Cut And Style Your Band T-Shirt

There are many ways to cut and style a band t-shirt, from a V-neck cut to a one-shoulder cut, a cropped cut, a sleeveless cut, or an overall distressed cut. All you need to get started are sharp scissors and a pen or washable chalk to mark the fabric before cutting.

How to cut a V-neck band t-shirt

There are a few ways to cut a V-neck band T-shirt, depending on whether you want to sew the collar back on or not. Here is a method for each approach.

Sewing the Collar Back On

First, gather your materials: a crew neck shirt, a ruler or measuring tape, stick pins, a fabric marker, fabric scissors, a seam ripper, and thread that matches the colour of your shirt. You will also need a sewing machine or sewing needle.

Next, measure how deep you want the V-neck to be. You can use a V-neck shirt you already own as a guide, marking the desired depth with a pin. Alternatively, eyeball the depth, bearing in mind that it's better to be conservative as you can always make the V deeper later.

Now, unfold your T-shirt and cut along the V-neck outline on the front side. Be very careful to only cut through the front side of the shirt. Then, remove the back of the collar by cutting under the seam.

Lay your T-shirt flat with the front side facing you. Measure the length of the collar and use your fabric marker to place a dot in the middle. Then, cut through the collar at this point.

Stretch each side of the cut collar along the length of your V-neck. Most crew-neck T-shirt collars are made of a ribbed fabric that stretches easily. Just tug and pull each side of the collar down to the V point to lengthen it.

Pin the rough edges of the collar to the rough edges of the V-neck. Hold your shirt as flat and taut as you can. Stretch one side of the collar along the length of the V, placing a pin between the collar and shirt to hold them together. Continue to stretch the collar along the edge of the V, inserting a pin about every 1 inch (2.5 cm). Repeat on the other side.

Sew from the top of the collar to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the V point. Use a sewing machine or a needle and thread to sew about a ¼ inch (0.6 cm) away from the rough edges of the collar and neckline. If you are sewing by hand, a simple running or backstitch will do. Just stop sewing when you get about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the point of the V.

Move the bottom of the collar to the other side of the V-neck, lining it up against the rough edge at the point of the V. Pin the collar into place, then sew the rest of it to the shirt. Sew down the other side of the collar to 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the V point.

Finally, sew the end of the collar to the other collar end on the rough edge. Align the rough edge of the bottom of the collar to the rough edge of the other collar end that you already sewed down. The bottoms of the collar should overlap to create a V point. Sew the collar ends together to finish off your shirt.

No-Sew Option

First, unfold your shirt and cut along the V-neck outline on the front side. Lay your shirt flat on the table with the front facing you. Then, use a pair of fabric scissors to cut down the centre of the collar to the tip of the V point. Cut along the marked diagonal lines, stopping when you reach each shoulder seam. Be very careful to only cut through the front side of the shirt.

Now, remove the back of the collar by cutting under the seam. Place your scissors just under the seam that secures the back of the collar to the back of your shirt. Cut along the curve of the collar to remove it from your shirt.

If you have any jagged edges along your V-neck or around the back collar, clean them up with your scissors. Then, pull on the edges of the V-neck and around the head opening. This stretches the fabric and gets the neckline to roll under, which helps hide any rough edges.

General Tips

Before you start cutting, turn your shirt inside out and lay it on a flat surface. Make sure the front is facing up. Take a pen to mark the middle of the collar or eyeball it, and make a horizontal cut right underneath. Keep cutting until you get to your desired width and everything is symmetrical, then cut vertically down. Next, cut diagonally from the ends of the horizontal cuts to the bottom of the vertical line. If you did everything right, you should end up with a little triangle under your crew collar.

Now, flip the shirt around again so you can see where it hits. Feel free to widen or deepen the hole to your preference. Stretch out the sides you cut so that the fabric smooths out.

How to cut a one-shoulder band t-shirt

To cut a one-shoulder band t-shirt, you will need a pair of sharp scissors, and optionally, a pen or some chalk to help guide your cutting. You can also use a ruler to help you draw straight lines.

Firstly, lay your t-shirt on a flat surface, with the front facing up, and turn it inside out. This will ensure that you don't accidentally cut the back of the shirt, and that your cuts are neat and tidy.

Next, decide which shoulder you want to cut. Start by making a vertical cut, about two inches long, parallel to the collar, through both the front and back fabric. Then, cut diagonally from the end of the vertical cut to the corner of the sleeve, forming a triangle shape. Flip the cut-out shoulder piece over to the back of the shirt, and you will see one uncut piece of fabric by the collar. Trim this part, following the curve of your previous cut, up to where the collar begins, and then cut it off in a triangle shape.

