Transforming Oversized T-Shirts: Creative Ways To Resize And Refashion

There are many ways to fix a big T-shirt. If you have basic sewing knowledge and experience using a sewing machine, you can restructure your T-shirt by cutting it down to size using another T-shirt as a guide. If you don't want to sew, you can use hem tape, safety pins, or knotting techniques to resize your T-shirt. You can also soak and wash the T-shirt in hot water and dry it on high heat to shrink the fabric.

Cutting and sewing

If you're handy with a needle and thread, you can resize a T-shirt by cutting it and sewing it to your desired shape. Here are some ideas for how to do this:

• Take in the sides: Cut the sleeves and side seams of the T-shirt, then cut 1/2 inch outside the edge of a well-fitting shirt that you're using as a pattern. Cut the sleeves to match the size of the pattern sleeves, then pin the sleeves to the shirt and sew them in place. Sew up the sides of the shirt, then sew a new hem at the bottom.
• Shorten the sleeves: Cut the sleeves off about 1 inch below the armpit, then cut the sleeve's hem, removing the stitching. Tug the sleeve gently to curl the edge.
• Shorten the shirt: Cut off the bottom hem, then cut the shirt to your desired length. Sew a new hem at the bottom.
• Make it sleeveless: Cut the sleeves off at the seam, then sew up the armholes.
• Change the neckline: Cut the collar off at the seam, then cut the front of the collar lower to create a scoop neck, or cut towards one shoulder to create an off-the-shoulder look.
• Create a knotted shirt: Cut off the collar, then cut the bottom hem off. Measure your waist and cut the sides of the shirt from shoulder to hem, curving the line inward to create the new width. Cut evenly-spaced slits into the side of the shirt, then tie the strands in the front of the shirt to the strands in the back. Trim the tassels if you tied them inside the shirt.

Using heat

Step 1: Prepare a Container of Boiling Water

Fill two-thirds of a container with boiling water. Place the T-shirt in the water and soak for half an hour.

Step 2: Wash the T-shirt in Hot Water

Set your washing machine to the highest heat setting and wash the T-shirt on a regular cycle.

Step 3: Dry the T-shirt on High Heat

Place the T-shirt in the dryer and dry it on the hottest setting. The heat will cause the T-shirt to shrink.

Tips:

• Cotton usually shrinks by 20% on the first hot water wash, while wool fabrics are more unpredictable.
• Heat will shrink synthetic blend fabrics more than pre-shrunk natural fibre clothing.
• Wool fabrics will felt in the dryer, causing the fabric to bunch up and shrink as individual fibres rub against each other and stick together.

Sewing tucks

Tucks are a great way to add a high-end design element to a garment. They are usually sewn vertically and parallel, close together, in the chest area of a blouse or a festive men’s shirt. Tucks can also be used on the sleeves and waist to skilfully accentuate the silhouette.

Tucks are made by straight stitching a fold of fabric. They are similar to pleats, but the difference is that the folds of fabric in tucks are stitched together. Once sewn, tucks are ironed and stay-stitched horizontally in a specific direction according to the design.

• Before you start sewing, mark the tuck lines onto the right side of the fabric. You can use a sharp chalk pencil to do this.
• Fold along the middle ("fold line") of each tuck, bringing the wrong sides of the fabric together. Press along the fold with an iron.
• Pin directly along the stitching lines, making sure that the pins are exactly aligned with the marking lines on both sides of the fabric.
• Sew along the stitching line, taking your time to keep the line as straight as possible. Use the lines you drew on the fabric as well as the seam guide on your sewing machine to help you.
• Once you've pinned and stitched all the tucks, press them with an iron. If you are making a blouse, press the bodice tucks towards the bodice side seams, on both the right and wrong sides of the fabric.
• Staystitch across the top of each section of darts, about 10mm (3/8in) from the raw edge. This will help keep them in place when you sew the seams so they don't fold back the wrong way.

And that's it! You've sewn beautiful tucks that will make your garment unique.

