Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Paul Julch, MA. Paul Julch is a Personal Wardrobe Stylist, Speaker, and the founder of Urbanite | Suburbanite, a wardrobe styling business in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 25 years in the fashion industry, Paul works with clients to make getting dressed easier, less time consuming, and more enjoyable. Paul has years of experience in retail visual merchandising - styling windows, displays, and floor sets for Banana Republic, Gap, and Express. He also has experience styling fashion photo shoots and corporate videos. Paul holds a BS Degree in Management from State University of New York at Binghamton, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. He also studied Interior Design at the University of California, Berkeley.
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When summer comes, there’s nothing quite as comfortable as a sleeveless T-shirt. Of course, you can run to the store and plunk down a pocketful of cash, but why pay money for a sleeveless T-shirt when you can make your regular T-shirt sleeveless just a few minutes? Here is how to do it.
Steps
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Test the look. Roll up the sleeves as high as you can, or tuck them into the shirt around the seam to see if it looks good as a sleeveless T-shirt.- Decide how you’re going to cut it. There are two ways to go: leave the seam between the sleeve and the shirt in place, or cut it out.
- Leaving the seam intact will keep your finished T-shirt from unravelling and looking shabby. It will also make a smaller armhole. For a baggy T-shirt, this is a good approach.
- Cutting out the seam with the sleeve is a more casual look, and because the hole is larger, a little more comfortable as well.
- If the armhole is going to be too deep, modify your cut. Instead of following the seam all the way around the sleeve, when you are about 2/3s down the sleeve, angle out into the bottom of the sleeve. When you reach the bottom seam of the sleeve, reverse the angle and cut back in towards the shirt seam, leaving a triangle of shirtsleeve at the bottom of the hole. Trim that to fit.
Advertisement - Lay the T-shirt out on a clean, flat surface. If you’re cutting out the seam with the sleeve, mark where you are going to cut with chalk. If you’re going to keep the seam, poke your scissors into the sleeve about 1/8 inch (3mm) from the seam.
- Carefully cut around the sleeve. If you’re keeping the seam, keep the cut close to it, about 1/8 inch (3mm) all the way around. Be careful not to cut too close to the seam, or it may unravel after a couple washings.
- If you are cutting out the seam, follow your chalk lines, and cut as smoothly as you can to avoid a jagged look.
- Repeat on the other sleeve.
- Keep the sleeves for future projects.
- When you’re done, you can hem the edges if you’d like, or simply leave them cut. They will curl and soften with use, and help you keep your cool all summer long!
Finished.
Community Q&A
- QuestionHow do I cut off the sleeves on a v-neck shirt?
T. ChinsenTop AnswererFollw the instructions in the article. A sleeveless top with a comfortable armhole fit can be used as a template. Pin to the garment to be adjusted and use dressmaker's chalk to mark the armhole outline. - QuestionHow do I cut a larger arm hole without creating a gap in the fabric of the hole where the breast is?
PhoebeAmelia24Community AnswerCut downwards and not forwards. If you cut forwards, it will leave a gap and expose the breast area.
Tips
- Keep a clean hem by stretching the sleeve from the body of the T-shirt, and using a hobby knife, cut the threads on the hem. The sleeve will be able to pull right off after cutting the threads a few times in different spots along the seam line.Thanks
- Cutting sleeves in half rather than all the way off will cause the cloth to curl over outwards. This may or may not be a desirable look.Thanks
- For a neater look, hem the sleeves—either with a sewing machine or by hand—to keep your new sleeveless T-shirt from unravelling.Thanks
Warnings
- Cutting the seam off of the shirt causes armholes to be larger and also leaves the armholes more likely to rip.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Scissors.
- T-shirt.
- Tailor’s chalk.
- Sewing kit or sewing machine.
About This Article
To make a sleeveless t-shirt from an unused t-shirt, start by laying the shirt out on a flat surface. Then, use scissors to cut along the seam between each sleeve and the rest of the shirt. If you're going for a casual look, cut the seams off with the sleeves. Alternatively, if you want a neater finish, leave the seams intact when you cut the sleeves off. Finally, once the sleeves are off, try on the shirt to make sure the armholes are even. For ideas on how to reuse your t-shirt sleeves after you cut them off, scroll down!
Reader Success Stories
"I cut my sleeves off due to the sleeves being too short/tight. As a sleeveless shirt it fits much better."
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