
There are many ways to make a cut-up t-shirt look great. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Cut the sleeves off to make a tank top or muscle tee.
- Cut the collar off to widen the neckline.
- Cut the bottom hem off to make a crop top.
- Cut slits into the sides or back of the shirt for a tighter fit.
- Cut out shapes, such as a heart, butterfly, or tree of life, on the back of the shirt.
- Add embellishments such as bows, ribbons, or pearls.
- Tie knots at the bottom or sides of the shirt.
- Cut and weave the fabric to create an interesting design.
- Add lace panels or sleeves.
- Dye or bleach the fabric for a unique effect.
- Combine multiple modification techniques for a striking look.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Tools | Sharp scissors, pen or washable chalk, fabric tape measure, fabric glue, needle and thread |
Techniques | Cut the collar, cut the sleeves, cut the bottom hem, cut the sides, cut the back, cut the front, cut the shoulder, cut the armpit, cut the neckline, cut the sides of the neckline, cut the sides of the shirt, cut the shoulder out, cut the sleeves off, cut the hem off the sleeves, cut the bottom hem off, cut the collar off, cut the front collar lower, cut the back of the shirt, cut the front of the shirt, cut the sleeves at an angle, cut the sleeves off at the seam, cut the collar off at the seam, cut the hem shorter, cut the hem along the side seams, cut the collar off at the stitching |
What You'll Learn
Cut out a V-neck
Cutting a V-neck into a T-shirt is a great way to give an old shirt a new look. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Preparation:
Before you start cutting, there are a few things you should do to prepare:
- Make sure you are using a sharp pair of scissors. Fabric scissors are ideal, but hair-cutting scissors can also be used.
- Place your T-shirt on a flat surface, ironing out any wrinkles.
- If you are marking your T-shirt before cutting, use a pen or washable chalk to make light marks.
Cutting the Collar:
First, you will need to cut off the collar of the T-shirt. Use scissors to cut directly underneath the seam of the collar.
Determining the Depth of the V-neck:
Next, you need to decide how deep you want the V-neck to be. One way to do this is to try on the T-shirt and mark the desired depth with a pin. Alternatively, you can use a favourite V-neck shirt as a guide. Fold your T-shirt vertically in half, making sure the back neck seam, side seams, and shoulders line up. Place your V-neck shirt over the folded T-shirt, lining up the seams as much as possible. Mark the point on the T-shirt that corresponds to the V of your V-neck shirt.
Cutting the V-neck:
Now it's time to cut the V-neck! Fold your T-shirt vertically so that the side seams match up, and cut the neckline at a diagonal to create a triangle. Make sure to only cut through the back side of the T-shirt. Cut in a straight line from the marked V point to the high shoulder points.
Final Touches:
Try on your new V-neck T-shirt to see if any further adjustments are needed. Aim for a smooth and even neck opening. If you want to turn your V-neck into a scoop neck, simply round off the V-point and pull the neck opening down a bit.
And that's it! You now have a stylish new V-neck T-shirt.
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Make a crop top
Crop tops are a fun, flirty, and fashionable way to upcycle old T-shirts. They can be made from a variety of shirts, including T-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, and even leggings! Here are some ways to make your own crop top.
Using an old shirt
- Choose a shirt to transform. Crop tops can be made from T-shirts, button-down shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, and more.
- Identify the desired length. Put on the shirt and fold the bottom up to find the desired length. A typical length is a few inches above the belly button, but you can make it shorter or longer if you prefer. Mark the length with a fabric pen or chalk.
- Cut off the bottom of the shirt. Remove the shirt and lay it on a flat surface. Cut straight across the line you drew.
- (Optional) Create ties in the front. If you want to add ties in the front, reserve two triangular strips of fabric in the front of the shirt before cutting the bottom off.
- (Optional) Remove the collar. Cut along the inside of the collar to create a lower neckline.
- (Optional) Remove the sleeves. Cut along the inside of the shoulder seams to remove the sleeves and create a sleeveless crop top.
Sewing a crop top
- Choose a stretchy fabric. Opt for fabrics such as cotton jersey that have some stretch to ensure the crop top is form-fitting and flattering.
- Measure your bust, waist, and upper arms. Take measurements of the circumference of your bust, waist, and upper arms to help create a crop top that fits well.
- Cut out two pieces for the body. Fold your fabric in half and draw a rectangle that is half the width of your bust measurement on one side and half the width of your waist measurement on the other. The rectangles should be the length of the distance between your bust and waist. Cut along the lines.
- Cut out two pieces for the sleeves. Draw a rectangle that is the total width of your arm circumference by the desired length of your sleeves. Cut along the lines to get two equal-sized pieces.
- Sew the body pieces together. Stack the two body pieces so that the wrong side of the fabric is facing out. Sew a zigzag stitch along the edges of the pieces that will be the sides of the crop top.
- Sew the sleeves. Fold each sleeve in half and secure them with a zigzag stitch. Cut the excess threads.
- (Optional) Hem the edges. Most stretch cotton fabric does not require a hem, but you may hem the edges if desired. Fold over the raw edges of the fabric and sew to secure them on the inside of the shirt and sleeves.
