In this tutorial, I'll show you how to cut a baggy t-shirt into a tank top with a braided
empire waist.
I think it makes a nice work-out tank top especially for the hot summer.
It can also make a nice shirt to wear over your swim suit or a bandeau.
Here is what I used to make this tank top.
I'm using a large Men's t-shirt. T-shirts are easy to find at a thrift store, I got
mine at my local Goodwill for $3.
First, I need to figure out where to cut. It's easier to figure this out with the shirt
on and I'm using tape as a guide.
The empire waist braid should sit kinda below the girls or bust, so I'm going to make it
right about here.
I want the neckline to end right about here, straps to end here.
Now it's time to cut the arm holes.
Fold it in half, so that the two sides line up. If you need to, reposition the tape for
the arms on the side you are cutting.
On the armpit area, I have seams going up the sides. Not all t-shirts have seams on
the sides, but this one does.
You could just cut over them, but I don't want to see the seam split like this after
many washes, so I'm going to cut a tab at the end of the seams and stitch it over to
protect them from splitting.
Make sure both selves are aligned and cut a small tab like this. Again, you don't have
to do this part if you don't want to.
Then make tabs on the shoulder seams.
Now cut from the armpit tabs, to the shoulder tabs.
You can save the sleeves for my other t-shirt project you can find at the end of this video
or in the description below.
Now let's cut the neckline. Fold the shirt like this.
And line the seams up on both sides.
Again, I'm going to cut tabs on the seams.
I'll cut the back of the neckline later.
I'm going to cut from the guide I made to the tabs to form a v-neck.
Then for the back, unfold it and cut it off like this.
Then stretch the cut ends. This will help finish the edges.
Now for the waist.
Lay it flat and fold in half evenly where the tape is.
I'm going to cut lines across this whole section, so if it helps, you can put another piece
of tape across so they are the same height. They will be about 1.5 inches tall, but it
doesn't have to be exact.
Cut the lines about a finger apart. I'm using my thumb width. They don't have to be perfect.
After that, unfold it and you should have something like this.
Now stretch that area.
Start on the front side, and weave the strips.
Under and over to form a loop. Repeat with the next strip.
Under, over. It gets easier.
Keep weaving to the back side.
When you reach the last loop, tuck it inside,
and from the inside, cut the loop and tie it into a knot onto the one next to it.
Now if you cut tabs like I did, sew them over. I'm using a needle and thread, but if you
have liquid stitch, that will work too. And I didn't go crazy, just looped one big stitch.
After I sewed all the tabs down, the tank is done!
To wash, I used the delicate setting. I will say, after washing it the edges laid better.
I hope you found this tutorial helpful and enjoy the rest of your summer in your new
tank top. Feel free to share pics of the tops you made on my Facebook page, twitter or instagram.
There are a lot of ways you can cut t-shirts, so I made a pinterest board with some of my
favorites. You can follow this board at the link below.
For more tutorials be sure to subscribe and check out my channel. For another t-shirt
cutting tutorial, check out the video to the left. To the right, you can learn how to make
a simple button coaster. You can also find these links and more in the description below.