How to Make a Spaghetti-Strap T-Shirt

This is what the finished product looks like.

This is an ecofriendly way to keep yourself cool in the summer. Call it an alternative to air-conditioning! Whether you live in California or Pennsylvania, you can cool down by wearing this tank top. Just take an old T-shirt and turn it into an extremely cute spaghetti-strap top.

Things You'll Need

• T-shirt Scissors Chalk Ruler Flat surface or table Sewing machine (optional)

Instructions

1. 

   Take your T-shirt and lay it flat on a table or hard surface. Use a measuring tape or ruler to measure an inch above the bottom of the shirt. Mark the inch with a piece of chalk. Starting where you placed the chalk mark, cut across the T-shirt until you have a 1-inch strip. You will use it later to make the spaghetti straps.

2. 

   Use your piece of chalk to mark 11 to 12 inches above the bottom of your shirt.

3. 

   Repeat what you did in step 1 but with one small adjustment: Cut off that 11 to 12 inches' worth of fabric you just marked with chalk. In essence, you will cut off the entire shirt above the armpits. This will form a tube. Make sure you cut through the front and back layers of fabric. Hold the shirt taught and cut carefully if you want to avoid a jagged edge (you can even go over the edges with a sewing machine). If you don't mind that the edge is a little rough, move on to the next step.

4. 

   Once you have a tube, poke two holes all the way through the fabric, using the scissors. Ensure that the holes are close to the top of the shirt without breaking the edge of the fabric. Space the holes about a forearm's length---or 7 to 8 inches---from each other. When you put the shirt on, the holes will be close to your armpit area.

5. 

   Take the strip of fabric you set aside in step 1, hold it tight and cut it in half lengthwise so that you have two straps. You can give it a clean line by adjusting the shape with a sewing machine or allow it to be a little frayed.

6. 

   Take one strap, push it through the front hole near either arm and tie a little bow on the front of your shirt to prevent the strap from pulling out of the hole. Repeat on the backside. Adjust the strap for comfort. Cut away any excess fabric (unless you want giant bows, which is an option too!).

7. 

   Repeat step six with the other strap.

Tips & Warnings

• During steps 5 and 6, you can use a sewing machine to attach the fabric instead of tying bows.

References

• Make spaghetti strap shirt from t-shirt