- Attach the sleeves. With the body and sleeves turned inside out, match up the corner of one sleeve's inner seam with the top corner of the crop top. Sew a straight stitch in the shape of a square or diamond around the edges where the sleeve and body piece overlap. Repeat on the other side.
No-cut methods
If you don't want to cut your shirt, there are several ways to style it as a crop top without permanently altering it:
- Twist and tie the bottom front of the shirt.
- Use an elastic hair tie to tie up the bottom of the shirt.
- Tuck the shirt into a camisole, bandeau, or tight sports bra.
- Wrap a string around the midsection and tie the ends together in a bow. Pull the shirt up to create a pocket of fabric until the ends of the string are not visible.
- Feed fabric through the front belt loops and tuck the ends into the top edge of your pants. Pull the body of the shirt down for the desired length.
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Create a racerback tank
Step 1: Draw the Racerback Shape
First, grab your old t-shirt and a fabric marker or chalk. Draw a racerback shape onto the t-shirt, either by eye or by trying it on and getting someone to help you.
Step 2: Cut the Shape Out
Next, cut about half an inch beyond the lines you drew, as this extra half-inch is your seam allowance.
Step 3: Pin and Sew the Armholes
Now, fold along your chalk line and pin it in place, hiding the raw edges inside the shirt. Sew along the pinned edge with either a zigzag stitch or a double needle. Repeat this process with the other armhole.
Step 4: Create the Racerback Band
Cut a 4-inch by 5-inch rectangle out of the leftover material from the sleeves. Fold the rectangle in half with the right sides together, so the two shorter sides are lined up along the top. Pin the ends together and sew, then trim the raw edges. Turn the tube right side out, iron it with the seam in the centre, and wrap it around the fabric at the back of the shirt with the seam on the outside. Pin the ends together, sew, and trim the raw edges. Finally, turn the loop right side out so the raw edges and centre seam are hidden inside, then twist the loop so the seam is towards the inside of the shirt.
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Cut out a skull shape
A skull cut-out is a great way to add a grungy/vintage look to your T-shirt. It's a mix of edgy and trendy and will definitely turn heads.
Here's how to do it:
Materials:
- One oversized T-shirt
- Fabric scissors
- Marker
- A piece of paper large enough to cover the back of your T-shirt
Steps:
- Using your marker, draw the outline of the main facial features of a skull on the piece of paper. Don't worry about making it perfect—the messier the stencil, the grungier your final T-shirt will be.
- Draw some creepy snarled teeth and two big empty eye sockets.
- Cut out each shape on the paper with your fabric scissors. Don't worry about cutting inside or outside the lines, and be careful not to cut the negative spaces between shapes.
- Place the stencil over the back of your T-shirt. Put a firm surface, like a piece of cardboard, between the layers of your T-shirt to prevent cutting the front side.
- Position the stencil where you want the design and tape it down to keep it steady.
- Cut out all the areas of the T-shirt that show through your stencil. Again, perfection doesn't matter—the messier the cut, the grungier the look! When cutting out the teeth, pull a small amount of fabric through each hole and snip it.
- Remove the stencil and start stretching out the fabric. Stretch out the eye sockets and pull on the teeth holes, being careful not to rip any of the material between them.
- (Optional) If you want to turn your T-shirt into a tank top, carefully remove the collar and sleeves by cutting along the seams. You can also cut a lower neckline or larger sleeve holes if you like.
Now you have your very own unique skull cut-out T-shirt! Pair it with some dark skinny jeans and combat boots, or wear it as a dress. Wearing a bright tank top underneath will also make your design pop.
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Cut out a heart shape
To cut out a heart shape from your T-shirt and give it a cute, flirty look, follow these steps:
First, turn your T-shirt inside out and lay it on a flat surface. You can use a washable marker to draw half of the heart shape on the back of the T-shirt, with the centre of the heart at the middle of the back of the shirt. Cut through both layers of fabric, following the line of your heart shape. Then, flip the shirt back to the right way and stretch out the fabric around the heart cut-out.
If you want to add some extra flair, you can cut fringes along the edges of the heart shape and dip-dye or bleach the fringes for a unique look. You could also stitch some lace into the heart cut-out for a more intricate design.
For a different spin on the heart cut-out, you could try cutting out a heart shape from the sleeves of your T-shirt instead of the back. This will give your shirt a fun and playful look.
If you're feeling extra creative, you can even cut out multiple heart shapes from your T-shirt to create a pattern. Just make sure to space out your cuts evenly and stretch the fabric after cutting to create a cool, eye-catching design.
With these tips, you'll be well on your way to making a stylish cut-out heart shape in your T-shirt!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a good pair of scissors, a pen or chalk to mark the cutting lines, and a measuring tape.
Stick with cotton T-shirts.
You can cut the sleeves, collar, and hem to make a racerback tank, a shirt with knotted sides, or a crop top. You can also cut the sleeves and collar to make it sleeveless, or cut the sleeves and extend the cut below the armpits for a trendy look.
Practice cutting on old T-shirts you don't care about. It's better to cut too little off than too much.