How to Cut Old T-Shirts

No matter how much we may love our wardrobes, sometimes we just need to change things up. A lot of the time, though, buying new clothes isn't an option. So, to get a new look, you have to work with what you have. Often, a pair of scissors and an old T-shirt or two is all that you need.

Things You'll Need

• Washable marker or chalk
• Scissors
• Sewing needle
• Thread
• Sewing machine (optional)

Instructions

1. Examine your T-shirt. If there are places where the cloth is fraying or wearing thin, or if there are already tears in the shirt, you should be aware of them. These things may affect your decisions about where and how to cut it.

2. Decide what sort of cuts you want. For men, cutting off the sleeves of an old T-Shirt is a good way to show off the arms and chest. For women, cutting the shirt to a midriff length or putting slashes across the chest to show off cleavage is a way to add a bit of sexy to an old T-shirt.

3. Mark where you intend to cut using a washable marker or chalk. Your marks should stand out clearly so that there's no confusion as to where you put them. Cuts should be put in areas where the cloth hasn't frayed or thinned. If by cutting out a certain area of the shirt you can eliminate those weak areas entirely, by all means do so if it doesn't alter the style you're trying to achieve.

4. Cut along your marks. If possible, use fabric shears. For cuts directly in the fabric, it's often a better idea to pinch the cloth and then cut, rather than trying to push one end of your scissors through the cloth. Eliminate any hanging fringes.

5. Sew around your cuts, folding over the ragged edges of the cuts, if possible. This is an optional step, but it provides additional strength, and stops cuts from stretching and the cloth from unraveling.