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Restyle an oversized T-shirt with this easy DIY Crop Top tutorial! You know those oversized t-shirts you get from the thrift store, as a gift, for high school sports, college tees, and conferences? Typically you use them for painting, PJs, or lounging in. But, with basic sewing skills, you can restyle it into a crop top. And if you don’t sew use fabric glue or iron-on hem tape.
You can DIY your crop top from a t-shirt. Get ready to learn how to restyle an oversized t-shirt. Use oursew or no-sew instructions to make a DIY CROP TOP! Sammie was sent her college t-shirt. She’s GCU bound. Goodbye beaches hello Arizona Lopes Up! It’s big, purple, and has her college logo on it. She put it on and it was way too big. So she asked me to help her make a crop top from the big oversized T-shirt.
When I saw how much excess fabric would be left; I asked her if she wanted me to make a bandeau top (tube top) for summer. She said sure, so I also made a bandeau top. If your T-shirt is super big you can get 2 shirts from 1!
I’ll share that DIY bandeau soon, so be sure to pin the post, subscribe. Come back for that tutorial because it turned out super cute. And it’s so easy! I’ll interlink the two restyle sewing projects so you can find them easily and see how to make them too!
DIY Crop Top
To restyle your t-shirt and make a crop top; All you need is basic sewing skills, a sewing machine… or fabric glue to make it a no-sew project! You won’t believe how easy it is!
Pick the method that you will use to make the crop top and get out your supplies. Then follow the instructions below for how to make a crop top. If you don’t have a logo on yours you can go shorter ( if you want to).
TIP: Be sure to raise your arms and bend down when the fabric is pinned (and the tee shirt is on). This makes sure you don’t cut off too much. For pinning, you will need someone to help you as you will be in an oversized shirt.
This sewing machine is the most similar to the sewing machine I own. It is the Singer Sewing Machine 7258. It is a good machine for beginners. And for the more advanced sewer too. Any teen or adult can grow their sewing skills and not outgrow the machine while owning it. The sewing machine has many features. My favorite from speed control (which is helpful for beginners or those doing intricate sewing) to the computerized decorative stitches…
Oversized T-shirt (high school t-shirt, college t-shirt, thrift store t-shirt…)
Optionally, a seam ripper is a must-have for any sewer. Especially, if you are a beginning sewer. Helpful tip:Always practice sewing on a scrap piece of fabric to set your stitches properly for your sewing projects.
Measure the fit of the T-shirt on the person who will wear it. Decide where to cut the fabric, and allow a little extra room for making the hem. (about an inch extra)
Use a sewing ruleror yardstick andfabric marking pencil to make the lines for where to cut the t-shirt. Mark the cutting line all around the T-shirt (front and backside with lines meeting).
Snip Cut the edge withsewing scissors. then cut around the t-shirt with one layer (vs. cutting both front and back at once) This gives you extra fabric to make the bandeau top! Save it for later.
(Have your shirt inside out!) Make a hem by turning up the bottom edge, measure 5/8 inch, and placing the sewing foot directly on the folded edge. (NOTE: You are working on the inside t-shirt and not the front/top (right side). Sewers say the wrong side of the fabric.
If possible use a finishing hem. A zig-zag or straight stitch will work too. Remember to use a start/reverse/start-knot stitch when beginning and ending your sewing.Sewaround the entire t-shirt making the hem5/8 inch. Trim excess threads.
Turn the t-shirt to the right side of the finished project. Tada! You made it and it’s ready to wear.
DIY Crop Top No-Sew
Follow the Steps above 1-3 then instead of sewing make the hem 5/8 inch (working on the inside of the t-shirt) and use fabric glue like Aleene’s (or adhesive hem iron-on tape) to make your hem secure. If using the iron-on hem tape follow directions on the package.
If using the fabric glue follow the directions on the package. Let the fabric glue dry or hem cool down and follow step 6.
Who is ready to make a cropped T-shirt from their high school or college sports T-shirts?
New here? Be sure to Subscribe Never miss a post and get the instructions for the tube top/bandeau top coming soon! Sew this babydoll top and see other babydoll top patterns to sew!
Brother XM2701 Sewing Machine, Lightweight, Full Featured, 27 Stitches, 6 Included Feet
27 Unique built-in stitches: The XM2701 includes 27 built-in stitches including decorative, blind hem, zigzag, and stretch stitches and an auto-size buttonhole
Automatic needle threader and drop-in top bobbin: This sewing machine includes an automatic needle threader that perfectly pushes
Janome Hello Kitty sewing machine electric sewing machine KT-35
Janome Sewing Machine, White
200-Stitches including 12 Buttonholes plus Alphabet
Easy Convenience, computerized Buttons - Start/Stop Sewing, Easy Reverse, Locking Stitch, and Needle Up/Down plus a sliding Speed Control and LCD Display
Removable Storage Compartment for Free Arm Sewing
Quilting Accessories Package including: Hard
Aleene's Fabric Fusion Glue, 3 Count, (Pack of 1)
Voted America’s Favorite Crafting Glue by generations of crafters, hobbyists, and households
Includes three 0.66 fl. oz. bottles of Fabric Fusion
Permanent bond and works on a variety of fabrics
Nontoxic and low odor
Machine washable – and stays flexible
Aleene's 24914 Permanent Fabric Glue 4oz
Nontoxic formula
Always test for best results.
Available in a 4 fl oz bottle
Missraza Sewing Kit, Portable Kit for Adults, Plastic Box Needle and Thread Accesories Supplies Pink 15.5x6cm(6.1x2.36in)
【Fashion Design】: Elegant pink and blue color matching. The open and close of the sewing box is designed as a button ingeniously.
【Necessary Sewing Accessories】: 18 small rolls of threads, 2 large rolls of threads, 6 needles, 4 clips, 4
SINGER 00220 Sewing Gauge, 6-Inch,
6-inch sewing gauge with slider
Used to measure hem depth and space between buttonholes, space tucks and pleats
Slider allows gauge to hold position for repeated marking and/or drawing circles
Ruler printed with inches and centimeters
Clover Water Soluble Pencil-White, Pink & Blue
Markings easily wipe off with water
It is also very useful for marking when you sew, stitch and do patchwork
Model Number: Q5003
Model Number: 0334191
Dritz 3095 Chalk Cartridge Set
Collection of eight white and eight assorted colors suitable for marking light and dark fabrics
Chalk comes in every color you could possibly need for sewing, quilting, crafting, scrapbooking, and much more
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