- Upcycle old t-shirts into something new by cutting a V, keyhole, or boat neckline out of the collar with fabric scissors.
- Repurpose a pair of beloved jeans by cutting them with fabric scissors to make denim cut-off shorts.
- Restyle a t-shirt by chopping 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) thick strips into the hem to create a fringe fit for any bohemian.
Change the neckline of a shirt
Cutting up an old t-shirt can bring it back to life. So, you’ve found a super cute shirt in the back of your closet. The color and print are perfect, but the cut is all wrong. Well, why not change it? These no-sew upcycling hacks are a great way to make old clothes like new—check them out: Tank top: Cut a “V” shape into the front neckline that’s about 7 in (18 cm) away from the shoulder seam. Then, cut off the sleeves, starting at the armpit seam. Keyhole neckline: Lay your shirt on a flat surface inside out. Draw a triangle at the base of the original collar with the point facing down. Cut the triangle out of the fabric, leaving the collar intact, for a cut peekaboo effect. Boat neck: Fold your shirt in half on a flat surface and mark the center of the collar. Unfold the shirt and start cutting 4 fingers width away from the collar at a curve. Cut until you reach the middle mark. Repeat on the other side of the shirt.
Cut jeans into denim shorts
Jeans can easily turn into shorts with a few snips of your scissors. Have your favorite jeans gotten too short? If so, they may be the perfect candidate for DIY cut-off shorts. This is an excellent way to add to your summertime wardrobe and reuse clothing. All you have to do is follow these instructions: Turn your jeans inside out. Start at the waistband and measure down a pant leg with a tape measure. Make a mark where you’d like to cut the jeans. Do the same on the opposite leg, ensuring the marks are the same. Use fabric scissors to cut the jeans where you made your marks. Starting at the side of one leg, cut straight across until you’ve cut off the bottom part of the leg. Turn the now jean shorts right-side out. Keep the ends frayed for a punk rock look, or add a bit of no-fray fabric glue and hem the edges over. Try embellishing your new cut-offs by adding jewels or buttons or use a bleach pen to draw shapes or lines on the fabric.
Add a fringe hem to a shirt
Why go for a typical crop when you can add fringe? If you have an old t-shirt lying around, try spicing it up by adding fringe to the bottom of it. Not only is this look groovy, but it’s also a great way to get some more use out of a shirt you don’t like the style of anymore. All it takes are a few simple steps: Lay the shirt out flat. Measure where you’d like the fringe to start and mark it with an erasable marker or pencil. Make an identical mark on the other side of the shirt and draw a horizontal line from one mark to the other. Using the bottom hem of the shirt as a guide, make marks at the bottom of the shirt in ⁄2 in (1.3 cm) intervals. Use a ruler to draw a straight line up the shirt from the bottom to the horizontal line you previously made. Use fabric scissors to cut each vertical line you’ve drawn, stopping once you reach the top horizontal line. Stretch out each strand of fringe and rock your new boho top. Try stringing beads on the fringe and secure them with a knot for a colorful look, or tie every other piece of fringe together to create a netted look.
Dye jeans a new color
Dipping an old pair of jeans in fabric dye can make them look brand new. So, you love the fit of your jeans but hate the wash. Well, why not change the wash? A bottle of Rit Dye and some hot water can go a long way when it comes to revitalizing old clothing. Here’s how you can redye old jeans so they look brand new: Mix the dye with boiling water in a 5 US gal (19 l) bucket while wearing gloves. Follow the directions for the dye to find the ratio of water to dye powder. Put the jeans into the dye and stir them with your gloved hands or a long utensil. After 5 minutes of stirring, pull the jeans out and wring out the excess dye. Rinse the jeans in a sink or bathtub until the water runs clear. Lay the jeans out flat to dry or put them in a dryer.
Sew a large tee into a sleeveless dress
With a bit of alterations, a baggy t-shirt can turn into an adorable dress. Looking for a cute way to repurpose an old, oversized t-shirt? If so, try turning it into a fun summertime dress! As long as the shirt comes down to your knees, it’s perfect for this DIY. Simply follow these instructions: Cut the sleeves off the shirt, then cut the seam of the sleeves to open them into a long piece of fabric. Lay the sleeves flat on a table and cut 2 identical rectangles out of the sleeves, avoiding the hem. Cut a straight line across the top of the shirt just under the neckline, and discard the cut piece. Cut the remaining part of the shirt up the sides to create 2 identical large rectangles of fabric to be the body of the dress. Use a sewing machine to sew the smaller rectangles of fabric to the top of the larger pieces of fabric. Sew the front of the dress to the back of the dress by sewing the sides together. Then, sew elastic onto the dress where the top piece meets the body piece, stretching the elastic as you sew. Cut any excess fabric away, then turn the dress right side out.
Sew lace onto a shirt
A strip of lace fabric can turn an old shirt from drab to fab! Is your favorite shirt getting too short? If so, try giving it an extra cute makeover with some lace (or other fabric of your choosing). Lace gives shorter shirts a layered flare, and no one will be the wiser! Simple follow these steps to create your unique tee: Lay your shirt on a flat surface and cut off the hem. Start the project with the shirt inside out if you’d like the lace to be the inside layer, or start with it right-side up if you want the lace to be on the outside of the shirt. Measure the circumference of the shirt’s hem (the length or radius of one side multiplied by 2). Cut a piece of lace the size of the circumference, then sew the ends together to make a band. Place the lace band over the hem of the shirt. Pin it in place, and use a sewing machine to stitch the edge of the fabric onto the shirt’s hem. Trim off any excess shirt fabric, and put on your super cute layered shirt.
Turn t-shirts into a scarf
Why buy a new scarf when you can make your own out of shirts? If you have a bunch of old shirts that don’t fit you anymore, this is the perfect upcycling project for you! Simply cut rectangles out of 8 to 10 shirts about 8 in × 10 in (20 cm × 25 cm) in size. Take 2 rectangles, pin their short ends, and sew them together. Add another rectangle to another short end, pin, and sew. Continue this pattern until all your rectangles are attached. Sew your scarf's top and bottom ends together to create an infinity scarf. Try cutting out the pattern of graphic tees so their design shows on your scarf.
Make a sweater smaller
A sewing machine can help revitalize a stretched-out sweater. The more you wear a sweater, the more likely it’ll stretch out over time. Thankfully, you can make your favorite sweater look and fit like new again with a little bit of handy work: Put the sweater on inside out and pin it where you want to resize it, pinching and folding the fabric where necessary. Carefully take the sweater off and lay it flat to ensure all the pins are straight. Use a sewing machine or hand sew the sweater in a line where the pins are. Cut the excess fabric after sewing it. Turn the sweater right-side out and put it on.
Replace missing buttons
Rather than throwing out a shirt with a missing button, sew a new one on. If you have a shirt, blouse, sweater, or pant that’s lost a button, there’s no need to discard it. Try your hand at sewing on a new button so the garment looks like new again. Simply find a button similar to the ones already on the item (or one entirely different—the choice is yours) and follow these steps: Double thread a sewing needle and knot the end. Bring the needle up through the wrong side of the fabric and into one hole of the button. Bring the needle back down through an opposite hole. Repeat the process of going up through one hole and down through another hole 6 times with the same 2 holes. Do the same thing with the other 2 non-threaded holes. Tie a secure knot in the thread by passing the needle through the stitches on the wrong side of the fabric, stopping short to create a loop. Then, pass the needle through the loop and pull tightly. Repeat this twice to make a secure knot.
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