off shoulder top tutorial #2

This is a really quick and easy way to give an old tee some new life!

Difficulty:

Step 1

If you don’t know what ruching is or how to do it, check out the tutorial here.

Grab your extra big t-shirt and mark and cut like so:

Cut across the chest, right at the tops of the sleeves. Cut a few inches off the bottoms of the sleeves. cut the bottom of the shirt off at the length you prefer (accounting for hemming, of course).

* Obviously you should make sure you’re cutting the bust and waist to your measurements, too.

If you want contrasting colored sleeves, you can follow the seams and cut them off. Use the pieces to make new sleeves and attach them.

Sew up the sides of the shirt. Finish the edges of the sleeves and the top edge, and hem the bottom.

Step 1

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off-shoulder top tutorial #1

Another simple recon tut, with a retro pin-up style flavor.

Difficulty:

Step 1

Take your big t-shirt and grab a tank top that fits well.

Step 1

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technique tutorial: ruching with elastic

This technique is super simple and can be used so many ways!

What is ruching? Well, it’s a fancy word for a fancy way of gathering fabric.

dress by SmarmyClothes.com

You’ll need some elastic- 3/8″ wide or less is best, and a scrap of fabric (let’s just practice for now!).

Difficulty:

Step 1

Here are the two basic rules of ruching: Your elastic should be the length you’d like the finished product to be. The fabric you are going to ruche should be significantly longer than your desired finished length.

For this example, our desired length is 7″, so we’ve cut a piece of elastic that is 7″ long. The fabric has been cut to 12″.

NOTE: Make sure your elastic can stretch the entire length of the fabric you are ruching. Duh, I know.

Step 1

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