How to Make a Shredded Tee

How to Make a Shredded Tee thumbnail
Cut away that hem and start shredding!

Fashion typically feature a strange, paradoxical dichotomy. Once a new trend rises from the temporary fads of the day, another trend often emerges in direct opposition to the first. While sleek and clean clothes are appealing to some, others prefer the opposite, like clothes that are torn, holed or shredded. Shredded tees are an example of the counter-normative fashion. Instead of paying pocketfuls of cash for a commercially shredded tee, you can make your own with a few sewing supplies and plenty of patience.

Things You'll Need

  • Woven t-shirt or tank top
  • Scissors
  • Seam ripper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut away the hem of your woven shirt using a pair of sharp scissors. Make the cut just above the stitching all the way around the garment.

    • 2

      Hold the newly sheared edge where you would like the shredding to appear on the finished garment.

    • 3

      Pull a few horizontal threads from the edge of the shirt using a seam ripper. Four or five will work just fine, though you can pull out more if you like.

    • 4

      Pull these threads away from the shirt while simultaneously pulling the vertical fibers apart. Doing so will unravel the weaving, making the horizontal fibers long and feathery. Pull the starting threads away from the shirt until they are as wide as your desired shredded panel.

    • 5

      Work you way up the shirt, pulling the threads with your fingertips while pulling apart the vertical fibers. You can use a seam ripper or mechanical pencil for this, but your fingers will work just as well. Note that it will take two to five hours to shred most shirts. More complicated shredding will take more time.

Tips & Warnings

  • All woven shirts are, theoretically, shreddable; however, ribbed woven shirts are more compact and more difficult to shred.

  • Regular washing may cause your shredded tee to unravel more than desired. For peace of mind, you should hand wash and air dry your shredded tee.

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  • Photo Credit scissor image by Vladislav Gajic from Fotolia.com

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