How to Cut a T-Shirt Into a Tube Top

Cut and sew a simple tube top from an old T-shirt and stretch your wardrobe dollars. They are fast to make and can easily be created by someone new to sewing. It looks cute on its own, or it can also be paired with a jacket or blouse that will stretch the possibilities. This T-shirt tube top pattern uses two same-size recycled T-shirts to give it a lining and to also make it reversible, therefore, making it more versatile in your closet.

Things You'll Need

• 2 T-shirts
• Measuring tape
• Yardstick
• Disappearing ink pen
• Straight pins
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• 1-inch elastic
• Large safety pin

Instructions

1. Measure vertically from above your bust line to where you would like the waist of the tube top to sit. Keep in mind stretching and movement of the body. Add 1 inch to the measurement for seam allowance.

2. Lay the first T-shirt (T-shirt A) flat on your work table. Draw a line under the seam of one armpit to the seam of the other using a disappearing ink pen and a yardstick as a straight edge. Measure down from the line, on both sides of the shirt, using your vertical measurement and draw another line, horizontally, across your T-shirt. Cut through both layers of the T-shirt on the drawn lines. Measure and cut the second T-shirt (T-shirt B) in the same way.

3. Turn the tube of T-shirt A wrong side out. If there are no seams on the sides of the shirt, this may not be necessary. Insert T-shirt B inside the tube on T-shirt A. Match the top edges of the tubes and pin. Sew the pinned edges together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Turn the T-shirt tube right side out with T-shirt B on the inside. Press the sewn edge.

4. Measure down from the sewn edge 1 1/8 inch and mark with the disappearing ink pin. Pin on the line through both layers, all the way around the tube. Top stitch on the line, leaving 2 inches unsewn. This will create the elastic casing for the top of the T-shirt tube top.

5. Measure around the top of your body, above the bust line where you would like the tube top to sit. Subtract 2 inches. Cut a piece of 1-inch elastic using this measurement. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and insert it between the layers of the tube top and into the elastic casing through the 2 inch opening that you left unsewn. Guide the elastic through the casing. Sew the elastic ends together and top stitch the casing closed. Determine the sides of your tube top and top stitch vertically across the casing on each side to hold the elastic in place and to keep it from rolling.

6. Fold up 1/2 inch of T-shirt A to the wrong side, and iron. Do the same with T-shirt B. Pin the two ironed edges together and top stitch as close to the pinned edge as possible, leaving a 2-inch opening. Measure up from the top stitching on the bottom of your tube top 1 1/8 inch and mark using the disappearing ink pin. Pin on the line through both layers, all the way around the tube. Top stitch on the line. This will create the elastic casing for the bottom of the T-shirt tube top.

7. Measure around your waist, or where you would like the tube top to sit. Subtract 1 inch. Cut a piece of 1 inch elastic using this measurement. Attach a safety pin to the end of the elastic and insert it in the 2 inch opening on the bottom of the tube top. Guide the elastic through the casing. Sew the elastic ends together and top stitch the casing closed. Top stitch vertically across the casing on each side to hold the elastic in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind, the color of the sewing thread will be seen from both sides of the tube top. Choose one that will blend and coordinate with both colored T-shirts.