Refashion Plain T-Shirts Into Something Pretty {18 Tutorials}

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No need to pay a small fortune for designer tees, here are over a dozen ways you can make pretty tops using t-shirts that just cost a few dollars each. Some full of ruffles, others with lace or petal embellishments. Many of the projects below use just one shirt (a larger size) or two of the same color. I’ll be adding more goodies to this list as I find them, have fun!

paperpassionpixels.blogspot.com

paperpassionpixels.blogspot.com

Ruffled Front: Diagonal strips are cut from one shirt then gathered into ruffles, pinned into place on sewn on top of 2nd shirt.

Easy Lace Strip Tee: You can use either stretchy or non-stretchy lace for this project, apply lace in a straight line or zigzag pattern.

icandyhandmade.blogspot.com

icandyhandmade.blogspot.com

icandyhandmade.blogspot.com

icandyhandmade.blogspot.com

Anthro Inspired Tee: Made with two tees (or one + matching jersey fabric), 2 1/2″ strips are cut then pleated into a curved shape before being sewn onto shirt.

Nautical Inspired: Cute & easy! A navy tank top is embellished with two gathered strips of striped fabric around the neckline.

alifosterpatterns.com

alifosterpatterns.com

madebylex.com

madebylex.com

Textured: Gorgeous! Shirr a shirt that’s larger than your size using the gathering foot on a sewing machine (or try elastic thread instead).

Textured T-Shirt Tutorial: Strips from one tee are cut then sewn across the top of another tee (center panel, not the whole front).

creativelychristy.blogspot.com

creativelychristy.blogspot.com

jaynsarah.blogspot.com

jaynsarah.blogspot.com

Lace Stripes: Sew lace strips across the top of the shirt, only the top edge is sewn leaving the bottom edge ruffly.

Flutter Flower Shirt: Inspired by a JCrew design, you’ll need two matching t-shirts to make this (one is cut in strips then handsewn together to make petals).

mommagoround.com

mommagoround.com

rufflesandrosescrafts.blogspot.com

rufflesandrosescrafts.blogspot.com

Flower Ruffle Tank: A tank top is cut from a larger shirt then the rest of the material is used to sew a ruffled neck and rose appliques (for the bottom corner).

Shirred Makeover: Transform a larger t-shirt than what you would normally wear with a flared waist, flared sleeves, shirring, pleats and contrasting trim.

kittycatsandairplanes.blogspot.com

kittycatsandairplanes.blogspot.com

mellysews.com

mellysews.com

Ruffled Corset: This one’s made with 2 1/2 t-shirts and features a squared off neckline and the bottom cut into a corset-like shape.

DIY Knotted Tee: Easy project! The neckline is cut into a bigger roundneck then all the way down the side, knotted at the top and then re-sewn.

jaynsarah.blogspot.com

jaynsarah.blogspot.com

allthingsheartandhome.com

allthingsheartandhome.com

Ruffled: Two t-shirts are used for this project, one to cut into strips to make ruffles that are then pinned & sewn onto the other.

Ruffle Necktie: Easy project using a thrifted tie, a t-shirt and a button. Tie is sewn onto tee in a ruffle design, button added for embellishment.

mckells-closet.blogspot.com

mckells-closet.blogspot.com

howjoyful.com

howjoyful.com

Summer Vest Tutorial: Two t-shirts for this project, both are cut and reassembled together to make a light, pretty vest.

T-shirt Redo: Circles and leaf shapes are cut from knit material the same color as the tee then sewn around the neckline.

mellysews.com

mellysews.com

hernewleaf.com

hernewleaf.com

Braided Neck Tee: Very little sewing involved with this technique (just a few stitches at the beginning and end).

Ruffle Waterfall Tee: Made with Liquid Stitch, ruffle fabric, a t-shirt or tank top.

inhonorofdesign.blogspot.ca

inhonorofdesign.blogspot.ca

Published: October 19, 2011
Updated: May 1, 2012

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One Comment to “Refashion Plain T-Shirts Into Something Pretty {18 Tutorials}”
  1. Carmen Russell says:

    Thank you my Tshirts will never look plain again.


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