How to Cut & Redesign T-Shirts

Designing a Cut &Tie T-shirt

• 1

  Turn the shirt inside out and put it on. Design the style by deciding how many cuts you want to use, how thick the cuts are, how tight you want the knots to be. The tighter the knots, the smaller the peek-a-boo holes made by the ties. The smaller the knots, the bigger the peek-a-boo holes will be.

• 2

  Using a mirror, mark lines on the sleeves and the sides of the T-shirt, marking where you've visualized your design.

• 3

  Cut the side seams carefully, starting from the bottom and working up, so that the sides are separated from each other, leaving only the shoulder seam and the sleeves to hold the shirt together.

• 4

  Cut several cuts along your lines. Only cut an inch or so into the fabric. Cut the same number of lines on each side.Match up each strip of fabric and tie together in a secure knot. This will re-seam together the T-shirt without sewing.

Redesigning a T-shirt into a Tank Top

• 5

  Design your T-shirt design by answering several questions such as, "Do you want to wear it without something under it?" "Do you want the front to be fitted?" and "How fitted?", until you have a good idea of what you want to do to the T-shirt. Sketch this onto scratch paper if desired. There are many different ways to design the T-shirt into something new, so use the Internet or peruse other fashion ideas until you can adapt them into the design you want.

• 6

  Stretch the shirt onto a flat surface. Starting from the shoulder seam and moving the marker in a diagonal line, mark what you want to cut off of the T-shirt. This will cut off the sleeves and slightly under the arm area. Be sure to try on the shirt to see if it's cut too low.

• 7

  Reinforce the shoulder seams so that they do not rip by stitching over the current seam with your needle and thread.

• 8

  Cut from the top of the shoulder and down the side until the shirt is in a vaguely T-shape.

• 9

  Cut the cut-off material into strips. Use the strips to tie the back of the T-shirt closed, leaving the shoulder blades and most of the back free of material. This will tighten the front. Tie the strip into a knot and fringe the ends, tying the fringed ends into knots for added design detail.