How to upcycle a men's button up shirt into a fitted sleeveless top? (Step-by-step)

Dear Sewing Friends, in this video I would love to share with you how to turn a men's button up shirt into a stylish fitted top for women! I hope this episode will give you extra ideas for your future upcycles!
Shirt upcycle 1 (purple shirt) - • How to upcycle a men's...
Shirt upcycle 2 (blue striped shirt) - • How to upcycle a men's...
Shirt upcycle 3 (yellow shirt) - • How I upcycled a men's...
Shirt upcycle 4 - • How to upcycle a men's...
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HOW TO DRAFT A BODICE BLOCK - • How to draft a simple ...
HOW TO FINISH SEAMS - • 5 easy and beautiful w...
HOW TO HEM - • 5 techniques that I us...
ABOUT SEAM ALLOWANCES - • I ditched the standard...
HOW TO FINISH NECKLINES (BIAS TAPE, ALL IN ONE FACING AND ETC) - • HOW TO finish neckline...
WHAT IS A DART - • WHAT is a DART in a pa...
My FAVORITE videos for You to enjoy:
✂️ 7 amazing sewing tools - • I BOUGHT 7 unbelievabl...
✂️ Perfect neckband every time - • How to sew a neckband ...
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MY FAVORITE SEWING TOOLS:
1. Bias Tape Maker - amzn.to/3151IFh
2. Medical Tracing Paper (I use it for pattern drafting) - amzn.to/2EMafDm
3. Water soluble thread -amzn.to/3AHePQi
4. Diagonal seam tape - amzn.to/3OyHHjb
5. Bulky Seam Jumper (some sewing machines come with it and some don't) - amzn.to/3GDdRbD
6. Eloflex Stretchable thread (not the same as shirring elastic) - amzn.to/3VEAhxx
This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something from the links displayed above I get a small commission. It does not come out of your pocket, but it does help me to support this channel. Thank YOU!
#nopatternsewing #easypatterndrafting #thoughtfulcreativity
Thank You for being here and I hope that this channel encourages you to sew and make beautiful things!
xxx, Alisa

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Here are more of the UCPCYCLES episode - Shirt upcycle 1 (purple shirt) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Qe5erlsxlbrs Shirt upcycle 2 (blue striped shirt) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWWnp4ScYr2GeJY Shirt upcycle 3 (yellow shirt) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gabRf6Rtf79jgLM Shirt upcycle 4 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJKbm62Pjbd8pZY

[@laughcook7986]

I love your technique for understitching the bias tape. I love the little cap sleeve before you cut out the armholes. I’m going to give this a go. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@bernieobrien5761]

That's a really cute shirt on you! I'm definitely going to be doing that to one of my husband's shirts. Thanks again for the amazing inspiration!

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

I am so happy you enjoyed it! It is a great way to make unworn clothes useful and wearable again! :) If you leave them hem longer then it will look like a tunic, or even a dress!

[@gypsygirl731]

Very nicely done👍I reuse mens shirts all the time.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you!

[@dale3404]

I really like the idea of the ties on the back. Cute idea.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thanks! It is a nice alternative to darts. You can also add a little piece of elastic in the back that would gather that extra amount of fabric, also an alternative to classic darts :)

[@monideun]

​@@ThoughtfulCreativity The cool thing about the ties as opposed to the darts is that if you have a changing body it's adjustable, so it's more likely to last longer in your wardrobe! Great idea!

[@kjybutterfly]

I love your channel and so glad i found it as it is so very practical and straightforward.

[@lauriepayseur5897]

So glad you show us things that are clearly obvious for US… not just things you wear. So many people do wear sleeveless. You are so appreciated ❤

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

That was my thought process behind it, I know sleeveless styles are popular and people love to wear them and since I can add a little sleeve to it afterwards - it became a tutorial project :)

[@oskarmolly]

This is a cute shirt that you made. Nice color too! My son gave me some shirts that he outgrew, one is a light weight denim and the other two are flannel shirts. I haven't tried them on yet so I'm not sure what needs to be done to them. Autumn and winter are just around the corner so the two flannel ones will come in handy when I'm out scooter mushing my dog or dogs as I'm looking for another husky or similar type.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Ooooh, here's an idea - you can turn those flannel shirts into lighter jackets, or even line them for a normal jacket OR you can use part of this upcycle and turn them into vests! Not as close fitting though, so leave more ease and room. You might even have enough fabric to add a hood!

