Lipstick, Lettuce & Lycra

How to Turn a T-Shirt into a Bardot Top

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by

Retro Chick
in

In Monday’s post I mentioned I had cut the neck out of my t-shirt.

I did it in a rather blasé fashion, assuming everyone would know how to do this. Frankly I assumed this because if there is some kind of customisation that *I* can do then I automatically assume everyone else got there first years ago due to my total lack of skill at anything that involves scissors, glue, yarn, thread or anything else that might be considered crafty.

Since then, however, I have been inundated with thousands* of people asking me how I cut the necks out of my T-Shirts.
(*three)

Therefore I have decided today to knock up a little tutorial of sorts, with which you can turn a dull t-shirt into a flattering bardot style neck top.

First up, you will need a T-Shirt and a pair of scissors.

IMG_7005

You can use proper dressmaking scissors, I don’t have those, because that would imply that I was ever going to do any dressmaking. As long as they are sharp, any scissors will do. These ones are cute nails scissors I got from Tiger that normally live in my Derby kit bag!

The baggier your t-shirt to start with, the wider your neckline will be. I often do this on skinny women’s fit t-shirts and it gives a wide scoop neckline. This one was a small size “unisex” t-shirt that I hadn’t yet cut up that I bought at Secret Cinema last summer. It’s a looser fit so creates a wider, almost off the shoulder look. Do this with a big baggy t-shirt and you’re going to get that sexy, hanging off one shoulder “hey, it’s Sunday and I just got out of bed in full make up” style top like they only wear on TV.

This has a cute print, but I will never wear it because it is not a flattering look as it is. I don’t know why I am pulling this face, presumably the bad neckline made me sad. I look like this in all the before pictures I took, and you can’t go back and re take them once you’ve hacked up a t-shirt!

Before

Lay your t-shirt flat on the floor, make sure your shoulder seams are lined up properly and everything, or otherwise you will have a wonky neck and you will be sad.

I use the point of the scissors to sort of “score” a line in the fabric so I can see a bit where I’m cutting. If you had such a thing as dressmakers chalk you could use that, or you could just wing it, but basically you are going to cut a smooth scooped line from halfway between the neck and shoulder seam, down under close to the collar at the front and up to the same point on the opposite shoulder.

So just lay it flat and cut!

IMG_7007

I’m not sure whether I did this one a bit wonky under the pressure of knowing I was trying to cut it for a blog post. But if I did it doesn’t really show once on!

I also rolled the sleeves up a little, which I could put a stitch in to keep them like that, if I knew where the needle and thread were, which I don’t.

There. Much happier in the after picture!

After

bardot top tutorial

So there you go! Now when you find t-shirts with cute prints on them you can make them into flattering tops instead so you’ll get more wear out of them, hurrah!

Comments

195 responses to “How to Turn a T-Shirt into a Bardot Top”

  1. Pinklilith avatar
    Pinklilith

    This is brilliant, I’m going to share it 😀 Also very glad to have the option of improving tshirts I’m not willing to get rid of but don’t want to wear…

  2. Lynsey (@iridessa76) avatar
    Lynsey (@iridessa76)

    I’m so doing this, thank you!

  3. Candice DeVile avatar
    Candice DeVile

    This is so timely! I’m helping my boyfriend clear out his closet and there must be about 100 T shirts he’s never worn. I always forget about this style of customising and now you’ve inspired me to do this with the pick of the bunch. How do you find the neckline stays after a wash or two?

  4. Alice avatar
    Alice

    Never thought of this. Let’s say it’s innovative, how to turn a t-shirt into a lovely top, I admit.

  5. rbt55 avatar
    rbt55

    Brilliant. So simple, and explained with such casual craftiness.

  6. Jeni avatar
    Jeni

    Cheers Chick! I’ve often thought about doing this but got scared i would wreck the tee and gave up before I started! I’m going to give this a go now you made it look so easy

  7. Porcelina avatar
    Porcelina

    Genius!! I have a box full of t-shirts and some sharp scissors. That’s my weekend sorted. x

  8. sarah avatar
    sarah

    Great post, thanks for the top tips..

  9. Sarah avatar
    Sarah

    Great idea!

  10. Porcelina avatar
    Porcelina

    I tried this over the weekend, it’s brilliant!! I now have a pile of about 20 t-shirts that i need to attack…. Thank you so much x