How to Fix a Too-Wide T-Shirt
For a month or two, there's been a pile of clothes sitting in my office, waiting for me to mend/modify/refashion them.
During the school year, I just cannot seem to get to projects like these because daily life uses up all of my hours.
But formal school is done for the summer (woo!) and so I've managed to work my way through the pile.
One of the items waiting for help was a striped hand me down t-shirt for Lisey. It was a fairly loose design, and I've come to the conclusion that the flowy tshirts that are in style right now aren't a good look for my girls and me...we kinda get lost in them.
So, the shirt needed to be made thinner.
I laid it out flat on the floor and placed one of Lisey's well-fitting shirts on top.
Then, using the blue shirt as a guide, I snipped off the striped fabric to match the shape of the blue shirt. I pinned the sides together and then sewed straight up the side.
The really great thing about knit fabric is that it doesn't fray, so there's no need to worry about the raw edges...they'll just sit there happily.
I was a little unsure what to do about the sleeve, but I just kept on sewing, following the curve of the shirt, and the sleeves worked out just fine.
This leaves you with a slightly less finished-looking hem at the waist and at the sleeve, but it's barely noticeable, and I'm not picky enough to do the seam up properly (that would involve picking out the original sleeve hem).
I know myself well enough to know that if I went that route, I'd never get jobs like this done, and I'd rather have them done imperfectly than not done at all.
This is why no one has ever accused me of being a perfectionist.
I realized that this could also be a great technique to use on knit shirts that have gotten progressively shorter and wider with wear. If you sew the side seams in, then you end up with a properly-proportioned shirt in a smaller size.
So, I guess that's just a good solution if you've got someone smaller around to wear the newly-small shirt. 😉
Looks terrific. I have done the same in order to save money another way: husky boys polos are the same as women's (except the buttons are on the other side; not an issue with me) but cost way less. The only fit problem is the width. I pick them up for abut 4 or 5 dollars and have my entire summer/spring/fall (Texas) shirt supply. I don't like how t shirts look on someone my (grandma) age.Lisey is adorable and confident looking.
You never fail to inspire me! I love this idea.
I do something similar, but make my markings with a washable marker, then sew, then cut after trying on. Saves me in case of an "oops!"
I've done this a few times for my tiny daughter who has lots of handmedowns. I've also done this for myself - bootcut pants to skinny pants - and that worked really well!
Have a great summer.
Hey Kristen I was wondering what kind of sewing machine you use.
Thank you.
This is fantastic! I'm kind of tiny, and even the xs teen t shirts at Target fit too wide after a couple washes. I was hesitant to size them down, because I was worried about having them look half done, but it looks great! Now I'll just have to find space in my office to drag out the sewing machine again.
Yeah!!!
You just done a "side seam", sewing 101.
Proud of you! and you did it just like the manf. Did to the org. Shirt.This can be done with pants, skirts etc...keep up the good work...
My wife was commenting recently that she needs to learn to tailor and alter clothes. Part of the problem is that mass market Made in China/Honduras/Timbuktu shirts are pretty much designed around certain body proportions and if you are "blessed" in some areas, they don't cater to you either.
Oh, that's a good point. If a woman was especially curvy up top, she could buy a larger size than usual and then take in the other areas of the shirt.
Thanks for the inspiration! I, too, have a pile of clothes that needs minor alterations, including several "boxy" t-shirts that need to be slimmed down. For casual stuff, I do my own alterations. For my nicer clothes - often from 2nd hand or consignment shops - I spend a few extra dollars for professional alterations, but I'm lucky to have found a woman nearby who works out of her house and charges very reasonable prices. It's worth the money, because I find I wear clothes more often and keep them longer if they fit well and I feel good in them.
Yeah, I'm not brave enough to take on something like altering a tailored woven shirt. But when it's something like this (free and headed to the donation bag), I feel like I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I was just thinking about doing this with some of my old T shirts. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you for this! I will have to remember all of your tips.
Ooooo... that's a fantastic idea! I've got a bunch of huge t-shirts, but they're the kind that don't have seams down the side. But I wonder if I could just cut them and create a side seam. Hmmm... perhaps I'll experiment try with one that's stained anyhow so there's not much to lose.
One question though... I've never had any luck using the sewing machine for knitted fabrics. It's like one piece always stretches more than the other. Any tips?
Sounds like a pressure foot problem...
Hmmmm... is that something that's adjustable? I have an old singer from the 1950's that is, ummmm... not exactly robust!
Thanks for the tutorial! I was actually planning to to this to save some of my t-shirts (and after reading "Overdressed" from one of your earlier posts). 🙂
I have done this for the past 3 years for my daughters baseball t-shirts and school spirit wear. For whatever reason the adults that order these shirts in adult sizes when many of the children are still in youth sizes. My first ones were done just as you but I purchased a serger and now my life is forever changed - it cuts and sews at the same time.
I do this with my t-shirts, Kristen - great way of salvaging a few gems from the 90s (what was it with me buying everything L/XL back then?) I sew-then-cut first too!
So simple. Why didn't I think of that?
I do this all the time with my own knit tops. Why do they stretch so much laterally?