How to Make a Shirt Where the Sides Are Tied

Transforming clothes you already have in your closet will reduce your wardrobe budget and allow you to create one-of-a-kind garments. Promotional T-shirts are one of those items that seem to accumulate and are often quite large. They come in handy as pajamas or lounge wear, but if you would actually like to wear them out of the house, you may want to alter them. Make a shirt where the sides are tied to create a form-fitting tank top.

• 1

  Lay a large T-shirt on your work table with the front side facing up. Smooth it out to eliminate any wrinkles or folds. Place a tank top on top of the T-shirt. Center the tank top body between the side edges of the T-shirt. Match the shoulder seams of both shirts.

• 2

  Cut off the hem of the T-shirt, just above the stitching.

• 3

  Cut off the sleeves of the T-shirt and cut the new armholes using the tank top armholes as a guide. Cut through the front and back thicknesses of the T-shirt at one time.

• 4

  Cut the neckline of the T-shirt using the tank top neckline as a guide. Note: The neckline on the back of the tank is usually higher than the neckline on the front. Slip the T-shirt inside the tank top. Line up the armholes of both shirts to center them. Cut the T-shirt neckline through one layer of the T-shirt at a time. The cut edges of the T-shirt are done. Jersey fabric does not ravel and will not require sewing.

• 5

  Lay the T-shirt on your work table and center the tank top on top. Cut the side edges of the T-shirt from the bottom edge to the armhole to open the side edges. Most T-shirts do not have side seams; if your shirt does, cut off the seams to open the side edges.

• 6

  Rotate the shirts with the side edges running horizontally. Working on the shirt's side edge closest to you, cut 1/2-inch-wide slits from the edge of the shirt to the edge of the tank top. Cut through both thicknesses of the shirt to create a pair of slits with each cut. Rotate the shirt with the other side edge of the shirt running horizontal and closest to you. Cut 1/2-inch wide slits on this edge in the same way.

• 7

  Tie each pair of slits into a knot. This will make the tied side seams and create a fringe on the shirt.