Change a Shirt Collar Into a Mandarin Collar With NO Sewing

by K-Sue in Craft > Fashion

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Change a Shirt Collar Into a Mandarin Collar With NO Sewing

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Living in a hot climate, I love wearing light weight shirts and blouses, but I hate the collars on them. They always need to be ironed for one, and they can look and feel sloppy too.
I came up with this idea of cutting the collar off, which makes it look like a Mandarin style collar. It works great and looks great! My shirts feel lighter and cooler too!
It's so simple and quick, and requires no sewing. You can do this in minutes!
Some of these shirts have long shirt tales. I like to cut them off and hem at top of hip level and wear them not tucked in. They look great with a pair of Capri's and it makes a cool comfortable summer outfit.
I've also done collars on my long sleeved shirts too.

The Before Picture

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The shirt as it was originally.

Cutting the Collar Off

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Cut across the bottom of the collar very carefully, being sure to keep the cut close but JUST ABOVE the seam line of the peice that will be the Mandarin collar.

The Cut Off Collar

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Check to see that you cut close enough and clean up any little frays if you did not. Snipping carefully so as not to cut the edge of the new Mandrin collar.

The Finished Product!

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A nice new clean crisp look to an old shirt! I don't like labels tickling my neck either so I cut them off too! lol!

Another Shirt I Did

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Here's another shirt dressed up with a necklace.

A Denim Shirt Before

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The Denim Shirt After

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The denim could also be cut about 1/2 inch above the Mandarin seam and then you can fray it for another more casual option.

Save the Collars You Cut Off

Be sure to save all those collars you are cutting off your shirts for another project! I have a few ideas cooking for mine already for a future Instructable ; )