How to… make a Halterneck out of a T-shirt (Guest Post)

It looks like we have Guest Post month!! So many lovely people sharing their crafts with you on Red Ted Art. Hurray! This week we have the amazing Amanda from Unique Snowflake visiting. She came up with his ingenious way of converting an old T-shirt into a Halterneck for the ladies! Talk about fabulous recycling!

Now to Amanda:

I have had this T-shirt for years, it was a souvenir from my holiday in Florida which I bought as I loved its colour & motif but every Summer I take it out only to remember the reason I never wear it is it too restrictive at the neck and arms making you feel even hotter. But not this year, rather than it going to waste I’d have a go at transforming it into something more wearable.

I hope this guide helps if you want to try as well, its my first how to so feedback would be great.

The pictures are a bit dark I’m afraid as the camera didn’t pick up great detail from this colour t-shirt.

Take one t-shirt to be re-fashioned one that is a snug fit works best, otherwise you may need to take in the sides.  Be brave take a deep breath & cut off the sleeves.Then remove the trim on the bottom inch of the t-shirt in one piece & keep, this will form the neck tie later on meaning you don’t have to stitch one.                     

Lie the piece flat, if you wish you can draw a straight line across the body of the t-shirt under the neck opening, then cut along it.  Or like me you can just dive in and cut by guess work.

Then turning the piece so the back is facing draw a line connecting arm hole to arm hole, and cut across the back or just cut away.

The t-shirt should be looking like the below picture now, if you want to neaten the seams around the bottom now is a good time to do it, but I kept mine raw & they just roll up a bit at the bottom.

Now we need to make the halter neck  piece of the t-shirt, lay the shirt front down and turn over the top front neckline by roughly one inch, stitch across this in a matching thread or use a contrasting one for a detailed effect, leaving openings at each end this creates the drawstring for the top.

Take your trim from the bottom of the t-shirt & cut once so you have one long piece, then thread this through the seam.I did this by clipping a hair clip to one end & feeding it through, or you could use a knitting needle to push it through.  When pulled though to an even length tie a knot in each end of cord & runch front up.

Then wear, sorry its a bit of a bad picture of me but hopefully you get the idea. I made this during an episode of Doctor Who so it’s a quick make to do & I love the fact that I get to wear my t-shirt now.

Loving the Summer sunshine

Amanda.x.

I am entering Amanda’s Guest Post to:

Previous How Tos:

– Felt Strawberries & Gingerbread Men (Guest Post)

– How to make a No Sew Tea Towel Kid’s Apron

– Easy & effective Fish Pinata

– Simple but effective paper frames (vlog) 

– How to make a Flower Pom Pom (guest post) – simply gorgeous – use as wedding decor! 

– How to make a Paper Envelope  

– How to make a No Sew Bib (out of an old shirt)  

– How to make a Fabric Mâché Bowl (from old scraps of fabric!)  

– How to make a Paper Flower (from newspapers)  (guest post)  

– How to make a Paper Boat (vlog)  

– How to make a Paper Cup (vlog)  

– How to make Swedish Hearts (Paper Baskets) (vlog)  

– How to make No Sew Bunting   

– How to make a Balloon Poodle (vlog)  

– How to make Seedling Pots (out of newspapers) (vlog)  

– Funky comic party bags