[@rebeccacamacho-sobczak4282]

Thank you for all you do!!

[@Kittyququmber]

GREAT VIDEO. i have so many of my husband’s high end business suit shirts i adore. Exactly what I need. Simple easy instructions.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Exactly! Those make great shirts for upcycling, I am in the same boat as you - my husband had a ton of shirts he no longer wore due to change in his career, so I decided to revamp them :) check out the other upcycles in this series - I hope you will find more ideas!

[@InAgatasCottage]

As always fantastic upcycle :D I love sleeves tops/shirts so I must give it a try :D

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Especially if you have a fun color, or add embroidery onto it, maybe on the hem to jazz it up even more!

[@patriceromero3432]

So nice eventually ! 👌 Congratulations ✔

[@louiseearley8658]

Wow fascinating video.

[@cocasio7190]

Hi! Thanks for sharing how to sew the bias tape.

[@nickykatz]

Wow, I love how it turned out That bow at the back is such a cute touch. I would love to see what kind of sleeves you add to it, so I hope there will be a future video on that ❤

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thanks, Nicky! As for the sleeves - probably 1 of the 2 options for adding sleeves that I showed in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnW6hpp9nN1kibM

[@BritInvLvr]

I need this top.

[@michellepark778]

lovely

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you!

[@johnpluta1768]

That's a clever trick using a bra strap as a guide for the armholes.

[@rebeccacamacho-sobczak4282]

Be-yu-ti-FUL!!!!

[@chandassouthernkitchen250]

I love it. Can you make a dress with men’s shirts?

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Yes, but it would be a very involved project. Shirting is not thick enough for the bottom garments, most of the times you can see through it in the light, so you would need to line the skirt part of the dress, then find 2 or more shirts that would match in color or at least look good together, then figure out what to do with a button placket and probably a few other things that don't come to mind just yet :)

[@chandassouthernkitchen250]

@@ThoughtfulCreativity ok thank you.

[@Mrs.Patriot]

Lovely outcome! I love that preppy look in a sleeveless shirt! I have a question. If you shorten the length to just above the hip, so the hem is free and the shirt is not "hanging up" on the hip, would that take care of the extra fabric in the back, or at least make it not so obvious in the finished shirt?

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Great questions! It will reduce the look of bagginess in the back, due to the fact that the shirt is now shorter and as you said, it is not restrained by the hips, but if you want more form fitting fit - you will still need to do something with it. Another option is to simply flare our the hem a bit more, so it just hangs straight from the waist down to the hip. In the button up shirts that I draft for sewing I don't usually don't do darts in the back or front (for a relaxed fit button up shirt) and in fact I add a pleat at the center back for even more room. In sewing a lot of things are about the fit and technical side of fitting and the other part is about perception and fashion. Sometimes you can remedy or compliment one with the other to avoid certain fit or sewing situations or challenges :)

[@Mrs.Patriot]

@@ThoughtfulCreativity That's a great answer. I hadn't thought of flaring it out, a good solution. I, being of a certain age, like more room in my clothes. Clingy I find is more heat-retaining in the summer when we're wearing sleeveless. Thank you!! You are truly thoughtfully creative! 💙

[@Sewing_Haven]

❤❤❤❤❤👌🏻👌🏻

[@margaretgoodall5043]

Have you ever changed a zipper on pants from women to men's? My son has a pair of school pants that was made incorrectly and he refuses to wear them because the fly is the wrong way round.

[@henriettelinkshanderin1449]

Thank you for those steps to make sure that the bra is not visible. I think many women spoil the look of an outfit by showing parts of their bra. Especially if you have a low-cut back: Just wear a bra that won't show or none at all, please!