Tutorial: Turning a Men's Shirt into a Women's Tank

Last weekend, Brad decided to get rid of some of his work shirts to make room for new clothes in his closet. Days that he cleans out his closet quickly become my favorite days because there are so many new clothes for me to test sewing projects on. This weekend was no exception. I decided to take one of his old collared shirts and turn it into a fun tank top for summer.

Here is how to make one for yourself:

Start with an men's button up shirt that is a few sizes too big for you. You want to make sure this shirt is not too tight when you wear it. The idea is for it to be loose fitting and comfortable--but you can always cinch it with a belt for more shape.

First, cut off the sleeves and the collar, leaving room for a seam allowance.

Then, cut off the top of the shirt in a straight line for where you want the top of the tank top to be. You can also choose to take off the pocket(s) if you'd like but I chose to leave mine attached. You can always take this off later if you change your mind.

Sew up the arm holes sew the sides stay together. You will not have a complete armhole as the top of the arm holes will be tied with the straps. Fold the top over (twice so it does not fray) and pin in place so you can sew it up. 

Leave enough room for the string-- you can decide how big you want to make this section but mine is about an inch.

Next, take one of the sleeves you cut off earlier and cut it into 1-inch strips. Sew these strips together to make one long piece. Then, pin the edges in and sew so you have on long "string". If you make this long enough, you can make on long enough for a belt and both sides of the shirt. I chose to only make "strings" for the shirt, no belt.

Once you have sewn the edges down, you will have one long "string". Cut this into the length you want for the sides of your tank. If you want bows, be sure to keep them long enough.

Last, take a safety pin and thread the string through the casing. Tie bows and you're all set!

Final product:

I would love to see any men's shirt DIY projects you have done and, as always, if you have any questions, please let me know!