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T-Shirt Makeover in Less Than 10 Minutes

Published: Apr 13, 2010 · Modified: Apr 11, 2018 by Ashley Phipps · 391 words. · About 2 minutes to read this article. · 22 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads and sponsored posts · This blog uses cookies · See our privacy policy for more info Filed Under: DIY

Do you want to know how to do a t-shirt makeover in less than 10 minutes? Go from plain to WOW with no sewing involved!

light blue t-shirt makeover with knotted sleeves and an empire waist
shirt+done+2 T-Shirt Makeover in Less Than 10 Minutes 1 t-shirt makeover

Go from this plain T-Shirt...

Plain Blue t-shirt with scoop neck on a table

Using only these...

Pair of Scissors

In less than 10 minutes!

I know.  You think I'm joking right?!?!

While I do love a good joke, nope.  Totally serious here!  Amazing huh?

Here is how to do this super simple no-sew t-shirt makeover!

Take any t-shirt.  It can be old, big, boxy, it does not have to be a great shirt!

How to Create Knotted Sleeves for a T-shirt Makeover

Cut off the seams on the sleeves.

cutting the seams off of sleeves to do a t-shirt makeover

Cut along the top of the sleeve all the way back to where the sleeve meets the shirt.

cutting the sleeve at the top from the end to the shoulder seam to do a t-shirt makeover

Take the two ends and tie them in a knot.

Tying a knot in the sleeve in a t-shirt makeover to give a plain sleeve a unique look

Or don't.

T-shirt makeover with knotted sleevet-shirt makeover leaving cut sleeve unknotted

Making a New Neckline for a T-Shirt Makeover

Fold the shirt in half and cut a new neckline.  Be careful.  It is easy to cut too large of a neckline.  It is always easier to cut more off, so start small!

Cutting a new neckline for a t-shirt makeover

How to Make an Empire Waist for a T-shirt Makeover

Fold the shirt about 2" below the bottom of where the sleeves meet the shirt and snip tiny straight lines through all 4 layers of shirt.  (Careful!  Only snip about ½" in length!)

cutting slits in a shirt to make an empire waist for a t-shirt makeover

Cut the bottom hem off.

Cutting the hem off the bottom of a t-shirt

*Optional: You can then go back and cut a new shirt bottom if you like.  I cut mine straight across because I didn't have much length on my shirt, but you could easily cut it at an angle and give the shirt a bit more spunk!

Take the bottom seam and cut it apart.

Cutting the hem of the t-shirt in half after removing it from the shirt

Thread the bottom seam fabric through the snips in the shirt and tie to create a new empire waistline.

And enjoy your new, super cute, super easy, recycled shirt!

 

Finished T-Shirt Makeover front view
Finished T-shirt Makeover Side View

(Excuse the blurry mirror photos...I had no one around to take photos of the t-shirt for me!)

Also, remember to LINK UP at my Link Party and be sure to enter my GIVEAWAY!  (Scroll to the top of the page for links to both of those!)

Happy Designing!

If you want other great t-shirt makeover ideas check these out:

DIY Lego Shirt

Valentine's Day Shirts

DIY Boo Halloween Shirt

If you are handy with a sewing machine you might want to check out these DIY T-Shirt Makeovers as well

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Midnight Rambler

    April 13, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    Well that is too cute!

    Reply
  2. Kendra Goodrich

    April 14, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    I love this idea. I've been getting really bored with my shirts lately and this looks like something I can even do!

    Reply
  3. Teri

    April 26, 2010 at 12:23 am

    That is freakin' awesome! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Mandy

    May 04, 2010 at 10:08 am

    great job, no sew - love it! thanks for linking up at SugarBee Take-A-Look Tuesday! - Mandy, http://www.craftedition.blogspot.com

    Reply
  5. Jane

    May 04, 2010 at 10:24 am

    Very cute! I'll have to try it! 🙂

    Reply
  6. The Persimmon Perch

    May 04, 2010 at 11:48 am

    Very clever! That would be great to give some definition to a few of the shirts I have laying around. Thanks for sharing with Made it Monday! Jules

    Reply
  7. Cheryl

    May 04, 2010 at 1:17 pm

    Love it. I always have too many ill-fitting t-shirts that never get worn. Now they can become cute! Thanks for linking it up to Craftastic Monday!

    Reply
  8. Angie

    May 04, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    That is cool! I will have to try it out!

    Reply
  9. Ruth H.

    May 04, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    Wow! How did you come up with that? What a great way to use some of my old tees.

    Reply
  10. Kaysi

    May 04, 2010 at 3:52 pm

    That is great!!! I love how it looks now

    Reply
  11. Sandy

    May 04, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    I have several tee&#39;s I don&#39;tuse cause their so ucky.... I&#39;m going to cut them tomorrow..<br />thanks for the tip!<br />Sandy<br /><br />http://thewondersofdoing.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  12. Missy

    May 04, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    Great idea Ashley! My daughter has a couple of plain jane tshirts that are &quot; too boring &quot;. I will be trying this with those! Such a fashionista for a 4 year old!

    Reply
  13. Jen

    May 04, 2010 at 11:27 pm

    This is a great idea. I love all the simple ways you fancied up this shirt!

    Reply
  14. [email protected] My Frugal Family

    May 05, 2010 at 8:21 pm

    Very cute make over! <br /><br />Your shirt has gotten a good deal of clicks this week for Talented Tuesday, and I&#39;ve featured it on my side bar! Make sure to stop by and grab an &quot;I&#39;ve Been Featured&quot; button!<br /><br />Thanks for linking up with Talented Tuesday!

    Reply
  15. Andrea @ TheTrainToCrazy.com

    May 06, 2010 at 12:26 am

    It turned out great!<br /><br />I have a weekly Thursday blog party especially for people to share things they&#39;ve made to be worn. Stop by if you&#39;d like!

    Reply
  16. [email protected]

    May 07, 2010 at 1:47 am

    WOW! Thanks for the great tutorial. This is one I will for sure have to try!

    Reply
  17. Misty

    May 07, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    What a fun idea!!<br /><br />Thanks for linking @Creative Itch&#39;s &quot;Sew Cute Tuesday&quot;!

    Reply
  18. A*

    May 10, 2010 at 10:17 am

    Really great idea, I love empire line - so flattering. I must try this!

    Reply
  19. Casey

    May 11, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    that&#39;s a really good idea! I think I&#39;ll give it a try with an old t-shirt

    Reply
  20. [email protected]

    June 09, 2010 at 11:04 am

    Cute idea! Just wanted you to know I featured/linked to your post on my blog today. Thanks for the inspiration (=

    Reply
  21. Justine

    June 18, 2010 at 12:15 am

    Hi! I just came by from Meet Virgina&#39;s blog. I love the idea with he sleeves!

    Reply
  22. Diane

    July 22, 2015 at 10:05 pm

    Love it - I have some really boxy t-shirts and I just altered one of them. I skipped the empire waist, since I am busty enough as it is. But I've been looking for a cute sleeve and this is it.

    I also rounded the sides, since it's a men's shirt and I needed the room for my booty!

    Reply

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