Recycle an old t-shirt into a fitted top



How to turn an old t-shirt into a fitted top:


I used to love wearing big baggy t-shirts, and had quite a collection with lots of groovy designs on them!
Now - I really never wear baggy t-shirts. I prefer fitted clothes - and living in tropical Far North Queensland, t-shirts can be a bit too hot!

I've only a few of my t-shirt collection remaining, and they have stayed at the bottom of a drawer in my wardrobe, unworn for years now!

So I decided to try and recycle them into something I could wear!

 I took one of my t-shirts, bought in Japan about 15 years ago, that was very stretched (especially around the neck),  baggy and really unwearable as is:

Here's what to do, if you want to try this yourself!

First take one of your current tops to roughly measure the size you need to cut:


And cut sections from both the front and the back - it's up to you how long you want your new top to be. I like them quite short:

Now this t-shirt was especially thin, so I cut another section to double the layer on the front of the top. (sorry forgot to take a picture of this - but just cut the same width of the front panel - and as long as you can with the piece that is left on the botton of your t-shirt after you cut the main panel)
Here's a picture of all the pieces I cut for the next t-shirt!


Then place your front and back panels - right sides together and pin down the sides.  Add the extra layer for modesty behind the front panel:

Stitch down both sides, then double turn and stitch all the way around the bottom to make a neat hem.


Now you need to make the straps.
Cut two strips from the left-over t-shirt, 4 cm wide and around 30 cm long:
(they are longer in this picture - I ended up cutting them shorter later on)

Then for each strip, fold the edges in to the middle, then in again and stitch:

You should end up with two straps like this:



Now you need to pin your straps to your top.
If you have 2 layers of t-shirt at the front, push the straps between the two layers and fold the raw edges in towards the strap to neaten.
Pin all around and stitch :

Then put it on and wear your new top with pride!



Here's a couple of others I did the same with:




For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.


For lots more (over 100) of my free sewing tutorials go here!



12 comments:

  1. Those are so cute! I heart the lady sumo!!!

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  2. haha i love this!! such a great idea. I have all these old t-shirt that I dont know what to do with...now i do!!! great blog!

    xxoo

    Classic & Bubbly

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  3. that is so cute! I'm going to do that with my shirt that I got from my gym.

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  4. Now that's is really clever and cute!

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  5. You always amaze me with your clever ideas Jill. The tops look great and now they get another life as a much cuter top. :)

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  6. these came too cute!The sumo one is my fav!

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  7. I love what you've done with the different t-shirts. I have a t-shirt that I don't wear anymore & now I know what I can do with it. Well done!

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  8. what a fun project! I'll have to check out some of the other projects you have posted, I'm always looking for ways to repurpose old clothes that don't fit my kids anymore.....

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  9. The Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop became the coolest party on the block because of your participation :) Thank you!

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  10. CUTE! What kind of cutting board do you have?
    Jenny

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  11. I have that same sumo shirt!

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  12. What a great idea- really easy to do too:)

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