Cut a Shirt

Learning how to cut a shirt will give you a trendy way to modernize a bland t-shirt collection. Many stores sell shirts that are pre-cut, and many of them are expensive. This article will teach you ways to cut a shirt to make it more fashionable for minimal cost.

Steps

Create an Off-the-Shoulder Shirt

  1. Get your shirt.
  2. Cut a slit into the shirt on either side of the collar using some sharp fabric scissors. Cut the slit along the collar seam to serve as a visual guide for the rest of your cutting project.
  3. Use fabric scissors to cut the collar off of the shirt.
  4. Grab the fabric at the shoulder seam and pull it. Doing this will make the neckline curl over.
  5. Wear the shirt over a tank top or a camisole.

Cut a Shirt to Bare Your Midriff

  1. Get your shirt.
  2. Put on the shirt that you want to cut.
  3. Measure the distance from the shoulder seam to just past your waistline using a vinyl tape measure. You want to leave just a little extra fabric so the shirt will roll up at your waistline and not high above it.
  4. Mark the measurement on your shirt using a fabric marker or a piece of chalk.
  5. Cut the shirt straight across using sharp fabric scissors. It's easiest if you place the shirt on a flat surface.
  6. Pull the edges of the shirt so that the fabric will curl over.
  7. Finished! Wear and show off!

Cut a Shirt to Create a Tank Top or Muscle Top

  1. Cut off the sleeves. Start about 1" (2.5 cm) below the armpit and cut all the way up to the neckline. Don't discard your scrap fabric.
  2. Trim off the neckline if you wish. Cut at the seam so that you don't create a one-shoulder effect.
  3. Pull the edges, so they curl over nicely.
    • Optional: Lay the shirt face down on a flat surface. Pinch the fabric together at the base of the armpits.
    • Optional: Wrap your fabric scraps around the pinched area. Tie a knot to secure the fabric and tuck the knot underneath the wrap.
  4. Wear the shirt on its own. If it reveals too much skin, then wear a bandeau or a tank underneath it.

Cut a Shirt with a Razor

  1. Choose a tight-fitting t-shirt for the best effect.
  2. Select the area of your body that you want to expose. You can place razor slits across the back of your shirt, for instance.
  3. Lay your shirt on a flat surface. Place a cutting board between the front and back of your shirt so that you don't cut through both layers.
  4. Cut parallel horizontal lines in your shirt using a razor blade or a utility knife. You can cut lines of equal length, or you can cut a long line at the top and cut continuously shorter lines in sequence for a triangular effect.
  5. Finished!
    • Optional: Wash the shirt. The sections that you cut will roll up at the edges to create a punk-ish effect.

Cut a Shirt to Create Tied Sleeves

  1. Cut the hem off of both your T-shirt sleeves using sharp fabric scissors.
  2. Use fabric scissors to cut a slit in the sleeves from the bottom to the shoulder seam.
  3. Pull the edges, so they curl over. This will also give you more slack to for tying in the next step.
  4. Tie the loose edges of the fabric together at the base of the slit. This tie will create a cute peep-through effect.
  5. Done! Wear your top with its cute new sleeves.

Tips

  • Practice t-shirt cutting first on a junk t-shirt that you don't care about ruining.
  • Your options for cutting a shirt are only as limited as your imagination. You can remove both shoulders, for instance, or cut a fringed design and knot it with colored string.
  • Stock up on t-shirts in a variety of colors and fits on the cheap by shopping at second-hand stores. Remember that you will be cutting them anyway, so even a little stain here or there is no big deal.

Warnings

  • You can always cut more, but you can never un-cut. Do not cut a shirt until you know exactly what you want to do with it.

Things You'll Need

  • T-shirt
  • Fabric scissors
  • Razor blade or utility knife
  • Fabric marker or chalk

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Sources and Citations

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