T-Shirt to Tank Top Tutorial
(Say that three times fast!)
You need:
1 Tank Top That Fits (or in my case almost fits)
1 Men’s T-Shirt That’s Too Big
(Are you familiar with those packs where there are, oh, four T’s for about $10? That’s the kind of T-Shirt I’m using today. Check out T’s at thrift stores and yard sales, too!)
Sewing Machine
Thread
Wide Ribbon
Corsage
Our summer heat has been too much this year. I have been looking for a simple tank top. YIKES!
Are tank top designers just mean?!
If you’ve read my T-Shirt Makeovers (find them all HERE !), you already know that I am short. I am curvy. I am not a size 2 and I am no longer in my 30’s. T-Shirts seldom fit me. Then there’s the tank top section. It is so difficult for me to find a tank top. I repeat myself…
Are tank top designers just mean?!
And so, my journey begins. 😉 I began with a mens T-Shirt that is too big for me and a tank top that almost fits.
On this particular tank top, I like the fit on the arms, but it is too tight across the chest. (‘Story of my life!)
Anyway, I used the arms to measure where to cut the Mens T-Shirt.
The sleeves were cut away and then the shirt was cut across the chest below the collar.
The arms were hemmed. Then a one inch casing was sewn across the front and back of the shirt.
Again… I used the Almost Fitting Tank Top to measure elastic across the chest and back. Then I threaded that elastic in the casing and safety pinned it. Working with old ribbon in an effort to figure out how much to cut for the straps, I paused.
About that time, a light bulb appeared above my head. HEY, that looks like a pillow case dress!
I ditched the elastic and all the safety pins. A wide white ribbon was in my stash. This ribbon is about 2 inches wide. With it threaded through the casing, my tank top was almost complete.
A purple and white corsage was sewn (tutorial here) and pinned in place.
Done! I’ve worn it to dinner with Handsome Husband,
And Yard Sale shopping with buddies. It’s been lots of other places, but I didn’t take pictures.
When I make more colors, I’ll probably seam the sides. This one is pretty loose, but that’s nice on these CRAZY HOT days we are having!
Once I realized it was a pillow case dress, I had to make one for Lil Fashionista! (Tutorial Here)
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
😉 -Marci
