Transform Your Basic White Tee With Cut-Out Designs

There are many ways to cut holes in a white t-shirt. You can use scissors, a razor, a cheese grater, or sandpaper. If you want to get creative, you can use a combination of these tools to create different effects.

To get started, you will need a white t-shirt and a pair of sharp scissors. You may also want to use a pen or chalk to mark where you want to cut.

- Cut a deep scoop neck.

- Cut horizontal lines down the side of the shirt and stretch out the thin strips.

- Cut off the sleeves to make it look like a tank top.

- Cut a V-neck.

- Cut off the bottom hem to make it cropped.

- Cut one shoulder off to create an asymmetrical look.

- Cut off the sleeves to make it sleeveless.

- Cut diagonal lines by the armpit to create capped sleeves.

- Cut holes all over the shirt to create a distressed look.

Cut a scoop neck

To cut a scoop neck, lay your shirt on a flat surface. Make a small snip on each shoulder about an inch from the collar. You can also put the shirt on and mark where you want to cut, but an inch works perfectly to keep the shirt on the shoulders. Make a cut down the centre of the front collar, so that you have a midpoint to cut towards to make an even scoop across the front.

When you've finished cutting the front scoop, cut the back of the shirt straight across directly underneath the collar band. Try on your shirt and mark where you want the length to be cut. Lay the shirt back out on a flat surface and begin cutting across the bottom of the shirt where you marked.

You can cut a small curve in the front, and then fold it over to match the other side.

Cut horizontal lines

To cut horizontal lines in a white t-shirt, you can follow these steps:

• Cut a deep scoop neck out of the shirt, starting about an inch outside the neckband.
• Turn the shirt over and fold it in half.
• Snip horizontal lines down half of the shirt all the way down.
• Stretch out the thin strips.
• Cut the other side of the shirt the same way.
• Cut the sleeves off completely so it's more like a tank top.
• Wear the shirt over another tank top and cut more holes if you like.

You can also try the following:

• Cut across where you want the new hem to hit.
• Take one sleeve and cut horizontally, stopping at the shoulder seam.
• Following the same seam but still leaving it on, cut downward until you hit the armpit.
• Flip the sleeve over and continue cutting parallel along the seam until the entire sleeve comes off.
• Repeat on the other side.
• Stretch out any areas you cut to smooth out the edges.

Cut off sleeves

Cutting off the sleeves of a T-shirt is a great way to transform it into a sleeveless top. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you achieve the desired look:

Step 1: Test the Look

Before you start cutting, it's a good idea to test how the sleeveless shirt will look. You can do this by rolling the sleeves up as high as possible or tucking them into the shirt around the seam. Alternatively, you can place sewing pins in the sleeves and try on the shirt to see if you like where they sit on your shoulders. If you're planning on cropping the shirt as well, roll the bottom of the hem up inside to visualise the desired length.

Step 2: Decide on the Cut

There are two main approaches to cutting the sleeves: cutting the seam out with the sleeves or leaving the seam intact. Leaving the seam will result in a smaller armhole and a neater finish, while cutting out the seam will give a more casual, loose look. If you're going for a muscle shirt, cut the seams out. For a baggy T-shirt, keeping the seam is recommended.

Step 3: Mark the Cut

Lay the T-shirt on a flat surface and use chalk or an erasable pen to outline your desired cut. If you're cutting out the seam, mark a line about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in from the seam, curving around the seam and ending at a right angle about 1 inch (2.5 cm) under the sleeve. To keep the seam, make a line about 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) from the outside of the seam. For cap sleeves, mark a line from the bottom of the sleeve straight up, with the top of the line about 2 inches (5.1 cm) out from the seam.

Step 4: Cut the Sleeves

Now it's time to cut! Pull the fabric tight and cut along the marks you made, following the lines as smoothly as possible without stopping. Repeat on the other sleeve, or fold the T-shirt in half before cutting for a more even cut on both sides.

Step 5: Hem the Edges (Optional)

If you want to prevent the sleeves from curling in or fraying, you can hem the edges. Simply fold the edge of the fabric 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) 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.

Step 6: Add Distressed Cuts (Optional)

For a distressed look, cut holes into the fabric with scissors or a box cutter. Make sporadic cuts in the hem and on the front and back of the shirt. For larger holes, pinch the fabric and cut into the fold, then stretch the hole slightly with your fingers to prevent fraying. You can also stick safety pins over the distressed holes for a punk vibe.