Using hem tape

Hem tape is a quick and easy way to fix a big T-shirt without sewing. It is a double-sided thin strip of webbing with heat-activated glue. Hem tape is permanent and designed to be washed, so it is a great alternative to sewing.

Step 1: Preparation

• Prewash your T-shirt to ensure it is ready to accept the hemming tape. Avoid using fabric softener as it may affect the bonding glue.
• If you are shortening your T-shirt, measure the desired length and add at least 1 ¼ inch (3 cm) for the seam allowance. Most hemming tapes are 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
• You can finish the edge with a zig-zag stitch or use pinking shears to cut the edge in a zig-zag pattern to reduce fraying. However, if you don't have a sewing machine, don't worry, as the hemming tape will seal the fabric edges and minimise fraying.

Step 2: Cutting the Hemming Tape

• Cut the hemming tape to the length of the fabric that needs hemming.
• Press the hem area and insert the tape between the hem and the wrong side of the T-shirt. Make sure the tape is not sticking out.
• Press the hem according to the instructions on the hemming tape and your fabric type. Use a pressing cloth if your fabric is delicate.

Step 3: Applying the Hemming Tape

• Practice on a scrap piece of fabric to get the correct iron temperature and to ensure the fabric, tape insertion and technique are all correct.
• Press down firmly with the iron and hold for a few seconds before releasing. Do not iron back and forth, use a press and release motion.
• Be careful not to expose the hemming web to the iron, as it will stick and the glue is difficult to remove.
• When you are confident, start applying the tape to your T-shirt in stages, keeping the tape smooth and ensuring there are no wrinkles or tucks.
• Gently iron both sides of the hem.

Step 4: Finalising the Hem

• Allow the fabric to cool and check that the hemming tape has set. If the hem peels away, the iron was not hot enough.
• If you make a mistake, you may be able to pull the tape apart and use fabric cleaner to remove the glue. However, hemming web is designed to be permanent, so it may be difficult to remove.
• Once you are happy with the hem, your T-shirt is ready to wear!

Cutting and knotting

Step 1: Get the Right T-shirt

Choose a T-shirt that is a few sizes too big for you. It should fit well on your shoulders but be loose around your waist and hips. The length of the T-shirt doesn't matter as you will be cutting it.

Step 2: Prepare the T-shirt

Lay the T-shirt on a flat surface, ensuring it is perfectly flat and the side seams are aligned. You may want to turn the T-shirt inside out. Take another T-shirt that fits you well and lay it on top of the larger T-shirt, making sure the neckline is straight and the sleeves are aligned.

Step 3: Cut the Collar

If you want a larger collar, cut through both layers of fabric, using the front collar's seam as a guide. For a smaller collar, cut all the way around the collar from the left shoulder to the right, then back to the left again. You can also cut the collar off at the stitching, starting from the front-left side and working your way to the right side and then the back.

Step 4: Cut the Sleeves and Sides

Cut the sleeves off, starting at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the armpit. Finish cutting at the shoulder seam where the sleeve connects to the shirt. Do the same for the other sleeve.

Now, decide how tight you want the shirt to be. Measure your waist and divide that number by 2, then add 3 inches (7.6 cm) to get the width of your new shirt. Mark this measurement on your T-shirt at waist level, making sure it is centred.

Cut the sides of the shirt from the bottom corner of the hem to the shoulder seam, curving the line inward so that it touches the mark you made. You can also cut the sides longer for a more revealing look. Create evenly spaced slits from the hem to the armpit, about 1/2 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) wide. Make them longer if you want a tighter fit.

Step 5: Knot the Strands

Tie the strands at the front of the shirt to the strands at the back, either inside or outside the shirt, depending on whether you want the tassels to be visible or not. Trim the tassels if you tied them inside the shirt.

And there you have it! Your own custom-made knotted T-shirt. Feel free to play around with the placement of the knots and the tightness of the tassels to create different looks.

Frequently asked questions