Transforming T-Shirts: Diy Racerback Tank Top

Tank tops are a summer staple, and there are two types: basic tank tops and racerback tank tops. If you want to cut a T-shirt into a racerback tank top, you will need a pair of scissors and, optionally, a sewing machine for a neater finish. First, cut the sleeves off your T-shirt, starting from under the armpits and cutting up towards the shoulders. Then, cut off the hem and snip it to create a long strand. Next, cut the back of the armholes into a racerback shape, being careful not to cut the front armholes. Cut a deep V-shape into the back of the shirt, keeping the point of the V between the armholes. Tie the fabric strand you created earlier around the point of the V, gathering the fabric between the armholes. Wrap the strand tightly downwards, then back up towards the top of the shirt, and secure the end. And there you have it – your very own racerback tank top!

Cut off the sleeves

Cutting off the sleeves is the first step in turning a T-shirt into a racerback tank top. This step is quite simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure a clean cut.

First, lay your T-shirt flat on a table or another flat surface. Make sure the seams of the shirt are lined up and smoothed out. You can use a ruler or measuring tape to mark the cutting area if you want to be precise. Mark about two inches from the seam at the neck of the T-shirt on both sides, and also mark two inches below the seam of the sleeve on both sides. If you want a deeper cut that shows more of your rib cage, you can mark lower than two inches.

Now it's time to start cutting! Cut just one sleeve off first, starting at the bottom mark you made under the sleeve. Follow the natural curve of the sleeve seam as you cut towards the mark you made at the neck. Once you've cut one sleeve, fold the T-shirt in half, lining up the neck seams. This will allow you to cut the other sleeve in the same way, ensuring both cuts are identical.

If you want to avoid having any "flappy bits" under your armpits, cut from the top of the seam downwards. Before you reach the end of the seam, continue cutting downward instead of following the curve. This will give you a cleaner look and prevent any extra fabric from getting in the way.

And that's it! You've successfully cut off the sleeves of your T-shirt. Now you can move on to the next step of creating your racerback tank top.

Cut off the hem

To cut off the hem of your t-shirt, start by cutting right along the bottom hem, using the stitching as a guide. You will end up with a large, fabric ring. Cut this ring apart, close to one of the side seams, so that you have a long, fabric strand. You will use this strand to decorate the back of your tank top.

The next step is to cut the back of the armholes into a racerback shape. Make sure the back of the shirt is facing you, then trim the back of the armholes until there are only a few inches of fabric between them. Be careful not to cut the armholes on the front of the shirt. Ensure that you cut the same amount from each side of the shirt. Cut the armholes deep, leaving a few inches between them when you are done.

Now, cut a deep V-shape into the back of your shirt. Find the back centre of the neckline and cut a deep V-shape, keeping the point of the V-shape between the armholes. This will help to keep the fabric from bunching up when you tie it up.

You can now begin to tie the fabric strand you cut from the hem around the back of your tank top. First, find the bottom of the V-shape and measure up a few inches. Take your fabric strand and tie it around this point. The fabric strand should gather the fabric between the two armholes on the back of your shirt.

Wrap the strand around the fabric, moving downward. Try to wrap as tightly as you can so that the fabric between the armholes turns into a "rope". Stop when you reach the bottom of the armholes.

Finally, wrap the strand back towards the top of the shirt and secure the end. You can do this by tucking the end under the wound fabric. For extra security, tie the two ends of the strand together into a tight knot first.

Cut the back of the armholes into a racerback shape

To cut the back of the armholes into a racerback shape, you will need to trim the back of the armholes until there are only a few inches of fabric between them. Make sure you only cut the back of the shirt, and not the front. Racerback shirts have a plain collar in the front. Be careful not to cut the armholes on the front of the shirt. Make sure you cut the same amount from each side of the shirt. Cut the armholes deep—they should be a few inches apart when you are done.

Cut a deep V-shape into the back of the shirt

To cut a deep V-shape into the back of your shirt, first identify the back centre of the neckline. Then, cut a deep V-shape, keeping the point of the V between the armholes. This will help to prevent the fabric from bunching up when you tie it up.

Make sure you only cut the back of the shirt. Racerback tank tops have a plain collar in the front.

If you prefer a plain racerback, you can skip this step and move on to wearing your new racerback tank top.

Tie a knot with the fabric strand at the bottom of the V-shape

To tie a knot with the fabric strand at the bottom of the V-shape, first, find the bottom of the V-shape and measure up a few inches. Take the fabric strand you cut from the hem of the shirt and tie it around that point. The fabric strand should gather the fabric between the two armholes on the back of your shirt.

To do this, start by grabbing the back of the tank and bunching it together at the spot where you'd like the "racerback" portion to begin. Then, tie your long strip of fabric in a tight knot, holding the bunched fabric together. Leave a longer end to the tie, as you will wrap this into the shirt to prevent it from unravelling.

Next, begin winding 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 as you go to hide the excess fabric. If you get to a point where you'd like to continue, but your string is long enough, tie another piece on, 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 it from becoming untied or unravelling in the wash.

Frequently asked questions