Do you have T-shirts piled up in your closet that you just don’t want to throw away? Or maybe you are attached to certain T-shirts and don’t want to part with them, regardless of how old they are? Well, you are in the right place! We have drafted a comprehensive list of some of the best ways to help you refashion your T-shirts and make them look as good as new!
While most people would think of cutting and sewing their T-shirts to jazz them up, another fun way is to print your custom designs. This allows you to add a personal touch to your wardrobe, and make for great gifts for loved ones. But instead of using old-fashioned and ineffective methods, such as an iron box, we highly recommend that you invest in a Heat Press Machine. If you’re not sure which one would be the best for you, check out this great source for extensive research into the best Heat Press Machines. Keep in mind that a Heat Press will allow pressure and heat to spread evenly, without damaging the fabric of your T-shirt, and thus enabling a smooth and hassle-free printing.
Read on to find out how you can completely transform your T-shirts to give them a funky look that resonates with your style!
Customize Your T-Shirt
As mentioned above, you can make your very own T-shirt design by printing just about anything. So if you have a favorite quote, a beloved fictional character, or even a joke, you can print it and use a Heat Press to make the design permanent on your T-shirt. The best part is that you can use any font, color or image during the process.
As a general guide, use a Cricut Machine to help you with the design and cutting, use transfer tape to attach the design on the screen printing frame, and then transfer that onto the T-shirt, all the while pouring your choice of ink color. Then, use your Heat Press to seal the vinyl onto the fabric of the T-shirt. And Voila! You end up making a personalized screen-printed T-shirt!
Cut, Cut and Cut!
If you want a quick solution to recreating your T-shirt style, just grab a pair of scissors, a sewing machine, and a measuring tape, and start cutting!
There are multiple ways in which you can cut and style a T-shirt. For example, if you have a crew neck, you can just fold it, measure a length of two fingers from the neckline, and cut it along the curve to get a beautiful off-the-shoulder shirt. Or, go for a cold shoulder look through sleeve cut-outs. Other fun ways include making a crop top, a tank top, a strapless tee, or even a ladder design on the back if you feel adventurous.
To give off a neat finish, you should make use of a fabric strip or a bias tape on the inside edges using a sewing machine. Remember not to stretch out the shirt during the sewing process and use pins for added security.
And if you feel up to the task, consider neckline cut-outs in various shapes and at different angles depending on personal preference. This could be in diamond or square shapes or even a criss-cross pattern. Another great idea that is always in vogue is to create fringes. You just need to measure how high up you want them, make straight lines and measure the distance between individual fringes, then just start cutting!
Add Laces And Frills
In case you are looking to convert your everyday T-shirts into something a bit fancier, laces and frills are your best friends! They will help you add a layer of depth to your shirt, and make it look sophisticated.
When choosing a lace, either create contrast or go monochrome. We would suggest a contrasting look with a busy pattern against a plain T-shirt. However, if you have a dark-colored tee, we recommend that you diffuse the color with a similar colored lace. Additionally, use lace on the sleeves, neckline, or even cut out the back and have a half-and-half style for a chic look.
When it comes to frills, you can add the classic ruffle look on the hem of the sleeves or the ends of the T-shirt. This will help add definition and make your shirt look more outdoorsy.
Fabrics, Beads, And Sequins
It’s always a good idea to embellish and add details to your T-shirt. So we suggest that if you have some fabrics, beads or sequins lying around your house, now is the time to use them!
Using the fabrics, you can make intricate fabric flowers and sew them onto your T-shirt. You can also indulge in a little appliqué work and stitch the patches to give a completely offbeat look, or just consider a paneling technique by combining, contrasting or sewing leather or a different colored fabric panel on your tee. And of course, if you have old denim lying around, why not cut out some patches and make a heart or peace sign for a quintessential old-school vibe.
With beads and sequins, you can find numerous ways to incorporate a blingy look. Maybe make your city’s skyline, a dream catcher or a silhouette using beads and sequins. You can also glue half cut pearls on the sleeves and neckline to accentuate the level of detail on the T-shirt.
Paint Your T-Shirts
This is for anyone who is feeling confident and bold enough to wear their hand-painted T-shirts and is willing to go the extra mile while refashioning old tees. The best part is that you can easily give a rough, vintage look to a T-shirt if your hand-paint job is not refined.
Start by outlining, stenciling or drawing the specific motif you would like to paint. Next, add a base layer coat, we suggest white, to your design or drawing and only after it has dried off, start painting.
Make sure that you iron your shirt and free it of any wrinkles before painting. Secondly, always be mindful of placing a thick piece of cardboard or a sheet of plastic between the shirt fabric to prevent the paint from staining the back of your T-shirt. Moreover, always paint on a flat surface, and allow it to dry for a day before wearing your gorgeous design.
And of course, know your paint. Check out what kind of paint will be ideal for your fabric, and whether the paint will bleed or not. It is also a good idea to test-run the paint on a small patch before potentially ruining your T-shirt.
We hope you found this article helpful. Let us know any other ideas you have to refashion your T-shirts in the comments below!
