How to Make a Custom Cut-Up T-Shirt

An old T-shirt can be quickly transformed into a fashion forward new look with just a pair of scissors

Sometimes the best place to find a new perfect shirt is where you'd least expect: already hanging in your closet. There's a plethora of ways to cut and customize a shirt to make it fit and flatter your figure. If you have a pair of scissors and a steady hand, you can recycle an old T-shirt to get a brand new, original look that's easy on the budget.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors

Instructions

1. Lay the T-shirt down on a flat surface and smooth out any wrinkles.

2. Cut off the neckline by making a small cut perpendicular to the neckline, cutting down to just below the seam of it, then carefully cutting all the way round, just below the collar, to remove it.

3. Cut the sleeves off by cutting the length of the sleeve up to the shoulder seam of the shirt and then slowly cutting around the armholes until the sleeve is completely detached.

4. Create a halter neckline by cutting along the shoulder seam from the outer edge to the neckline. Turn the T-shirt over and cut a straight line from the left underarm seam to the right underarm seam. Turn the shirt back over and tie the two front pieces of the shirt together to make the halter neckline.

5. Create a one-shoulder style by cutting a diagonal line starting at the neckline of the right shoulder down to the left underarm seam. Turn the shirt over and cut from the left underarm seam up to the right shoulder so that it matches the line just cut on the front of the shirt.

6. Attach pony beads to the shirt by cutting one of the edges, such as one haltar side or the bottom (hem) edge of the shirt, of the shirt into 1-inch-wide by 3-inch-long strips. Thread three to four beads onto a strip, tie a knot at the end to secure the beads and repeat on all of the strips.

7. Try the shirt on to check the fit. If it doesn't fit quite right, simply adjust the size by retying or making a quick cut.

Tips & Warnings

• Start slowly and make small cuts; you can always cut more if you need.

• Wash and dry t-shirt prior to cutting to make sure that it won't shrink.

References

• AllCraftSupplies.com: Value Pack Opaque Pony Beads 6x9 mm 720/pkg Multi