diy // altering a t-shirt neckline

Today, I'm sharing another way to refashion an unflattering t-shirt: changing the neckline (to see how to make a baggy t-shirt more fitted, click here!).
When we left off, our t-shirt looked like this:

Fine, but still lacking. Particularly in the neckline department--that crew-neck is worse than a 90's choker/tattoo necklace! I don't know if I have a big head or what, but anytime I find a casual shirt I like, it barely fits over my noggin. If I can manage to squeeze my head in, it chokes like crazy! Stupid. 

Also (and maybe this is just me), but I find crew-neck shirts just unflattering in general. Something about a wide and unbroken expanse of fabric across one of my larger areas... Maybe this is why I don't love wearing t-shirts. 

Thankfully, taking an unflattering or a too-tight neckline to something more pleasant is an easy fix, particularly on a shirt that has ribbing on the collar! Here's how you do it:

Step 1: Using a piece of colored chalk (or pen or whatever you have on hand), mark where you would like the new neckline to land. Take into account the ribbing, which will add a little more height.

Step 2: Cut out the new neckline. When you get to the ribbing, stick as close to the seam as you can, but leave a little something (less than 1/4").

Step 3: Stretch the ribbing so that it will fit along the new neckline. Starting in the center of the ribbing, pin to the new neck opening, right sides together. Keep stretching to make sure it is evenly spaced.

{If you want a v-neck instead of a scoop-neck at the end, you'll have to sew a "pinch" into your ribbing (as seen below). I wanted a scoop-neck, so I didn't do this step.}

 

Step 4: Sew the ribbing to the new neck opening, stretching as you go. Try to follow the previous stitching so that the transition between the shirt's seam and yours is not noticeable.

Step 5 (not pictured): To give the shirt a completely finished look, topstitch around the new neckline, following the line of the original topstitching. This will help the collar lay flat, as well as make the shirt look like it was bought this way!

Aah, I DO have a collarbone! I didn't go super-low on this one because of the logo, but ribbing is surprisingly stretchy and can accommodate more than you might think. Experiment!

And that, my friends, is as complicated as it gets. Not overwhelming at all, right??! I've saved so many t-shirts that I would have initially deemed unsalvageable this way, and the best part? Once you've mastered the alteration of necklines in t-shirts, doing the same to sweatshirts and sweaters is the same process.

before // after

The difference is subtle, but femininity is subtle, am I right??

diy // how to skinnify a t-shirt

So, I love t-shirts but hate feeling like I'm stuck in the 90's. This is too much of a flashback to the shirt with Lee Pipes and slicked back hair I sported in elementary school. *Shudder*. Non-fitted tees shouldn't be seen on a woman outside of the home, and even then? Sorry. Personally, I'm not a fan.

Talk about unflattering! Check out my midsection; I look pregnant, and I'm definitely not.

However, giant bulky t-shirts are a TON cheaper than fitted tees, and so therefore are more common in this household because I'm cheap ;) Thankfully, a little surgery can skinnify them and make them appropriate for, you know, women.

Look! I look like I have shape. Ignore the dorky face.

I love this little trick because it's pretty simple and it completely changes the look of a t-shirt. I do it all the time! I took some photos while I was fitting the shirt they gave us for our Color Run, and thought I'd share the process with you! My process is slightly more involved than simply sewing up the sides and arms because it requires deconstruction of the whole shirt, it allows for a more professional-looking finish. Take a look!

Materials:

Too-big t-shirt

Shirt that fits you well

Scissors

Sewing machine and thread (ideally same color as the shirt fabric; mine isn't so you can see better)

Step 1. Cut off sleeves of too-large t-shirt and set aside. Keep track of which sleeve came from which side. It helps if you do it while its inside-out so the subsequent steps are easier.

Step 2. Fold too-big shirt in half and place on a surface. Fold a more fitted shirt in half as well and place on top, lining up the shoulder seams.

Cut your too-big shirt near the edge of your fitted shirt, leaving at least a quarter-inch for seam allowance. Cut along the bottom as well if desired.

Step 3. Fold the sleeve of your fitted shirt inside, so you can see the shape of the armhole against your other shirt. Cut the excess fabric (you can do both at once if you're careful).

 Unfold your shirts and place your reserved sleeve inside the armhole at the desired placement. I followed the shape of my fitted shirt, but that isn't necessary.

Cut off the excess fabric from your sleeve piece, along the line of your arm hole. Again, leave a little wiggle room for seam allowance.

If your sleeve is still a tube, snip the connected material so it can open up.

Do the same for both sleeves, and keep track of which sleeve goes where!

Step 4. Open your sleeve and shirt and line up the shoulder seam with the center of the sleeve piece, right sides together. Place one pin to hold it in place

Pin the sleeve all the way around. I place my center pin and then the two pins at each end, then stretch the sleeve to fit the arm hole. It should fit with little difficulty, but it won't lay very flat since the arm is curved.

Sew along the edge of both sides. For security, I zigzag the raw edges as well, but since t-shirt knits don't fray it isn't necessary. I like to do it especially for arms and sleeves because of the extra strain they get.

It looks odd, but its so much easier than doing it with the sides attached first. It's so quick!

Step 5.  Turn the shirt inside-out and pin up the sides. Sew a quarter-inch from the edge, zigzagging if desired.

At this point, you could turn your hem under and sew for a more professional look, but since this shirt was just for our 5k I didn't bother. It won't fray anyway, so you don't HAVE to do it.

Much better!

Next week, I'll show you how to alter the neckline of a t-shirt as well, keeping the ribbing but allowing for a little more breathing room :). It's my SECOND favorite t-shirt alteration, and again, it makes a big impact on the overall look of a shirt.

What do you think?