How to Put a Drawstring in a T-shirt Sleeve

Every coach, mom and little girl involved in outdoor sports, understand the need for easy to wear clothing. One of the easiest ways to adjust an article of clothing is with a drawstring. In fact, a drawstring can be so cute and cool, you may want to add one to all your t-shirts. The great thing about the drawstring featured in this artiticle is, you can let the sleeves back down by untying the bow and pulling down. Read more to learn how put a drawstring in a t-shirt.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• T-shirt
• Bias Tape, 1" wide
• 1/4" satin ribbon
• Thread to match t-shirt
• Safety pin
• Scissors
• Pins
• Iron
• Craft glue

1. Iron the shoulder and sleeve of a t-shirt for a straight line from the neck to the sleeve hem.

2. Turn the t-shirt inside out.

3. Measure a half inch from the t-shirt neckline ribbing to a half inch from the edge of the t-shirt sleeve. Add 1/4 inch.

4. Cut the bias tape.

5. Fold the bias tape in half lengthwise and iron.

6. Start with a half inch below the t-shirt neckline ribbing. Following the t-shirt shoulder seam and ironed crease, pin the bias tape. The long folded edge should be on the left. Turn a quarter inch under, at the end of the bias tape and pin.

7. Start at the neckline end of the bias tape. Stop stitch close to the edge on the right hand side. Stop and back stitch one and a half inches from the t-shirt sleeve edge. Skip a half an inch. Next, top stitch and back stitch until you reach the folded edge of the bias tape end. Turn and sew across the end. Turn and top stitch close to the edge on the opposite side of the bias tape. Mirror the opposite side by skipping the area left unstitched. Stitch to the end of the bias tape at the t-shirt neckline and back stitch the end. Do not stitch the end closed.

8. Measure from the t-shirt sleeve end to the t-shirt neckline. Cut a quarter inch wide ribbon twice as long as this measurement.

9. Fold the ribbon in half and insert a safety pin through the folded end.

10. Insert the safety pin through one of the half inch spaces left unstitched. Thread the safety pin and ribbon drawstring through the bias tape casing until you reach the top open end.

11. Unhook the safety pin and top stitch across the opening, catching the ribbon drawstring in the stitching.

12. Through the openings at the bottom of the t-shirt sleeve, pull one end of the ribbon drawstring through one opening and the other through the opening found on the other side of the tape.

13. Apply a dab of glue to the ends of the ribbon drawstrings to prevent it from unraveling.

14. Gather the ribbon in the casing, along the t-shirt sleeve. Tie a bow.

Tips & Warnings

• Untie the ribbon and pull flat when washing the t-shirt.