Cut a V-neck

To cut a V-neck into a T-shirt, you'll need a crew neck shirt, a ruler or measuring tape, stick pins, a fabric marker, fabric scissors, and a seam ripper. If you want to sew the collar back on, you'll also need thread that matches the colour of your shirt and a sewing machine or needle.

First, measure how deep you want the V-neck to be. You can lay a V-neck shirt that you like over your T-shirt as a guide. Mark the spot where you want the point of the V to go with a pin, then fold the shirt vertically in half, laying it flat on a table so that the shoulders line up. Use a ruler to measure the distance from the point where the collar meets the shoulder seam to the point of the V, and write this measurement down. If you're sewing the existing collar to your shirt, the V has to be no longer than 2 inches (5 cm) from the bottom of the collar. If you don't have another V-neck shirt, simply estimate how deep you want the V-neck to be, erring on the conservative side as you can always make the V deeper later.

Next, fold your T-shirt in half vertically. Lay your T-shirt face down on the table, then fold one side over to the other, so that the front of the collar is now on the outside of the fold. Make sure that the neckline, shoulders, and arms match up exactly, and smooth down all the edges until the shirt is free of wrinkles.

Now, trace the outline of the V-neck with a fabric marker. Make a diagonal line with your ruler, placing it where the shoulder seam meets the collar down to the middle of the chest. Using the measurements you took earlier, mark off the point of the V with a fabric marker, then draw a line between the mark and the point where the shoulder seam meets the collar. Flip the shirt over and repeat this step on the other side.

If you're sewing the collar back on, turn the shirt inside out and remove the stitches around the front collar. Unfold your T-shirt, flip it inside out, and lay it flat on the table with the front side facing you. Using a seam ripper, push the tip of the tool under the stitch sewn between the collar and the shirt at the shoulder seam. Pull the seam ripper up to cut through the thread, continuing until you reach the other shoulder seam. Make sure to leave the collar attached to the back of the shirt.

Now, turn your shirt back to the correct side and smooth it on the table. Unfold your T-shirt and flip it back to the right side out, laying it on your table and pressing it down to remove any wrinkles. Then, fold the front of the collar backwards so that it is away from the front of the shirt. This will help you make a smoother and straighter cut.

Starting on one side of the V-neck outline, use a pair of sharp fabric scissors to cut along the marked line, being careful to only cut through the front side of the shirt. Stop cutting when you reach the point, then repeat on the other side.

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

To get your collar to reach your new neckline, you'll need to stretch it out a little. Tug and pull each side of the collar down to the V point to lengthen it. If your collar doesn’t reach all the way to the point of the V, pull and stretch out each side again. If it still doesn’t stretch all the way, your V might be too deep. You can buy a ribbed fabric that matches your collar from a craft store.

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 1 pin about every 1 inch (2.5 cm). When you get to the point of the V, do the same thing on the other side.

Finally, 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’re sewing by hand, a simple running or back stitch will do. Just stop sewing when you get about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the point of the V. Make sure the thread you use matches the colour of the shirt.

If you don't want to sew the collar back on, simply 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.

Cut a one-shoulder

To cut a one-shoulder style into a white t-shirt, follow these steps:

First, lay your t-shirt out on a flat surface and insert a piece of cardboard between the front and back layers of the shirt. This will prevent you from accidentally cutting through both layers. Using a fabric pencil or chalk, sketch out the shape of the one-shoulder cut you want to create. Consider drawing inspiration from existing clothing items or online images.

Next, carefully cut along the line you drew with a pair of sharp fabric scissors. Take your time and cut in a slow, controlled manner to achieve a clean edge. If you're cutting close to the collar, be especially cautious to avoid cutting the collar seam.

Try on the shirt to check the fit and make any necessary adjustments. If you want a more distressed look, you can use sandpaper or a pumice stone to roughen the edges of the cut. For an even more frayed effect, gently tug on the fabric fibres along the cut edge.

Finally, to prevent the cut edge from fraying excessively in the wash, you can apply a fabric sealant or fabric glue along the edge. Follow the instructions on the product you choose, and be sure to allow adequate drying time before wearing your new one-shoulder t-shirt!

Frequently asked questions