step-by-step guide:

  • Lay your T-shirt flat on a table or the ground, smoothing out any wrinkles or creases.
  • Use a ruler or measuring tape to mark two inches from the seam at the neck of the T-shirt on both sides. You can adjust this measurement to your preference, but two inches is a good starting point.
  • Next, mark two inches below the seam of the sleeve, on both sides. This will be your cutting guide for removing the sleeves.
  • Take a pair of scissors and cut along the marks you have made, following the natural curve of the sleeve seam. Cut towards the mark you made at the neck.
  • Repeat this process for the other sleeve, ensuring both cuts are identical.
  • Once both sleeves are cut off, your shirt will start to resemble a tank top.

At this point, you can choose to leave the sleeves as they are or use them to create a racerback design for your tank top. If you want to create a racerback, follow the steps below:

  • Take one of the sleeves you cut off and cut a 0.5"-1" wide strip of fabric from it. Cut this strip to create one straight piece. You may need two pieces, depending on how far down the back you want the racerback to go.
  • Grab the back of your shirt and bunch it together where you want the racerback portion to begin.
  • Tie the fabric strip tightly around the bunched fabric, leaving a longer end to the tie.
  • Begin winding the long piece of fabric downwards, tucking the short end underneath as you go to hide the excess fabric.
  • If you need to add another strip of fabric to continue, tie it to the first strip and keep winding.
  • When you've reached your desired length, tie another knot in the fabric and use your finger to weave and tuck the excess fabric beyond the knot.

And that's it! You've successfully cut off the sleeves and created a racerback design for your new tank top. Feel free to make any other adjustments to the length or fit of the tank top as desired.

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Cut the neckline

To cut the neckline of a T-shirt into a tank top, you can follow these steps:

First, lay your T-shirt flat on a table or surface, ensuring it is smooth and free of wrinkles. If you want to be precise, you can measure and mark the cutting lines with a washable marker or chalk. For a basic tank top, you can use a tank top you already own as a template by placing it over the T-shirt and aligning the shoulders. Pin the tank top to the T-shirt to keep it in place while cutting.

When you are ready, use sharp fabric scissors to cut along the desired neckline shape. You can cut straight across the collar, removing the top portion for an off-the-shoulder look. Alternatively, you can create a curved cut along the collarbone area for a scoop neckline. Just be cautious not to make the cut too deep, as it might cause the T-shirt to lose its shape. Another option is to cut a V-shape at the centre of the neckline, making the neckline as deep or shallow as you like.

If you want a racerback tank top, grab a sports bra with a wide, solid racerback strap, or another racerback tank top, and use it as a stencil. Line up the shoulders of the stencil with the top of your soon-to-be tank top and trace the shape you want. Make sure to only cut through the back side of the shirt, not both layers.

Once you have cut the neckline, you can fold and stitch the edges for a neater finish, or leave them raw if you prefer.

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Cut the backside

To cut the backside of a shirt to make a tank top, you will need to follow a few steps. Firstly, decide how low you want the back to be cut. This will determine how deep the armholes will be.

If you are using a tank top as a template, place it on top of the shirt, ensuring the shoulders are aligned. Pin the tank top to the shirt to keep it from moving, and then cut the armholes, using the template as a guide. You can also cut the front neckline and armholes wider if desired, but remember to leave a seam allowance if you plan on hemming the edges.

If you don't have a tank top to use as a guide, you can still cut the backside by following these steps. First, cut off the sleeves of the shirt. Then, turn the shirt over so that the back is facing you. Cut the back of the armholes, ensuring you only cut the backside of the shirt. Make sure to cut the same amount from each side to maintain symmetry.

For a racerback style, cut the armholes deep, leaving only a few inches of fabric between them. You can also cut a deep V-shape into the back of the shirt, measuring up a few inches from the bottom of the V-shape. This will create a stylish racerback design.

If you want to add a unique touch to your tank top, you can create a "racerback" effect by gathering the fabric at the back. Simply cut a strip of fabric from the sleeves and tie it tightly at the spot where you want the racerback to begin. Begin winding the fabric strip around and down the gathered fabric, tucking in the excess as you go. Secure it with another knot when you've reached your desired length.

Remember to cut the backside of the shirt carefully, ensuring you don't cut through both layers unless you intend to. Always cut the shirt inside out, and don't forget to iron the fabric before cutting to ensure smooth and accurate lines.

