How to Alter a V-neck Shirt Into a Shrug

Recycling clothes into different forms of clothing is a popular trend. Not only is it green but it allows an unfashionable item to become trendy once again. Taking an old v-neck shirt or sweater and turning it into a modern shrug is a good activity for beginner sewers or to teach students the importance of reusing items. Read on to learn how to alter a v-neck shirt into a shrug.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sweater
• Tailor's dummy
• Chalk
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Needle
• Thread
• Clasp

1. Lay the sweater out on a flat surface or drape on a tailor's dummy. Make sure there are no wrinkles or creases in the fabric.

2. Draw a line from the top of the right shoulder where it meets the collar or the sweater, continue the line all the way down in a curve until just under the arm, and repeat for the other side.

3. Join the two front lines at the back of the sweater by drawing a straight horizontal line between the two edges marked in Step 2.

4. Cut along the chalk line using a sharp pair of sewing scissors. This leaves you with a basic shrug outline of two sleeves connected by a short back, open at the front.

5. Hem the cut edge with needle and thread using a simple line stitch or use a sewing machine set on a zigzag stitch setting. If performed on the sewing machine the stitch will result in a ruffled edge for the shrug.

6. Connect the two front sides of the shrug by sewing a button on one side and making a slit in the corresponding place on the other side or use a decorative hair slide, slid between two-cut slits to hold the shrug in place.

7. Reuse the bottom half of the sweater as a recycled mini skirt by simply hemming the edges.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a tight knit sweater that will hold its shape after cutting.