Expanding Your Horizons: Diy T-Shirt Size Upgrade

Whether you've outgrown your favourite shirt, accidentally shrunk it in the wash, or bought one that's a few sizes too small, there are several ways to make a T-shirt bigger. The best method for you will depend on your skill level with a needle and thread, as well as the type of fabric your T-shirt is made from.

Stretching is a good option for cotton T-shirts, as the fabric will relax and expand when wet. You can do this by hand, or by washing the T-shirt and then stretching it while it is still wet. You can also soak the T-shirt in a solution of water and hair conditioner, or vinegar, and then stretch it.

If you're handy with a sewing machine, you can make a T-shirt bigger by adding side panels or gussets. This involves cutting up the side seams and inserting a strip of fabric.

Stretching a wet shirt

Firstly, it is important to start with a good-quality shirt. It should be made of 100% cotton, as polyester blends have little to no give in the material. While the shirt doesn't have to be expensive, cheaper cotton shirts tend to have a lower thread count, making them more prone to tearing if stretched too hard.

When it comes to sizing, opt for a slightly smaller size than you would usually wear, as you will be stretching the shirt to make it bigger in certain areas. It is a good idea to test this method on an old shirt first, as it may take a few attempts to get the desired fit.

Method 1: Soaking the shirt in water

• Wash the shirt in cold water, either by hand or in a washing machine. Cold water will also prevent the shirt from shrinking further.
• Lay the wet shirt on a flat surface. If you washed the shirt by hand, be sure to wring it out first. Place the shirt on a towel and ensure it is flat and crease-free.
• Stretch the shirt in the areas where you want it to be larger. Wet cotton is surprisingly stretchy, and you may find that the chest area can be stretched by up to 5 cm, while the arms can be stretched by 2-3 cm.
• Leave the shirt on the towel to air dry completely. Once it is dry, try it on to check if it has stretched to your desired size.

Method 2: Using conditioner

• Fill a sink or bathtub with cold water and add 50-60 ml of hair conditioner. If you don't have conditioner, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar instead for a pleasant-smelling garment.
• Soak the shirt in the mixture for about 15 minutes, ensuring that it is kept as flat as possible.
• Drain the water and replace it with fresh cold water. Gently squeeze the shirt in the water to remove the conditioner and let it soak for another 5 minutes. Repeat rinsing and soaking until all the conditioner is removed.
• Roll the shirt in two towels to remove excess water, then lay it on a flat surface.
• Stretch the shirt in the areas that need to be larger. Leave it to dry, and then try it on to check if it has reached your desired size.
• If further stretching is needed, repeat the process. For best results, iron the shirt immediately.

Some additional tips to keep in mind:

• Fabric stretches more easily when it is wet, so you can also try stretching your shirt by hand while it is wet, either in the shower or by soaking it with a spray bottle.
• The weight stretch method involves placing weights or heavy objects on the shirt to stretch it out and keep it in place while it dries.
• If you are stretching a polyester shirt, it is recommended to use the conditioner technique and wear the shirt while it is still damp until it dries.

Using conditioner to stretch a shirt

If your favourite shirt has shrunk, don't give up on it just yet. You can use a simple conditioner hack to revive it and make it bigger. Conditioner relaxes the cotton fibres of the garment, allowing them to be stretched back to their original form.

Here's how to do it:

• Fill a sink or a tub with lukewarm water. Make sure the water is room temperature or cooler, as hot water could further shrink the fabric.
• Add a quarter cup of hair conditioner to the water and stir it well to mix it in. You can also use baby shampoo or vinegar instead of conditioner. Vinegar is a good option for woollen garments as it is a natural fabric softener and provides extra protection against damage.
• Soak the shirt in the water for about 30 minutes. Make sure the shirt is completely submerged and is laid flat in the water to ensure that the fibres are evenly affected.
• Drain the tub and fill it with fresh water. Squeeze the shirt to rinse out the conditioner and then soak it again for another 5 minutes. Repeat this process until all traces of conditioner are gone.
• Place the shirt between two towels to remove excess water. Lay the shirt on a dry towel and then place another towel on top. Roll up the bundle and then unroll and move the shirt to a new, dry towel.
• Stretch the shirt. Place your hands on opposite sides of the shirt and pull gently. Stretch the hemline, collar, shoulders, and sides of the shirt.
• Lay the shirt flat to dry. Place the shirt on a fresh, dry towel and leave it to air dry completely.

