Julie Finn
T-shirts are my favorite craft supply! I live in a town with a couple of great Goodwills, so they’re also a pretty much inexhaustible craft supply for me.
My favorite way to craft with T-shirts is to refashion them into yet more pieces of clothing. That way, I can wear even more T-shirts!
Ready to get YOUR T-shirt craft on? Check out this list of T-shirt refashions for your next wearable sewing adventure:
1. Add a bow collar. Make your T-shirt dressy!
2. Add a bow to the back. This makes a very dressy look with very little effort.
3. Add buttons. This is a really cute way to transform the sleeves of a long-sleeved T-shirt.
4. Add a hood. You can add a hood to any T-shirt. You don’t even have to rip the neckband out first, although it looks better if you do.
5. Add a skirt. This is a super-cute transformation for a kid’s shirt, especially.
6. Add side panels. Add some contrast to a plain T-shirt.
7. Alter it into a maternity top. Because maternity clothes are expensive!
8. Applique. The tute shows flowers, but you could do stars or dinosaurs–anything, really!
9. Change it into a tank top. Instead of being swathed in fabric, make yourself cool and comfy!
10. Change the neckline. No more too-tight necklines!
11. Cover a stain with paint. Here’s a way to get a little more use out of a stained T-shirt.
12. Crochet. There are a lot of ways to transform a T-shirt using crocheting. Check it out!
13. Lace it up. It’s one of those shirts that I think you have to make your own duct tape bra to wear with it.
14. Lengthen it. Don’t you hate it when a T-shirt is too short?
15. Make a bandeau. Keep that duct tape bra on, or trade it for a strapless bra.
16. Make a child’s dress. Seriously, you could make a kid’s entire wardrobe out of old adult T-shirts.
17. Make a skirt. Depending on the size of the T-shirt, you can make this skirt for any size.
18. Make it into a peplum top. The key is to start with an oversized, boxy T-shirt.
19. Put lace on the sleeves. With the invention of stretch lace, this is even easier!
20. Put on a peter pan collar. You need a scoop neck T-shirt for this.
21. Repair a knit dress. You can patch it with jersey knit, or even lengthen it using the body of a T-shirt.
22. Reverse applique. This is another good way to hide a stain.
23. Ruche it. Here’s a great way to make a too-large T-shirt fit much better.
24. Sew capris. Don’t break your heart buying your kids new summer clothes every freaking year. Sew them these capris, instead!
25. Sew shorts. If you pieced together fabric from more shirts, you could make these in adult sizes.
26. Sew them to a skirt. This patchwork T-shirt and blue jeans skirt is AMAZING!
27. Take it in. Found the BEST shirt in the thrift store, but it happens to be 18 sizes too large? You can fix that!
28. Take the sleeves off. You CAN, TOO pull off the sleeveless T-shirt!
29. Transform it into a onesie. You will be a hero at your next baby shower.
30. Transform it into a tube top. Put that strapless bra back on!
31. Turn it into a leotard. Jersey knit leotards look best on people who are still cut like straight little noodles, but if you have a kid who’s way into gymnastics, dance, or aerial silks, here you go!
32. Turn it into a scarf. Here’s a great idea for a chilly day.
33. Upcycle it into a baby gown. I make this for baby gifts All THE TIME!
34. Upcycle it into leggings. To make it in adult sizes, just piece together more shirts.
35. Upcycle it into a peasant dress. This is such a cute dress for a kid!
Thanks for including my refashion! I’d pin this roundup but I don’t see a round-up graphic! Holler out if one gets made, I’m happy to share it.