5 Ways To Cut A T Shirt The Graceful Way

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Are you looking for a way to breathe new life into an old T-shirt? With a few creative cuts and a minimum of sewing, you can cut the shirt in many different ways. Here you will find some that are worth trying.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Method One: Braided Neck T-Shirt

Step 1. Make vertical cuts on the neck of the T-shirt

The cuts must be perpendicular to the neck line.

Start each cut at the base of the neck, where the seam ends.
The cuts should be about 5 cm long, but the first cut should be half as long as the others as it will open more as you interlace it.
The cuts should be 2.5cm apart, but these measurements don't have to be accurate.
Make cuts across the front of the shirt, from shoulder to shoulder.
Note that you may want to use a shirt with a fairly high collar. This technique will lower the neckline considerably, leaving more skin exposed than you expect.

Step 2. Weave the second loop with the first

With the shirt facing you, start on the left side. Take the second ring created with the cuts and push it under the first.

By pulling the second ring from under the first, you should pull it to the right, in the direction of the remaining rings

Step 3. Weave each ring with the one before it

Push the third ring under the second, pulling it from below and to the right.

The fourth ring should be woven under the third, the fifth under the fourth, the sixth under the fifth, and so on. Continue until all the loops are woven together.
You should notice a braid forming after the first few weaves. If not, untie the knots and try again.

Step 4. Sew the last loop to the shoulder

The last ring won't have another ring to attach to, so you'll need to sew it by hand to keep it in place.

You can also be a little more creative with this latter ring by sewing a decorative button over it.
If the first cut tore and created a hole, sew a couple of stitches to close it.

Method 2 of 5: Method Two: T-Shirt with Intertwined Sides

Step 1. Use a very large shirt

Ideally, the T-shirt should completely cover your butt, if not more.

With this technique the shirt will shorten significantly. It will also make the fabric pucker, making it more snug

Step 2. Mark the path for the braid

You'll create a total of four vertical paths: two along the back of the sides and two along the front.

To get an idea of where to make the tracks, put a jacket that fits you well over the back of the T-shirt. Fold the jacket so that the sleeves are completely inside. Use chalk to outline it on both sides, creating the paths for the back. Stop about 8-10 cm from the top of the shirt.
For the front, mark paths that loosely match those on the back. As you approach the sleeves, curve the pattern inward so that it ends in the center of the sleeve.

Step 3. Make horizontal cuts on each path

Make perpendicular cuts on all four paths.

The cuts should be 5 cm long and 2.5 cm apart from each other.
Be careful to avoid cutting the other side by accident as you make the various cuts.

Step 4. Pass the second ring under the first

Start from the top of one of the tracks. Push the second ring under the first.

While pulling the second loop from underneath the first, pull it down, towards the remaining loops

Step 5. Weave the rest of the rings through the previous ring on the chain

Push the third ring through the second, pulling it down towards the other rings.

The fourth ring should pass under the third, the fifth under the fourth, the sixth under the fifth, the seventh under the sixth, and so on. Continue like this until the entire row is intertwined.
Tighten the weaves as much as possible to avoid showing excess fabric or skin from under the shirt.

Step 6. Sew the last loop

You will need to sew the last loop to keep it closed. Sew the loop to the uncut fabric at the bottom edge of the shirt.

Step 7. Repeat with the other paths

Make cuts on the other three paths and use the same process to weave the rings together.

Method 3 of 5: Method Three: Bow Sleeve T-Shirt

Step 1. Make a cut in the middle of one of the shoulders

The cut should start at the shoulder seam and go down to about two thirds of the sleeve.

Leave a third of the sleeve intact.
The cut should be centered on the sleeve. Notice where the top seam stretches over the shoulder. Try matching the cut with that seam.
Note that this technique works best with short-sleeved shirts.

Step 2. Remove a strip of fabric from the sleeve

You will need about 2-3 cm of fabric from the sleeve.

