There are many ways to turn an old T-shirt into a trendy muscle tank top. All you need are a few simple tools, such as a pen or chalk, a sharp pair of scissors, and an iron. First, lay your T-shirt on a flat surface and smooth out any wrinkles with an iron. Then, cut along the armhole seams or further down the shirt sides for a wider armhole muscle tank look. It is important to ensure that the armholes are even when you cut them; you can do this by folding the T-shirt in half lengthwise before cutting. Next, cut off the neckline, widening it as desired. Finally, your tank top is ready to wear!
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Tools | Scissors, Iron, Sewing machine (optional), Chalk or pen |
T-shirt type | Old or new, Fitted (if you want a fitted tank top), Baggy |
Preparation | Wash and dry the T-shirt, Iron out any wrinkles |
Cutting | Cut the sleeves, Cut the neckline, Cut the backside, Cut the hem (for decoration) |
Armholes | Wider armholes for a muscle tank, Fold the T-shirt in half lengthwise to ensure even armholes |
Hemming | Fold cut edges by 1/2 inch, Iron flat, Stitch with a sewing machine or by hand |
What You'll Learn
Cut the sleeves off
To cut the sleeves off a T-shirt when making a muscle tank top, you will need a sharp pair of scissors. It is important to ensure that your cutoff T-shirt sleeves are even, otherwise, your tank top will look lopsided. To make sure your armholes are even when you cut them, fold the T-shirt in half lengthwise.
You can then start cutting from just under the armpits, cutting straight up towards the shoulders. Cut from the mark you've made at the armpit to the mark that is an inch away from the shoulder seam. Repeat this on the other sleeve.
If you want a wider-armed muscle tank look, you can cut further down the shirt sides. You can also cut the hem off your shirt and use it to make ties for the back.
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Cut the neckline
The first step to cutting the neckline is to mark out the cut with a pen or chalk. If you want to cut the neckline to the same width as the original collar, mark an inch away from the collar seam. If you want to widen the neckline, cut further outside of the neckline. It is best to try cutting close to the neckline first and then adjust from there.
When cutting the collar, start from the mark you made an inch away from the collar and cut horizontally to the mark on the other side. If you want a lower neckline, cut further down the shirt. Pull and gently stretch the collar so that the fabric curls up slightly. This will help to hide any imperfections.
If you want a more finished look, you can hem the neckline. To do this, fold the cut edges down by 1/2 inch and secure them with pins. Press the folds flat with an iron. Then, stitch the folded edges down using a sewing machine or by hand.
Once you have cut the neckline, you can move on to cutting the sleeves and the bottom of the shirt to create your muscle tank top.
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Cut the backside
To cut the backside of a T-shirt when turning it into a muscle tank top, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, lay your T-shirt on a flat surface, preferably with the back side facing up. If your T-shirt is wrinkled, it may be helpful to iron it first to make the fabric smooth and easier to cut.
For the next step, you can choose to cut along the armhole seams or further down the shirt sides, depending on whether you want a standard or wide-armed muscle tank look. Fold the T-shirt in half lengthwise to ensure that your armholes are even when you cut them.
Now, you can cut off the neckline. Decide how wide you want your neckline to be and cut around it accordingly. If you are unsure, start by cutting close to the neckline, and then you can always cut wider if needed.
After cutting the neckline, you can move on to cutting the backside of the shirt. Cut along the armhole seams or further down, depending on your preferred style. Make sure to cut evenly on both sides to avoid a lopsided look.
Finally, you can pull and gently stretch the armholes and neckline so that the fabric curls up slightly. This will help to hide any imperfections and create a neat finish.
Your muscle tank top is now ready to wear and show off your hard work!
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Make sure the armholes are even
To make sure the armholes are even when you cut them, you can begin by folding the t-shirt in half lengthwise. This will ensure that the armholes are symmetrical. If you cut the armholes freehand without folding the t-shirt, they may end up uneven.
To fold the t-shirt in half lengthwise, first lay the t-shirt flat on a table. Then, fold it in half, aligning the shoulders and the sides of the shirt. Make sure that the front of the shirt is facing upwards. You can also place pins along the fold to keep the layers of the shirt together and prevent shifting.
Once the shirt is folded and secured with pins, you can proceed to cut the armholes. Use a piece of chalk or a pen to mark the desired width of the armholes on the shirt. Make sure that your markings are even on both sides of the fold. Cut along the markings, and then unfold the shirt to reveal your symmetrical armholes.
If you want to widen the neckline, cut around the neckline or cut outside of it. It is recommended to cut close to the neckline first and then adjust as needed.
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Cut off the hem
To cut off the hem of a T-shirt and turn it into a muscle tank top, you will need a sharp pair of scissors and a pen or chalk. You can also use a ruler to measure the length of the hem.
First, lay your T-shirt on a flat surface. You can iron it to make it smooth, which will make cutting easier. Next, decide how much of the hem you want to cut off. If you want to keep the length of the shirt the same, cut right along the bottom hem, using the stitching as a guide. This will result in a fabric ring that you can cut apart to make a long fabric strand. Alternatively, you can measure a few inches up from the bottom hem and cut across to create a high-low look, with the front of the shirt shorter than the back.
If you want to create a wider-armed muscle tank, you can cut further down the shirt sides. However, it is important to ensure that the armholes are even. To do this, fold the T-shirt in half lengthwise before cutting.
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