Want to know how to make a tank top from a t shirt? It’s easier than you think. This DIY video will show you how to sew an easy gathered tank top.
Hey y’all, today I’m going to show you how to turn a t-shirt into a tank top in a really easy refashion. I’ve been wanting to film this for a while – it’s a great way to use thrifted clothing as your fabric. And the technique is basically the same one used when making a pillowcase dress. It’s so easy you’ll want to turn all your t-shirts into DIY tank tops.
While I’m wearing the top here with denim shorts and earrings, I will most likely wear this for working out. I’m looking forward to being able to run again, and because I had labral repair surgery on my hip, my doctor has banned me from ever running on a treadmill again. That means that even in the Texas summer, if I want to run then I’m going to have to go outside. Or figure out if there’s a gym here with an indoor track that’s worth joining!
I like that you can adjust the straps on this tank top to change the length of the armholes and make a higher or lower neckline by adjusting where you knot it. You can also gather the front and back narrower to be more like a racerback or less so that the straps are closer to your shoulder points.
Materials
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Want to make your own t-shirt tank tops? Then here’s what you’ll need:
- A t-shirt. Look for one with some positive ease in the bust.
- Scissors
- Sewing machine and basic notions. Glass head pins (affiliate link) are important if you’re going to press them with the iron.
- Optional: quilting ruler (affiliate link). This is helpful to mark the cutting lines, but any straight edge will work.
- Optional: bodkin (affiliate link)
- Optional – if you don’t want to cut the bottom of your t-shirt to make the tie, you can use ribbon instead. You’ll need about a yard of ribbon.
How to Sew a Tank Top from a Shirt
I have a video tutorial below, which you can also watch on YouTube here showing how I made this tank top. Scroll below the video for written instructions .
Written Tutorial Instructions
Time needed: 1 hour
How to Sew a Tank Top from a T-shirt
- Cut off the sleeves and neck
Lay your shirt flat, making sure the side seams and shoulder seams are even. Carefully cut off the sleeves, making sure the seam allowance stays on the side of the sleeve. Then mark a line straight across the neckline, the same distance down from each shoulder seam. I used a gridded clear quilting ruler for this. Mark with fabric chalk or my favorite, a washable children’s marker. Cut straight across. If desired, you can make the front neckline and back different heights instead of the same.
- Sew a basting line on each armscye and press.
Fold and match your armscyes on the front and back of the shirt and trim if necessary to make sure they’re even. Then baste 1/2 inch away from the raw edge of the armscye on the side of the shirt. Next, use the stitching line to fold the raw edge to the wrong side, pin and press into a smooth curve. Stitch near the raw edge with a stretch stitch to finish the new armhole and then remove the basting stitches.
- Fold down the neck casings
Fold the straight neck edges 5/8 inch to the wrong side and press. Then stitch near the raw edge with a stretch stitch.
- Cut the bottom of the shirt
Cut off the bottom of the shirt to your preferred length plus a hem width (if desired). You can leave this longer like I did, cut into a crop top, or any length in between. Cut off a 1 inch wide strip from the scrap, cutting one edge so it’s a flat piece. Pull the ends of the tie to make the knit curl in on the long edges. Hem if desired – here’s a post on hemming knit fabrics.
- Thread the tie through the casings
Use the bodkin or a safety pin to thread your tie through the front and back casings. Once that is done, you can tie straps in a bow at the shoulder. Alternatively, you can sew the ends together after you adjust the length to your preference and hide them in the casing. After that, you’ve turned your t-shirt into a tank top!
Anita
Love it!
I have learned so much from your posts/website. I am grateful to you.