My boyfriend is one of those people who wears something once or twice and then gets bored of it.
This sweatshirt was one of those things.
When he said that he no longer wanted it, of course I swooped in and hung it on my to-refashion rail. I like the design, and it looks new because he probably wore it only once. Now it’s all miiiiiiine. I got out my scissors and sewing machine, and an hour later I had this:
I love it!
Here’s a quick how-to if you’re interested:
Firstly you need to find a tank top that fits and place it on top of the sweatshirt.
Cut around it, leaving some seam allowance. You should leave a good couple of inches if the top you’re using as a guide is stretchy and the sweatshirt isn’t. You might also want to cut off the store label!
I chose to leave the hem in place until I tried the top on. Only then did I decide to cut it away, too – but you could do this at the beginning. If so, put it, along with the sleeves and neckline, to one side (you may use these for something else; waste not, want not!)
Next, with right sides together, sew down the two sides.
You may leave the top like this if you like – after turning it right side out, of course – as the edges shouldn’t fray if it’s made of a normal sweatshirt material. However if you are not too keen on this look, you can turn under the edges of the hem, neckline and armholes and sew, close to the edge. (Which is what I did, after some deliberation!)
And there you have it – a new top in an evening, and an old sweatshirt saved from landfill.
Quick selfie!
Beth x
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Creative!!! Be a Blessing because you are, Mtetar
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This is really neat, I’ll have to try this out 🙂
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Thanks, I hope you do!
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Very clever and an awesome result! I’m so glad when I see people rethink old clothes into new outfits!
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Thank you! Me too, it’s one of the things I love about sewing.
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This is a wonderful refashion project. Your tank top looks so much better than the sweatshirt before. 🙂 Best, Jana
http://www.meandmyveritas.wordpress.com
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Thanks, Jana! 🙂
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Beth, you are so talented! I want to be like you when I finally learn how to sew!!!
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Aw thank you! That has made my day! Just practice practice practice… sew sew sew!!
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I need to get a machine and a bigger place first hehe 😉
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Brilliant refashion and it looks great on you too!
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Thanks a lot 😀
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Awesome!
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Nice job! Making it into a tank top is a good solution to the problem of men’s shirts having those ridiculously wide shoulders. I’ve got a men’s long-sleeved tee that I was thinking of refashioning, but the shoulder seams are halfway down my arms. I’ll keep this in mind as a possible solution.
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Yes that’s true. You can use any nice motif or whatever from the front and save the arms for something else… whatever that may be!
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You’re going to be entirely responsible for a lot of men, fruitlessly looking for their missing tops 😉
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Oh what a terrible thing to be responsible for!
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Nice one Beth!
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Thank you 😀
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It’s great Beth! Perhaps there are a few more unwanted clothes in his wardrobe 😉 xx
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Thank you! Yes I’ll definitely have a look in there!! X
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hehe, yes I am thinking of having a rummage in Hubby’s! x
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Great fit. I agree, looks much better as a tank top.
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Thank you, Lucie. It was meant to be!
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This looks really good on you. It won’t be happening in this house as my husband wears his stuff until it is dropping off him. When he gets something new, he wears it once or twice but soon forgets it’s new and wears it to chop logs/build henhouses/cut down trees/walk dogs/do painting/change tyres etc. 😦
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Thank you 🙂 Oh no! You’ll have to buy a sweater new purely to refashion it for fun haha!
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Love this! Might go raid my husband’s wardrobe 😉
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Haha do it! Thanks! 🙂
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FAB! Looks miles better as a vest! Might have to have a rummage in my husbands drawers, wonder if he’d notice….!
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Thank you! I like the design so I had to showcase it! Haha he can’t do anything about it once you’ve chopped something up, it’ll be too late! Go for it!!
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I once chopped up some old linen pants of his to make bags (he’s 6ft 3 so lots of fabric!) but then he put on a really straight face and told me they were his favourites, before bursting out laughing at the look of horror on my face!
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Hahaha you should have chopped up his actual favourites after that!
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Thanks for the tutorial – it looks great!
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Thank you and you’re welcome!
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I’ll bet he likes it an awful lot more now!! Perfect upcycle – I’ve done several things like this lately, yet to be blogged about:)
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Haha yes! Ooh please blog them, I love to see things like this!
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Brilliant Beth 🙂
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Thank you 😀 x
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