Now, stretch out the fabric to give it a more worn-in, relaxed look. If you want to create an even, cold-shoulder style, simply repeat these steps on the other side. You can also wear a bralette underneath if you want extra coverage, or if the cut is lower than you'd like.

There are many ways to customise your band t-shirts, and cutting them is a great way to give them an edge and make them unique.

How to cut a cropped band t-shirt

To cut a cropped band t-shirt, you will need a pair of sharp scissors, and optionally, a pen or some chalk to help you make marks on the t-shirt before cutting. It is also recommended to practice cutting on some secondhand shirts first to gain confidence.

First, lay your t-shirt on a flat surface, ensuring that it is smoothed out completely. If your t-shirt has bulky sleeves, you can consider cutting them off or shortening them. To do this, simply cut off the trim, or cut horizontally across the sleeve, stopping at the shoulder seam, and then cut downward following the seam until you reach the armpit.

Next, measure out where you want the new hem to sit. Try on the shirt beforehand to get an idea of how short you want it. Use a pen or chalk to mark this point on each side of the shirt, so you know you will be cutting it straight. Now, start cutting on one side, ensuring that you are aligned with your mark on the other side. Once you have cut off the excess fabric, stretch out the new hem with your fingers to give it a more worn-in, distressed look.

You can also turn your shirt into a V-neck style by leaving the trim on the collar and cutting underneath to create a choker effect. Cut horizontally underneath the collar, and then cut vertically down, ensuring that your cuts are symmetrical. Finally, cut diagonally from the ends of the horizontal cuts to the bottom of the vertical line, creating a triangle shape.

How to cut a sleeveless band t-shirt

Planning and Preparation:

Before you begin, decide whether you want to cut the seams of the sleeves or leave them intact. Leaving the seams will give your shirt a sturdier edge and a smaller armhole, whereas cutting them will result in a more casual, halter-top look with a larger armhole. If you're planning on cutting the seams, mark a line about an inch from the seam with chalk or an erasable pen. If you want to keep the seams, make your line about a quarter of an inch from the outside of the seam.

Cutting the Sleeves:

Lay your band t-shirt on a flat surface with the front side facing up, and ensure it is smoothed out completely. Roll the sleeves inside to test how the sleeveless look will appear, or use sewing pins to hold the sleeves in place and try on the shirt.

Once you're happy with how it looks, cut along the marks you made, pulling the fabric taut to ensure a clean cut. You can also fold the shirt in half before cutting to ensure a more even cut on both sides.

Creating a Distressed Look (Optional):

If you want to give your band t-shirt a distressed look, cut holes into the fabric with scissors or a box cutter. Make small, sporadic cuts in the hem and on the front and back of your shirt, or create slightly larger holes by pinching the fabric and cutting into the fold. Stretch the holes a little with your fingers to prevent fraying.

Hemming (Optional):

If you want to prevent the edges of your shirt from curling in or fraying, fold the edge of the fabric about a quarter of an inch inside the sleeve and pin it down. Then, sew two straight lines next to each other around the ends of both sleeves to attach the hem. You can do this by hand or with a sewing machine.

Reusing the Leftover Fabric:

The leftover fabric from the sleeves can be used for various purposes. You can cut them into squares and use them for quilts or other sewing projects, or turn them into headbands, rags, or even mini handbags!

How to cut a distressed band t-shirt

To cut a distressed band t-shirt, you will need a pair of sharp scissors, and optionally, a pen or washable chalk to mark the fabric. It is recommended to start with some secondhand shirts to build your confidence before cutting up your actual clothes.

First, lay the shirt on a flat surface, ensuring that it is smoothed out completely. Then, decide where you want the distressing to be and use your pen or chalk to mark the fabric lightly. You can add distressing to the neckline, sides, and/or bottom of the shirt.

Next, use your scissors to cut diagonal lines under the armpits of the sleeves to create capped sleeves. Ensure you cut through both the front and back of the fabric. Remove the cut pieces and line them up with the other sleeve to ensure symmetry before cutting the other side.

Now, you can start making cuts to create the distressed look. Cut lines of any length where you want the distressing to appear. After cutting, stretch the fabric with your fingers to widen the cuts and create holes. For a more worn-in effect, you can also stretch out the sides, neckline, and hem of the shirt.

Finally, if you want to crop the shirt, lay it flat again and decide where you want the new hem to hit. Mark this spot with a pen and then cut the shirt straight across. Stretch out the new hem with your fingers for a more distressed look.

Frequently asked questions