Achieving A Perfectly Fitted Men's T-Shirt: Easy Customization Tricks

how to make mens t shirt more fitted

Making an oversized men's t-shirt more fitted can be done in a variety of ways, depending on your sewing skills and the tools you have available. Here are some methods to make a men's t-shirt more fitted:

Sewing methods

- Use a sewing machine to sew along the sides of the t-shirt, from the sleeves to the bottom hem, to make it more fitted.

- Cut the sleeves and bottom hem of the t-shirt to shorten them, then sew the edges to create a new hem.

- Cut the sleeves and reshape them to make them more fitted.

- Cut the collar and reshape it to make it more fitted.

No-sew methods

- Soak the t-shirt in hot water, then wash and dry it on a high-temperature setting to shrink the fabric.

- Use safety pins to gather and secure the excess fabric at the back of the t-shirt.

- Use fashion tape, a double-sided adhesive, to control the fit of the t-shirt and hold down flapping pockets or plunging necklines.

- Use shirt clips to cinch in the excess fabric at the back of the t-shirt, creating a more tailored look.

Characteristics Values
Shrinking Soak the shirt in hot water for 30 minutes, then wash the shirt in hot water and dry it on the dryer’s hottest setting.
Tailoring Cut the sleeves and side seams of the shirt, then cut the shirt smaller, leaving a ½ inch extra when cutting the sleeve to size. Sew the sleeve to the shirt and sew up the sides of the shirt.
Adjusting the fit Knot the back of the shirt, use a safety pin, or cut off the lower half of the shirt.

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Shorten the sleeves

Shortening the sleeves of a T-shirt is a great way to improve its fit. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

Firstly, decide how much you want to shorten the sleeves. If you're unsure, it's better to start conservative and cut less than you think you need. You can always cut more later, but you can't add fabric back on!

If you're happy to cut the sleeves without sewing them, simply cut along the sleeve's hem, removing the stitching and the extra length. You can use fabric shears or a decent pair of scissors. Don't worry about being too precise; any imperfections can be hidden by gently stretching the sleeve to curl the unfinished edge. This method works well if you only want to shorten the sleeves by a small amount.

However, if you want to shorten the sleeves by more than an inch or so, or if the sleeves have printing on them that starts at the wrist, you'll need to shorten them from the shoulder. This method involves more steps but will give you a neater finish.

Start by using a seam ripper to rip the seam between the sleeve and the body of the T-shirt. Then, rip the seam on the sleeve about 10 inches down from the armpit so that you can flatten the sleeve.

Next, you need to mark where you will cut and sew the new seam. Measure the desired amount you want to shorten the sleeve from the top of the sleeve at multiple points, and connect these points with a line. You can use tailor's chalk or a fabric pen to draw the line. Mark the middle of the line, which will be the new top of the sleeve.

Cut the sleeve about 1/2 inch above the line you drew. Now, re-sew the side seam on the sleeve with a narrow zigzag stitch. Turn the sleeve inside out and put it through the armhole of the T-shirt, making sure the right sides of the fabric are touching. Line up the seams and the marks you made, and pin the sleeve in place. Sew along your line with a narrow zigzag stitch.

If the sleeve edge is shorter than the edge of the armhole, gently stretch the sleeve as you pin it. There's no need to finish the edges as T-shirt material doesn't fray.

And that's it! You now have a T-shirt with perfectly fitted sleeves.

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Modify the neckline

The neckline of a t-shirt can be modified to make it more fitted without sewing. First, turn the t-shirt inside out and cut along the neckband, removing it. This will also remove the tag. This simple modification will instantly open the neckline while still covering bra straps.

At the crossover point where the shoulder and neck seams meet, cut across the seam. The seams will not unravel. When you have removed the neckband, give the opening a little tug so that the edges curl under.

If you wish for the neckline to be more open, such as a boatneck, scoop, or v-neck, you can cut away slivers at a time, trying on the shirt after each cut. Go slowly and be conservative with your cuts.

If you want a scoop neckline, you can use a tailor's marking pencil, a piece of bar soap, or even crumbly sidewalk chalk to draw a line on the shirt. Imagine you are cutting the thinnest slice of pie, thicker at the crust and getting thinner until it makes a point at the centre. Cut on the outside of your mark so that nothing is left on the t-shirt. Tug the fabric to roll it, then try on the shirt again.

If you want an off-the-shoulder look, it is recommended to first cut another "pie slice" from the back of the shirt, tug the fabric, try on the shirt, and then cut wider into the shoulders if needed.

Before cutting again, tug the fabric more; t-shirts are stretchy without their seams, and you may not need to do anything further to get the desired look. If you are unsure, wash the shirt before going further.

