By Cher
How To Alter a Man’s T-shirt
A few months ago, I shared a post on How to “Girl Up” a Man’s T-Shirt” . Today, I want to continue that with a few new ideas! These shirts are so comfy so why not alter them to reflect your individual style? I’ll share how to alter a man’s t-shirt and add a bit of crochet detail to it…
Materials:
- T-shirt (mine is a Men’s XL) (<–affiliate link!)
- Scissors
- Pins
Start by washing and drying the shirt to remove any sizing and to soften it up. Pin around the neck and cut the neckband away. This particular shirt already had a v-neck so I didn’t want to cut the neckline too low…
To make a cute front detail, fold the front of the shirt and line up the shoulder seams. Make cuts in a triangle so they get smaller as the cuts go down the front. Open the front and pull the fabric a little to make the cuts “roll” (I’m not sure why it looks green in this pic – its the same shirt!). Use a sort of crochet technique to make a braid down the front, then pin the last loop to the shirt…
I wanted a braid detail at the hip line so I folded the bottom of the shirt up about 5″ and drew a 3/4″ line from the fold. Then I made small cuts across the entire width of the shirt…
I used a crochet hook this time (it went a lot faster) and made the hip detail…
Use a needle and thread to secure the last loop to the shirt. More detail can be added such as screen printing, stenciling, bling, etc.
Here is another shirt where I added the triangle chain detail to the back…
The possibilities are endless! I’d love to see YOUR ideas!!
I’ve been asked to add a how-to on the crochet detail so here goes:
Step One
After making the cuts for the crochet detail, insert the hook under two of the “loops”.
Step Two
Pull the loop closest to the hook under the first.
Step Three
Pick up the next loop and pull it through the loop already on the hook.
Step Four
Continue along until all loops have been worked then secure the last loop to the first loop using a needle and thread!
This is such an easy technique and can be added to the shirt in a variety of ways. Have any questions about how to alter a man’s t-shirt again? Leave a comment below!
Originally posted 2012-06-25 08:00:57.
Cher 
Cher 
Cher 
This is fantastic!!! Granddaughters will love this!!!!
Thank you so much! Hope they have fun with it! Stop by again soon…
How do you finish the last loop, as in fasten it so it doesn’t all come undone?
Hello! I used a needle and thread the secure the loop to the very first loop. Hope this helps! Thank you for stopping by!
Great! Thank you!
How do you do the ‘crocheting technique’ ??? I would love to do this, but that looks like the only part I might have trouble with.
It is basically pulling one “loop” (where the cuts in the fabric are made) through another using a crochet hook… Start with the bottom loop and using a crochet hook, pull the loop above it through then continue “hooking” the loops until the chain is completed. Does this make sense? If not, let me know and I will email pics to you! designsbystudioc [at] gmail [dot] com
Could you send me those extra pics, I’d love to make it, it just looks a little confusing. Thank you
Hello! I just added the pics to the bottom of the post… Hope this helps!
Genius ! I’m totally makin it
Really Kool … Thanks for the inspiration
It would’ve been nice if you’d included a “finished” pic of the whole shirt, so we could see what it looks like when completely finished. Not being able to “see” the whole finished product means I probably won’t try it. : (
Hello! There is a photo of the finished shirt… It is the turquoise shirt in the photo above the purple shirt. Hope this helps! Thanks for stopping by!
terrific idea! thanks for the detailed explanation too.
Thank you so much! Stop by again soon!
I also would like to see this on a person or mannequin. I know the detail makes the shirt a little more fitted in that area and it would be nice to see that effect before I start cutting up on my shirts.
I wish there was a video tutorial I am much better at SEEING IT HAPPEN and mimicking the steps then the pictures…I am a bit of a spazzz!
Hello! I understand that and I will certainly try my best to create one! Thank you for stopping by!
I agree in video but a bit slow
I thought this tutorial was perfect! Thank you for sharing! Cannot wait to get started!
Thank you!! I really appreciate that! Have fun and share photos when you are finished, I would love to see!
Just tried the collar design and the results are perfect! Was going to throw the t-shirt away due to a tear on the hemline, but now I’m going to keep it and braid the bottom, too. One question, though: what happens when you wash it? Do the cut edges unravel/run? I was thinking I might have to machine stitch the edges to keep them from running, but don’t want to go to the trouble if it’s not needed.
If it is a regular tshirt, the edges will not run but will curl. Sewing the edge beforehand will not be necessary. If it is a silky nylon type of shirt, they edges may run. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!!
I love it! Thanks so much for the helpfull tips.
Awesome! I hope you enjoy the techniques!
I am commenting as a guest because the sign in thing is not working for me 🙁 I am kasey from My life on the divide. I found your tutorial here, well just the one picture. I wanted to make sure you are ok with it. I have http://www.diyandcraftideas.com/crochet-on-t-shirt-tutorial/
Not a problem! As long as there is a link back to my site (and I see there is) I do not have a problem with it! THANK YOU so much for asking!
Hello. This is a very nice tutorial. I’m getting ready to try it right now. I have one question. When crocheting the hip area, will this be on the front and the back? I know that seems like a silly question but i just want to be sure. Thank you very much.
Not a silly question at all! It will go all the way around the shirt, front and back. Hope this helps! Thank you for stopping by!!
Love this – have to wear a charity tshirt for work all next week and wanted a straightforward way to give the hem a bit more shape – will now be braided! Thanks so much for sharing your idea!
Thank YOU so much! I think your shirt will look awesome and you will rock it!
[…] this one is less a crochet project and more a clothing alteration project, with little bits of crochet as […]
I want to use a t-shirt I have for part of a Elsa costume for my 5 year old daughter and love the idea of pulling it in like this… how much do you think the tshirt will be pulled in by using this method… I will be doing this on the back of the t-shirt so as to keep the sequins on the front undisturbed…
Hi, there! In all honesty, I don’t know how much it will pull the shirt in… I would think that it wouldn’t be very much! Maybe try it on a piece of scrap fabric measuring the piece before and then after! Hope this helps!
[…] by these projects (here, here, and here), I love making things using t-shirts! They are comfortable, economical, and are in abundance […]
Hope this can still find way to you. Just love the creativity of some people.thanks for a great idea.
Thank you so much, Jojo Sewist! I appreciate that!
When u crochet where do u tie the last hook
Hi, Jess! Just use a needle and thread to secure the last loop either to itself or to the first loop.
Hi Cher, I have a T-shirt that I purchased at a craft faire that has this crochet just above the hem of on the sleeves and also just above the hem of the bottom. My question is: how long do the slits need to be in order to do crocheting? I would love to see a video but I have looked on YouTube and I am not seeing anything. I really don’t know what to call this technique except Crochet Braid?
Thanks for any help you can give.
I purchased a T-Shirt with crocheting at a craft fair and I love it. I have been searching for a tutorial and now I found it. Thank you so much. I saw the post of someone wanting a picture of the finished project. I think what she was looking for was seeing the full finished T-Shirt which would be great or on a person would be even better. I would also like to see a video on this technique. My T-Shirt also has crocheting on the sleeves. I purchased my T-Shirts at Joann’s on sale for only $2 each. Can’t wait to get started
Thank you so much for this post❣
It has taken me days upon days to find it again. ??♀️
I’ve lost weight and want to resize some of my favorite things. ??♀️
May God bless you in all you do. ??
[…] are so many other ways to alter men’s t-shirts… crochet detail can also be added for a fun […]