This sewing project shouldn't take a long time, but it will be a fun one. In a garage cleaning effort, my husband found a box of old clothes. He didn't want this shirt for my FAVORITE sports team in the world: The University of Montana GRIZZLIES!!! So, I claimed it. It is football season, and I could use a long sleeve tee to wear to the games! And, I can't buy a NEW one, so, I am gonna do a makeover on this Griz shirt!!
This project will be a good example of how to make over any t-shirt that is too big. I've always done this with all of my t-shirts, especially the unisex, shapeless t-shirts you get for free at various events/jobs.
(p.s. For some of these shots, I had to put the shirt on our pool table...and our pool table is old and not in perfect shape. That's why it looks dirty..the felt is just really uneven. Ha ha:))
Also, in this project I use a washable felt-tip pen liberally. I use this pen because I know that it will come out of the fabric I am using it on. ALWAYS make sure to use a pen that will wash out, or use pencil, or a sewing pen or pencil. TEST IT FIRST!!
Here's the shirt, the "before" shot. It is a men's large:
You will notice that, as with most unisex t-shirts, there are NO side seams.
This is kind of a messy way of doing it, but it works for shirts like this that I really don't mind having a less precise look.
1) Turn the shirt inside out, and try to find where the side seam WOULD be. I usually hold up the arm and rotate the torso until it creases in line with the underarm seam. As shown here:
2) Pin both side where the side seam WOULD be, based upon where you found it in step 1. (shown in next step)
3) After the faux side seams are pinned, I carefully free-hand a line where I want to sew to take the sides in. I just kind of know how big I am and how things will fit, so I don't measure anymore.
But, to measure for your own alteration, just try the garment on and pull the garment as tight as you want it in the front. Measure the amount you pulled in, and divide it by 2. After dividing, take that measurement out of each side seam.
The free-handing is why I consider this project more "messy" than my usual work. However, I have a lot of experience free-handing these alterations, so, if you prefer to measure these things out more precisely, please do!!
When you draw the line where you will sew, draw it on the side you will be sewing on. So, on the right side, I drew the line on top, then I flipped it over to draw it on the left side. You'll see what I mean when you start doing it.
4) Next, pin the fabric where the line you will be sewing on is. That ensures that it will not shift around while you follow that line. (shown in next step)
5) Sew along the line, as pictured...
Here's what it will look like when done (at the last minute, I decided to take a little less out towards the bottom of the shirt, as shown. You can do it any way you like though)
6) Trim the excess fabric off of the seams (after trying it on inside out to make sure that it fits you well)
***If you are happy with just taking it in on the sides, stop here. I decided to spice up the neckline by doing an open neck that will lead to kind of a flash-dance look. Here's how that went.
7) Measure how far you want the neckline from the shoulder seam, on both sides.
8) Draw a new neckline with your pen. I freehanded it, but you could measure it all the way around from the original neckline. (shown in next step)
9) Cut along the line
10) Sew close to where you trimmed the fabric, so that the neckline does not totally fray out. Plus I like the look of the stitching (you don't have to pin or anything, just make sure it is an even stitch line)
11) Wash the garment to get rid of the pen marks, and to give the garment its finished shape. Here's the "after"
I am utterly in LOVE with my "new" shirt, even more so than I thought I would be. I'm gonna wear a maroon tank top underneath, to accent the flash-dance look with school spirit (our colors are Maroon and Silver). Here's wishing you many happy t-shirt makeovers:)
