How to Transform a T-Shirt

Without spending a penny, you can transform a plain T-shirt into a fashionable top that turns heads. Plain tees can also be used to make a reusable grocery bag, as Martha Stewart has done. There are hundreds of ways to transform a T-shirt, either by cutting holes, creating fringes, adding jewels and patches or sewing together small sections. It's fun, simple, practical and a creative way to express yourself.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• T-shirt
• Scissors
• Clothing chalk or a disappearing ink marking pen

Instructions

1. Using a clothing chalk or disappearing ink pen (available in fabric stores), mark 1" vertical lines across the middle top of the shirt. Space out the lines as far apart or as low as you want below the neckline depending on the style you desire. Then cut on the lines.

2. To make holes for sleeves, draw eight vertical lines 1.5" long all around on each side, equally spaced out. Then cut along the line guides.

3. Cut off the bottom end of the T-shirt to get rid of the original seams.

4. Five inches up from the bottom of the shirt, mark a horizontal line in the front and back (it should be around the waist area) as a guide to make bottom fringes.

5. To make the fringes, start from the bottom and cut vertically, straight up to the pen line. Each strip should be about 1" apart. Make sure there is an even number of strips since they will be paired and knotted together.

6. Tie a knot at the top end of each strip.

7. Take two strips and tie them together in a knot about 2" from the previously made knot. Your knot should form a V shape. Repeat all around, and you're finished!

Tips & Warnings

• It may be helpful to try on the shirt first to mark where you want the fringes to start and where you want the holes to appear. You can design the holes wider or fashion them into different shapes depending on how creative you want to be.
• It's important to mark the lines before you cut to avoid making the T-shirt look uneven and messy.

References

• Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt; Megan Nicolay; 2006

Resources

• Make a Grocery Bag from a T-Shirt