Creating A Rouse Side: T-Shirt Style Guide

There are many ways to customise a T-shirt, from cutting and tying the sides to printing your own design. If you want to create a ruched side, you'll need a T-shirt that's too big for you, safety pins, an embroidery needle, and waxed dental floss. First, cut off the sleeves and turn the T-shirt inside out. Pin along your curves until the outline is how you want it, then sew along the pins. Try on the T-shirt and adjust the sewing if anything is weird. Cut off the excess material, then decide how far up you want your gathers to go. Cut a long piece of dental floss, zigzag stitch it onto the extra seam allowance, then thread the floss onto the embroidery needle and tack it down. Pull on the floss to gather the material, then tack it down again. Repeat on the other side, then turn the T-shirt right side out.

Cutting and tying the sides of a shirt

To create a ruched side effect on a T-shirt, you will need a baggy T-shirt, fabric scissors, and a ruler or measuring tape.

Firstly, lay the T-shirt flat on a hard surface and use the ruler or measuring tape to cut 1.5-inch strips every one to two inches up the sides of the shirt. Make sure the cuts are perpendicular to the shirt's side seams and extend about 1.5 inches on either side. Cut as many strips as desired but avoid cutting into the sleeves.

Next, cut the shirt along its seams, up to the highest strip but not higher. Then, cut 1-inch slits every 1 inch down the sides of the shirt, ensuring the front and back are aligned. This will create 1-inch tabs on each side.

Now, take the top two tabs from one side of the shirt and double-knot them together. Work your way down to the bottom of the shirt, repeating this process on both sides. Pull the fabric tight if you want to conceal your skin, or loosen the knots to create gaps.

Finally, adjust the tightness of the knots as needed. Try on the shirt and use a full-length mirror to check the placement of the knots. You can make the gaps between the ties bigger or smaller by adjusting the tightness of the knots.

Knotting the bottom of your shirt

Firstly, you'll need to choose a T-shirt that is oversized or baggy. This is because you'll need plenty of fabric to work with and create the knot. If you want to make the shirt more cropped, fold up the T-shirt in the back. This will shorten the shirt and create a crop top effect in the front.

Next, grab a section of the shirt's fabric in the front. Twist this front section into a spiral, wrapping it around itself until you create a ball-like shape. Then, pull the end piece of fabric through the hole in the middle of the spiral. This will create a basic knot at the bottom of your shirt.

If you want to hide the end piece of fabric that pokes through the knot, there is an optional step you can take. Simply take that fabric and fold it over the entire knot to create a smooth finish.

You can also play around with the placement of the knot. It doesn't always have to be centered – you can tie it to the side or back for a different look. You can also adjust the tightness of the knot to your preference.

If you want to create a double knot, simply repeat the above steps on the other side of the shirt. This will give you a cropped look that's perfect for summer.

Another variation is the pretzel knot, which works well with different types of shirts, including long-sleeved picks. For this knot, grab both sides of your shirt and pull them to the front. Then, create a basic knot by crossing one end of the shirt over the other and inserting it into the loop. Pull both ends in opposite directions to tighten the knot. Tuck in the ends for a cleaner look.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to tying and knotting your T-shirts. So, get creative and experiment with different types of knots and placements to find your favourite looks!

Trimming and knotting for a fitted look

Trimming and knotting are great ways to give your T-shirt a fitted look. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Getting Started

Start with a T-shirt that is significantly too big for you. You can use either a men's or women's T-shirt. For this style, it is best to use a baggy T-shirt, but you can also use a fitted one if you prefer. This technique will give your shirt a boho look and make it more fitted.

Step 2: Cutting the Sleeves (Optional)

If you want, you can cut the sleeves, hem, and/or collar off your T-shirt. This step is optional, but it will give your shirt more character. Be careful not to cut off too much fabric, as it is always easier to cut off more than to add fabric back on. Here are some cutting ideas:

• Cut off the collar to create a rugged look or a scoop neck.
• Cut off the bottom hem if you need the shirt to be longer.
• Cut off the sleeves to make it into a tank top, being sure to cut along the original seam.