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Shorten the shirt

Shortening a shirt is a great way to make it more fitted. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

Preparation

First, gather your materials. You'll need:

  • A shirt that's too long
  • A pair of fabric scissors
  • A ruler
  • Straight pins
  • A pencil or fabric marker
  • An iron
  • A sewing machine

Step-by-Step Guide to Shortening a Shirt

  • Press your shirt with an iron so that it's smooth and free of wrinkles.
  • Use the ruler to measure and mark the desired length of the shirt. Remember to be conservative with your measurements, as the shirt will roll up slightly after cutting.
  • Place straight pins along the marked line to keep the front and back of the shirt together.
  • Cut the shirt along the marked line, using the ruler as a guide. Make sure to cut the shirt against a flat surface, such as a table.
  • Fold and iron the hem of the shirt. Fold the fabric so that the outside is folded in, creating a neat hem.
  • Sew the hem in place. Use a thread colour that matches the shirt, and sew along the folded edge.

And that's it! You now have a shirt that's the perfect length.

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Make it sleeveless

Making a t-shirt sleeveless is a great way to make it more fitted, especially for the summer months. Here's how to do it:

  • Get an old shirt that fits well: Choose a shirt that has the right fit but you no longer wear. You will cut this shirt to use as a pattern.
  • Remove the sleeves from the pattern shirt: Cut along the seams connecting the sleeves to the shirt. Open the sleeves into a flat piece of cloth by cutting along the seam on the underside of the sleeve.
  • Cut the side seams on the pattern shirt: Cut along the seams on either side of the shirt, leaving the shoulder seam and collar intact.
  • Cut the seams of the shirt you want to make smaller: Remove the sleeves by cutting along the seam. Cut down the side seam of the shirt and open the sleeves into a flat piece of fabric by cutting along the sleeve’s seam.
  • Lay the shirt out flat: Place the shirt on a table and flatten it out. Place the pattern shirt on top of the shirt you want to resize, lining up the neck holes of the two shirts. Pin the pattern shirt to the larger shirt to hold it in place.
  • Cut the shirt smaller: Cut ½ inch outside the edge of the pattern shirt, leaving the extra half inch of fabric to create the new seam. Cut the sleeve to match the size of the pattern sleeve, leaving a ½ inch extra. Cut along the bottom of the shirt to shorten the length if desired.
  • Pin the sleeve to the shirt: Take the flattened sleeves and attach them to the shirt using straight pins. Pin the edge of the sleeve to the front of the shirt with the outer side of the fabric facing the front of the shirt, keeping the sleeve flat.
  • Sew the sleeve to the shirt: Use a serge or zig-zag stitch to connect the sleeve to the shirt. A straight stitch will not work on knit fabrics. Place the shirt and sleeve under the foot of your sewing machine and sew the fabric together.
  • Sew up the sides of the shirt: Fold the shirt to turn it inside out and sew up the side of the shirt, starting at the sleeve and sewing all the way down. Use a sewing machine with thread that matches the colour of the shirt to sew the side seams back together.
  • Sew the bottom hem of the shirt: While the shirt is inside out, fold the bottom of the shirt over 1 inch, so the outside is folded in to create a hem that goes inside the shirt when right side out. Use a sewing machine to create the hem at the bottom of the shirt.
  • Press the seams with an iron: Use an iron to flatten the fabric along each of the new seams you created.
  • Try on your new shirt: Your shirt should now match the fit of your pattern shirt. Save the pattern shirt to resize additional shirts.

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Knot the shirt

Knotting your shirt is a great way to make an ill-fitting shirt look more fitted. Here are some ways to do it:

Tie a knot at the bottom

Create a tighter-fitting shirt by tying the back or front of the shirt into a knot. Pull the fabric together behind your back, twist the bottom of the shirt, and tie a knot. You can also cut off the bottom half of the shirt and tie a knot at the bottom for a sporty half tee.

Tuck in your shirt using the military tuck

The military tuck is a great way to manage excess fabric and give the illusion of a better-fitting shirt. Here's how to do it:

  • Start fully dressed with your shirt untucked.
  • Tuck your shirt in with your trousers undone, tucking it far enough down that there’s no excess material bunched around your waist.
  • If your trousers have a second button or hook in the waistband, do this up to hold your shirt in place.
  • Reach through the fly of your trousers to make sure the shirt is pulled down. It should look reasonably tight around your waist.
  • Next, do your trousers up as normal, doing everything possible to keep your shirt tucked in.
  • Pull your shirt up slightly at the sides so there’s some excess material bunched around your waist.
  • Take these small tabs of your shirt and fold them back on themselves, trapping the excess material. Essentially, you’re trying to put a pleat in the shirt.
  • Finally, tuck these into your waistband so they hold the excess material in place.

Frequently asked questions

If you don't want to sew your t-shirt, you can use safety pins, fashion tape, or shirt clips to make it more fitted.

You can hand-wash your t-shirt in warm water and dry it at a high temperature to purposefully shrink it. You can also use iron-on hemming tape to adjust the hem of your t-shirt.

You can use safety pins, fashion tape, or shirt clips to make your t-shirt tighter around the waist.

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  • Byeon
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