Raglan Sleeve T-shirt

Make over a few boring T-shirts into a really interesting one! The waistband is optional and you could also just make a regular casing with just 2 holes at the front for the belt to go in and out of. Try this with different color combinations and have fun!

You can pick up T-shirts at a thrift shop or use some you already have. The orange shirt had the design I wanted for the front of the T-shirt, turquoise shirt was used for the sleeves and the grey shirt was used for the neck band, belt and casing for the belt. You will also need scissors, sewing machine, measuring tape and matching thread.

I found a raglan sleeve T-shirt that was about the right size for a pattern. I cut it apart at the seams.

Cut the sleeves and neckline off but leave the sides together. Allow 1/2" extra for the seam allowance.

Line up the hem of the T-shirt with the hem from the pattern and cut out leaving extra for a seam allowance. Cut out sleeves. Fold each sleeve wrong side out and stitch the underarm seam.

Pin the underarm of the T-shirt to the underarm of the sleeve and stitch together, attaching the sleeves to the T-shirt.

Take the T-shirt that will be used for the neckband and waistband, cut the hem off. Measure 2-1/2" up from the bottom and cut across, this will be the neckband. You will need 2 strips for the waistband casing, mine were 3" wide but I think 2" wide would work also. Cut 2 or 3 strips for the belt about 1" wide. 

If there is extra fabric left at the top, trim it off. Take the strip for the neckband and fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Pin around neck opening right sides together and stitch with 1/4" seam allowance. Begin and end at the back. I have a serger and finished the edges with that  but a zig-zag stitch would also work.

Fold up the bottom of T-shirt 4 inches. Cut into the fold about 1/2" all the way around shirt. Make these cuts about 2" apart. It is important that you have an even number of cuts.  Turn T-shirt wrong side out. Take the 2 strips for the casing. Cut one end of each so that it is a long strip and sew them together making one long strip. Pin the waistband casing to the wrong side of the shirt over the holes for the belt. Stitch around the top of waistband and then stitch around the bottom of waistband. Turn shirt right side out. Sew together the strips for the belt. Attach a large safety pin to the end of belt. Weave through the holes in waist. Tie in a bow.