Your shirt should now be bigger and ready to wear!

Adding side panels

First, gather your supplies: a shirt that's too small, coordinating fabric (you can cut this from an old sports shirt), a sewing machine, measuring tape, scissors or a rotary cutter, and thread that matches your shirt.

Next, prepare the panels and shirt. Measure the side of your shirt from the bottom hem to the hem of the underarm. Add two inches to this measurement for the hems, and that will be the length of your panels. Decide how much extra you need to add to the sides of the shirt for it to fit you. That will be the width of your panels. Add an extra inch to the width for seams. Cut two panels to the desired length and width from your coordinating fabric. Cut open the sides of your shirt along the side seam from the bottom hem up to the hem of the underarm.

Now, sew the panels to the shirt. You can choose to hem the ends of the panels before sewing them into your shirt, or hem as you sew. Pin your panel to one side edge of your shirt with the right side of the fabric against the right side of the shirt. Fold up the end of the fabric on each end to match the hem of the shirt and the hem of the underarm. Baste stitch the panel to the shirt, sewing 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch from the edge of the fabric. Flip the shirt and baste right sides together on the other edge. Repeat this process for the other side of the shirt. Try on the shirt to check the fit. If it's still too small, take out the panels and cut wider ones. If it's now too big, make your panels thinner and re-sew them.

Finally, once your shirt fits the way you want it to, sew over your basting stitch with a regular-length straight stitch. Sew the bottom hem and underarm hem to match the hem of the shirt. And that's it! You've successfully made your shirt bigger by adding side panels.

Sewing a shirt patch

Sewing a patch onto a shirt is a simple task that can be done by hand or with a sewing machine. It is one of the easiest ways to make a shirt bigger. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to sew a patch onto a shirt:

Preparing the Patch

First, find a patch that you want to sew onto your shirt. If you are covering a hole, the patch should be no more than half an inch larger than the hole. If you are covering a design on the shirt, cut around the design, leaving a 0.5-inch seam allowance.

Positioning the Patch

Decide where you want the patch to go. If you are sewing a patch onto a uniform, there may be specific regulations on where the patches should be placed. If not, you are free to place the patch wherever you like, but be cautious and use your best judgement. You can also put the shirt on and use a safety pin to mark the desired position of the patch.

Securing the Patch

Use a safety pin or straight pin to hold the patch in place. Alternatively, you can use adhesive fabric tape and iron the patch on. If you are using pins, be careful not to sew over them and poke yourself.

Threading the Needle

Choose a thread that matches the colour of the shirt or the edge of the patch. If you are hand-sewing, cut a piece of thread no longer than 18 inches to avoid tangles. Thread the needle and tie a knot at the end. If you are using a sewing machine, place the thread on the bobbin and follow the machine instructions to thread the needle.

Sewing the Patch

If you are hand-sewing, start from the inside of the shirt and push the needle out through the patch. Run the needle back through the uniform about 0.25 inches from where you brought it out. Continue this straight stitch pattern until you have gone all the way around the patch.

If you are using a sewing machine, place the shirt on the machine and sew slowly, especially if you need to rotate the garment. Make sure that you are only sewing the patch onto one layer of the shirt fabric.

Finishing Up

When you have sewn all the way around the patch, tie a knot to secure the thread and cut off any excess.

And that's it! You now know how to sew a patch onto a shirt to make it bigger.

Using paperweights to stretch a shirt

Once you have selected the shirt, wash it by hand or in a washing machine using cold water to prevent further shrinkage. After washing, lay the shirt flat on a towel, ensuring it is wrinkle-free. If you washed the shirt by hand, be sure to wring it out before laying it down.

The next step is to identify the areas you want to stretch. This could be the chest area, sleeves, or any other part of the shirt that needs to be larger. Stretch the fabric gently but firmly, being careful not to overstretch and cause tearing.

Now, grab your paperweights and place them on the edges of the shirt to keep it stretched out and in place. You can also place items inside the shirt, depending on the specific areas you want to target. Leave the shirt to air dry completely, and then remove the paperweights. Try on the shirt to see if it has achieved your desired fit.

If you need to stretch the shirt further, you can repeat the process. Additionally, using a hair conditioner solution during the soaking stage can help enhance the stretching effect. Simply add a couple of tablespoons of hair conditioner to the water before soaking the shirt for 15-20 minutes. Rinse the conditioner out and gently stretch the shirt again before allowing it to air dry.

Frequently asked questions