How to Do Snip & Weave T-shirt Sleeves
Craft challenge contests often include cutting up a simple cotton T-shirt. Without sewing, glue or tape, you can change a T-shirt to look like a tan ktop with a woven backless design. Every part of the T-shirt can change to create multiple looks, including the sleeves. As you cut and weave your sleeve, experiment with weaving in different directions or cutting out the neckline. Work with an old cotton T-shirt or a cheap cotton nylon fabric shirt in case of a mistake.
Instructions
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Pinch your T-shirt's sleeve at the center and crease to the bottom of the sleeve. With a pair of scissors, cut a snip starting at the top of the crease, measure a half an inch and cut another snip. Your cuts should be about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. Continue cutting until you reach the bottom of the sleeve.
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2
Pull on the first strip of fabric starting at the top of the crease. Stretch the strip horizontally until the fabric forms a roll. Cotton and nylon fabric tend to do this because of the stretchy material. Continue stretching all the strips down to the bottom of the sleeve. When finished, you should have five or more strings of fabric connected to your sleeve.
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3
Hold the first string upward with one of your left hand and pick up the second string with your right hand. Move the second string under the first, letting the first string drop from your hand and pull the second string over to the right and over the first string. Hold the second strong in your left hand.
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Pick up the third string and move under the second string with your right hand. Let the second string drop as you pull the third string over. Hold the third string with your left hand. Continue this pattern to weave all of the strings to the bottom.
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Weave the strings a second or third time to make the sleeve tighter. Test the sleeve's tightness by wearing the shirt after weaving each time and looking in the mirror. If you want to keep the shirt on, ask a friend to weave the strings for you. If you don't want a loose string at the bottom or you want to tie a bow, cut the string at the midpoint and tie together.
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Tips & Warnings
Switch up the style of your weaving by cutting the T-shirt from the right sleeve to the left, starting at the top, to make an off-the-shoulder look. Lay the T-shirt upside down and weave from the bottom of the sleeve to the shoulder. This is an inverse style of the traditional T-shirt snip and weave.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