Step 3: Cutting the Sides

Now, you will cut the sides of the shirt into a fringe. Place the shirt on a flat surface and smooth out any wrinkles. Use sharp fabric scissors to cut a fringe into each side of the shirt. Make the fringe about 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) wide and 1-2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 cm) deep. Ensure that you are cutting through both layers of fabric.

Step 4: Tying the Fringe

Now, you will tie the front fringe to the back fringe. Starting at the bottom left side of the shirt, tie the first tassel to the matching one on the back. Use a tight double knot for this. Work your way up the shirt until you reach the armpit, then repeat on the back. If the tassels are too short, try tugging on them first. If they are still too short, cut them longer.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

Gently tug on the corners of the shirt to stretch the hem and cause the raw edges to curve inward. You can also seal the cut seams with a drop of fabric glue or a few stitches to prevent them from unravelling. And that's it! You've successfully trimmed and knotted your T-shirt for a fitted look.

Knotting the sides of your shirt at the front

To create a ruche side on a T-shirt, you will need a T-shirt that is significantly too big for you, safety pins, a sewing machine, thread, embroidery needles, and waxed dental floss.

Step 1: Prepare the T-shirt

Remove the sleeves of the T-shirt by cutting them off, including the seams that attach the sleeves to the rest of the shirt. Try on the shirt inside out and use safety pins to pin along your curves until you are happy with the outline. The first pins should be placed on either side of your natural waist, which is the narrowest point of your torso. This will help guide the rest of your pinning and keep the sides even.

Step 2: Sew along the pins

Remove the shirt and fix any lumps or misshapen areas. Sew along the pins, using a long stitch as the material is stretchy. Try on the shirt right-side out to ensure there are no issues. If anything needs adjusting, re-do the seam where necessary.

Step 3: Cut off excess fabric

Once you are happy with the shape of your shirt, cut off the excess fabric inside, leaving some extra seam allowance, which will be needed for the next step.

Step 4: Prepare for ruching

Decide how far up from the bottom you want your gathers to go and place a pin at this point. Cut a long piece of dental floss, about two to three times the length of the section to be ruched.

Step 5: Sew the dental floss

Using your sewing machine, zigzag stitch the dental floss onto the extra seam allowance at the bottom of the shirt. Do not sew into the floss, as it needs to be able to move.

Step 6: Secure the floss

Thread the bottom end of the floss onto an embroidery needle and tack it down with several stitches to ensure it is firmly in place. Then, tie it off.

Step 7: Gather the fabric

Take the top end of the floss and pull on it, working with the fabric to gather it. Gather it as much as you like, then thread the end of the floss onto your needle and tack it down with several stitches. Even out the gathers and begin tacking them, working your way down. Tie off the floss when you are done.

Step 8: Repeat on the other side

Repeat steps 4-7 on the other side of the shirt. Turn the shirt right side out, and you're done!

Knotting the bottom of your shirt on one side

• Start with a plain oversized T-shirt. Look for a T-shirt that is slightly stretchy and has some extra fabric to work with.
• Gather the fabric: Take the T-shirt in your hands and gather a section of the fabric along the bottom hemline, at the front of one of your hips.
• Form the "bunny ears": Separate the fabric into two sections, one section in each hand, and cross the left section over the right one.
• Tie the knot: Pull the left section under and up through the gap formed by your "bunny ears", just like tying a pair of shoelaces.
• Adjust the knot: Pull on both sections of fabric to tighten the knot and adjust it to your desired length.
• Tuck the ends: For a neater look, tuck the ends of the knot under your shirt or into your pants.

You can also try variations of this knot, such as the "ruffled front" knot, by tying the knot higher up on the shirt, or the "belt loop" variation, by feeding the fabric through the belt loop on the side of your pants. Experiment with different placements and tightness of the knot to create different looks!

Frequently asked questions