Make a horizontal, perpendicular cut extending from the bottom of the vertical cut. This cut should be about 2.5cm long.
Make a curved cut at the top of the vertical line to remove a rounded triangular piece of fabric. The top of this line should meet at the top of the original cut, but this line should be as curved as possible.

Step 3. Group the bottom of the sleeve together to create the bow shape

Pinch the remaining piece of horizontal fabric just under the hole you made in the sleeve.

Note that a bow shape should appear squeezing the fabric together. The tighter you squeeze it, the more defined the bow will be

Step 4. Wrap the fabric strip around the center

Take the piece of fabric you cut from the sleeve and wrap it around the narrow part of the sleeve. Sew it in place using needle and thread.

Place the end of the strip towards the inside of the sleeve to hide it.
Wrap the fabric as tightly as possible to hold the bow in place.
Sew the strip of fabric to the sleeve to hold it in place.

Step 5. Repeat with the other sleeve

Do the same steps to cut, group and wrap the fabric to create a similar bow on the other sleeve of the shirt.

Method 4 of 5: Method Four: T-Shirt with a Bow on the Back

Step 1. Cut half of a “U” shape on the back of the shirt

Put the shirt on with the back facing each other. Cut half of a large "U" on the back. The full “U” should extend at least 10cm below the neckline at the front.

Lightly trace with a pencil, chalk or fabric pencil how low you want the “U” to go.
Before cutting, lightly trace the outline of the “U” half you intend to cut.
Cut only half of the "U" at this point.

Step 2. Fold the “U” shape in half and continue cutting

Fold the "U" so that it ends over the opposite shoulder. Cut the other half of the "U" using the first half as a guide.

Trace the outline of this half on the fabric before cutting.
Cutting the entire "U" in this way will ensure that both sides are the same.

Step 3. Divide the "U" into pieces

Turn it on its side and cut it into three pieces.

The first piece should start at the highest point of the "U". Cut a straight line 10-12cm inwards, creating a triangle.
The second strip should be about 2-3 cm wide.
The third strip will consist of whatever material is left over.

Step 4. Form the bow from the fabric you cut

Squeeze the center of the large rectangle to create a bow. Wrap the center strip of fabric around the center and sew it to hold it in place.

Tighten the center to define the bow more.
Before wrapping the fabric around the center, run a needle with thread down the center to hold the bow in place.
Wrap the strip of fabric tightly around the center to create a loop. Sew it to close it.

Step 5. Sew the bow to the upper back of the T-shirt

Tie the bow at the top of the collar at the back and sew the edges of the bow to the edges of the opening.

You can sew the bow by hand or with the sewing machine.
The top corners of the bow should line up with the top corners of the opening on the back.
If you don't like the result, you can place the bow and reattach it wherever you want.

Method 5 of 5: Method Five: Off the Shoulder Ruffled Neck T-Shirt

Step 1. Choose a long T-shirt

For this technique you will need to cut a strip of fabric from the bottom of the shirt. Therefore you should make sure that the T-shirt is long enough that you can sacrifice some of the length.

Step 2. Cut a strip of fabric from the bottom of the shirt

Remove a continuous strip about 13 cm wide from the bottom of the shirt.

You can vary the width of the strip by about 2.5 cm more or less. The wider the strip, the wider the collar will be

Step 3. Change the neckline

You can change the neckline into an asymmetrical one-shoulder shirt or a boat neck.

To create an asymmetrical neckline, remove one sleeve from the T-shirt, leaving the other intact. Round off the remaining portion of the neckline to finish off the edge if it's a little rough.
For a bateau neckline, remove the rounded part of the neckline that extends from one sleeve to the other. Make sure the cut is symmetrical on both sides.

Step 4. Gather and attach excess fabric to the altered neckline

Attach the fabric you removed to the neckline. Group the fabric as you connect it to create a ripple.

Make sure the top edge of the fabric strip lines up with the edge of the neckline.
The collar should cover the entire front of the neckline. If you have enough fabric to cover the back as well, go for it. Otherwise, cut the fabric so that it only goes from corner to corner.