Have a few extra T-shirts laying around that you don't wear anymore? If you're anything like me, you have about 50 promotional booze tees in nothing smaller than a gigantic men's XXL. I feel like at some point I decided to keep them to be used as emergency smocks... 'cause in case of an emergency... I'll need smocks...ya know... for survival. This is a tutorial on how to upcycle your T-shirts from big and baggy to fitted and fabulous. I've provided two tank style instructions, Racer Back and Braided Back. If you've got the 10 minutes and a pair of scissors, here's how it's done:
front
back
What you'll need:
- Crappy T shirts
- Scissors
Step 2: Cut out arm #1. Lay the removed sleeve over arm #2. Cut around #2, using #1 as a guide (for symmetry!).
Step 3: Cut off the bottom of your Tee turned Tank.
Take some liberties with this one. You can decide to cut your shirt shorter in the front and longer in the back, shorter on the sides, or even fringed. I chose to make mine shorter on the sides and longer in the front and back.
Step 4: Cut halfway across the bottom of the shirt and fold it over to meet the other half. This way, you can use your first cut as a guide, thereby leaving the bottom as symmetrical as your sleeves. Now, using the bottom hem of your tank...
Cut just beneath the last seam. This will be your result:
Stretch it from end to end and you'll have this sweet homemade string:
Step 5: Turn your tank over so the back is facing up. Then cut a large triangle out of the back of your shirt, starting from the neckline and ending at least an inch or two before the bottom of your arm holes.
TIP: Use a ruler to make sure your triangle isn't crooked or too big
Step 6: Gather the back of your straps at the bottom of your triangle and tie a knot, using your stretched string.
Wrap your stretched string around and around, creating a cotton column at least an inch long. Double knot, then cut off any extra stretched string.
Step 7: Stretch the neck line, arms and bottom of the tank. TA DAAAAAA Workout Tank #1:
To make Workout Tank Style #2 - The Braided Back... start by following Workout Tank #1's steps 1-5. After you cut your triangle, cut across the back of your tank at the tip of your triangle. Cut each strap into three pieces (from the bottom of the strap to the shoulder) and braid.Cut your stretched string into two pieces, then tie the bottom of your braid to the shirt (gather the shirt around the bottom of the braid and knot).
Do the same to the other strap. Then wrap both braids together at the knots using your stretched string.
TA DAAAAAA! Super cute Workout Tank Style #2
Start choppin' up your sucky shirts and hit the gym in your stylin' like-new tanks!