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Make the ties for the back

Now for the fun part! You can use the sleeves you cut off earlier to make the ties for the back. Cut a 0.5"–1" wide strip of fabric from one of the sleeves. If you cut it carefully, you'll have a loop—cut that to get one straight piece. Depending on how far down your back you want the ties to go, you may need two pieces, so cut strips from both sleeves, just in case.

Grab the back of your tank top and bunch it together where you'd like the "racerback" portion to begin. Tie your long strip of fabric in a tight knot, holding the bunched fabric together. Leave a longer end to the tie, as you're going to wrap this into the shirt to prevent it from unravelling.

Start wrapping the long piece of fabric "string" around and down the bunched racerback portion of your tank. As you go, tuck the short end of your string underneath, hiding the excess fabric. If you run out of string before you've gone as far down the tank as you'd like, just tie on another piece and keep going!

When you've gone as far down the tank as you'd like, tie another knot in the fabric. Then, use your finger to weave and tuck the excess fabric (beyond the knot) back into your twist. This will help prevent the knot from coming untied or unravelling in the wash.

Adjust and finish

Make any adjustments you want to length or fit now. Bedazzle it, cut off the bottom cuff, whatever you want. It's your tank top, so get creative!

Note: the cuts will get softer with washing, rolling slightly inwards to appear less sharp and harsh. These tank tops only get better with time!

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Use a sewing machine to finish the armholes

If you want to finish the armholes with a rolled hem, cut the sleeves off outside the sleeve seam, leaving about a 1/4-inch seam allowance. This will reinforce the armhole and make it feel like you've added binding to it. If you want a deeper cut, you can do that too. Just make sure to try on the shirt before cutting to ensure it fits well and cut where you want it to be.

Once the sleeves are cut off, fold the fabric edge over the sleeve seam by 1/4 inch, and then fold it over again. Thread your sewing machine with a matching colour thread. Starting at the underarm seam, sew all the way around using a straight stitch, sewing just inside the outer fold to hold it in place. Do this for both armholes.

If the armholes are a little gappy and loose, don't worry. After you hem or add binding, it will pull and be more fitted. You can also add a little gather to the shoulder seam if the shoulders seem too wide. Simply take a needle, double thread it, knot the end, and take two rows of big gathering stitches to gather to your liking. Knot to secure in place.

Alternatively, you can use stretchy knit fabric strips from other upcycled knit clothing to add character to your tank top. First, decide where you want to cut the armholes. Cut them out and try on the tank top to make sure that's where you want them to be. Then, measure the armhole, starting at the shoulder seam and going down to the side seam. Double that measurement and then subtract 1 inch. This will be the length to cut the armhole binding.

Cut 2-inch strips of the stretchy knit fabric on the stretch, to the armhole measurement. Place the strips right sides together and sew the short ends together using a 1/4 to 3/8-inch seam allowance to form a ring. Do this for both strips. Fold the rings in half to find the halfway point and mark with a pin. Do the same with the armholes, finding the halfway point from the side seam and marking it with a pin.

Now you're ready to sew the binding to the tank top. With the shirt wrong side out, line up the binding seam with the side seam and pin in place. Line up the halfway points and pin them in place too. The binding piece will be shorter than the tank top piece, so you will need to stretch the binding slightly as you sew. Take it to the sewing machine and, starting at the underarm seam, sew all the way around using a 3/8-inch seam allowance and a regular straight stitch. Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

Fold the binding over to the wrong side with the seam finger pressed outward and toward the binding. Pin or clip in place all the way around, making sure the seam is enclosed in the binding. On the topside, stitch in the ditch—where the shirt meets the binding. Ease and stretch the fabric slightly as you sew, and backstitch at the end.

There may be excess fabric, but don't worry. It's better to have too much fabric than not enough. Carefully trim the excess fabric close to the seam, being careful not to cut the fabric underneath. And there you have it—a nice, professional-looking finish to your armhole!

Frequently asked questions

Basic tools include a t-shirt, scissors, a washable marker or pen, and a sewing machine (optional).

The first step is to place the tank top over the t-shirt, aligning the shoulders. Then, cut the t-shirt using the tank top's armholes and neckline as a guide.

To make the tank top more durable, you can finish the hems with a sewing machine or by hand. This will create a neater look and reinforce the fabric.

For a creative back style, you can opt for a racerback design. Cut the back of the armholes deeper, leaving a skinny band of fabric between the shoulder blades. You can also add a braided or knotted detail to the racerback for a unique look.

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