11/6/11

Old Mens T-shirt Sewn Into Women's Dolman Tee




 My husband and I are runners so we have a million t-shirts.  I love transforming these boxy, oversized tees into something I will actually want to wear other then for a nightgown. I love this heather grey and wanted to make it into my favorite style tee. I love the comfortable, effortless style of the dolman tee...

It took me about 15 minutes or so. I played around with seams to get the fit right. It's a great new shirt for one of those "I've got nothing to wear" days. I can always count on a dolman! 

Supplies:

DIY intructions: 

Full Video go here (it's old though).
Begin by removing the collar of the shirt, pull to create an off the shoulder look. 
Mark your 1/2 your hip measurement inside the t-shirt so it's even. 
Pleat about 4 inches up by folding accordion folds and pinning through front and back. Do this on both sides. 
Mark your arm hole measurement and pin from the under arm seam to that measurement. 
When you sew, start at the bottom hem and sew up to the under arm seam in a gradual line. Once you reach the underarm seam, lift your presser foot, pivot, and then finish along the sleeve line the sleeve hem.
Cut all the excess interior fabric away or serge the interior.

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56 comments:

  1. This is awesome!! And your blog is pretty cool, you have some amazing "Re-Do's" :)

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  3. You are such an inspiration!!! I have been trying to figure out how I'd make a dolman shirt for so long! Thanks!

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  4. Do you cut the bottom of the sleeves and the top?

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  5. this is so cool!! lovely! :)
    www.miouprincesslovespink.blogspot.com

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  6. Love your blog! I want to try this this weekend!

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  7. Thanks! I tried sewing it by hand with an XL and it was a wretched outcome. I was a bit disappointed. Did you cut some length out of the sides or just shape them? I think that's where mine went awry!

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  8. Lovely! This looks simple enough for a beginner, right?

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  9. Thank you for this...found it through pinterest and made it out of a free shirt I got. I appreciated how you showed where to sew on the shirt.

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  10. Love this!! I would love to see you do a video as well. I am going to try my hand at this today actually hopefully it turns out awesome

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  11. PLEASE do a video! I have so many huge shirts and I would love to put them to good use :)

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  12. Hey, I love this idea and am working on it as we speak. I am so nervous to cut! Should I sew the top of the sleeves before I cut the sides and the bottoms of the sleeves?? Thanks so much!!

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  13. This is amazing!! I would love to see a video on how it's done. This is my favorite shirt style and this is such a good way to add more to my wardrobe!

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  14. This is a FABULOUS idea!!! You're so talented and creative. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Totally cool !!! And i have the same t-shirt asking to be rediscovered and reinvented !yey, new project for this weekend :) thank you :)

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  18. I don't have a sewing machine, can you make me one and mail it to me LOL. I don't even know how to use a sewing machine. I would love to try this though. I think I will get with my sister-in-law and have her help me. Where do I get dye's for T-shirts and what is the cost there? My husband has a ton of xxl t-shirts that no longer fit him and I would like to make two of these.

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    1. You can teach yourself. I did, just followed my instructions and your book that will come with your machine that you're going to buy. Don't buy a singer they're all crap now. 1. Read how to thread and load your bobbin. 2. Read how to lower and lift your presser foot. 3. Read how to thread you machine. 4. Read how to lower and lift your needle. 5. Read how to replace your needle. 6. Read how to and where you back stitch. 7. Read about the tention. 8. Read up on your stitch settings, Pinterest or google. Anything you can't figure out google it. Don't forget to lower your presser foot before you start sewing. Okay I think that's it, good luck.

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    2. I have a janome 525s it's a great machine will do any job you ask of it, great beginners machine 😊

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    3. I have a janome 525s it's a great machine will do any job you ask of it, great beginners machine 😊

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  19. First off I wanted to say I'm in LOVE with your work.
    Second, I wanted to ask, you work a lot with jersey, do you use a straight stitch or a zig zag?

    Thanks!

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  20. What a great tutorial! I love reconstructing boring t-shirt into something fabulous like this. I like it so much, I ended up including it on my blog... http://darlingadventures.com/?p=574
    Thanks!

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  21. Saw this on pinterest and enjoyed reading through some other projects. I have always had an aversion to sewing (bad childhood memories with my mom who is a seamstress), but this is the first project ever that makes me want to try! Any tips for how a beginner could tackle this?

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  22. You are amazing. I love your stuff.
    badartworld.com

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  23. This is a brilliant idea!!! I am going to try it! I have a large tshirt, that i love! But i never wear it because its way to big! I love sewing, I just haven't done it in years, so.. you've inspired me!!! :)

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  24. That's a great design idea. This is one of the first T shirts distributors to use this idea!

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  25. Now there is 100% likelihood that I will have to go to the thrift store and find some cool t-shirts tomorrow. Thank you for sharing!

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  27. Super cute! I love how you did the dolman sleeves! This is a great idea, and a dangerous one, since I will now want to hoard my boyfriend's old shirts to add to my wardrobe! Thanks for the tutorial. I also have an old t-shirt up-cycle/re-do tutorial :-) Mine is a no-sew, racerback workout/beach coverup tank with either a high-to-low hem or high-sides hemline! Check it out at http://sarahbtexas.blogspot.com/2012/06/from-blah-b-to-fab-diy-workout-tanks.html If I do try out this shirt, I will definitely let you know so we can collaborate and I can give you credit! Have a FABulous summer :-)

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  28. I just love this!!
    Thanks for inspiration.

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  29. Seriously this was so easy!! I am a beginner at sewing this was easy and fast even for me!! THX!

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  30. I wanted to share with you the shirt I made based on your tutorial. Thanks for the inspiration!
    http://lotusbomb.blogspot.com/2013/01/t-shirt-refashion-from-boxy-tee-to.html#

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  32. Unbelievable .. I like it very much
    Thanks for inpiration

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  34. Wow I can't believe it. This seems to be quite easy. Must try that! That's soo cool. Thank you very much!

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    1. I just finished trying this. I took a practice run with a t-shirt I planned on donating... and wow! So easy and it looks great! I am so happy I stumbled upon your page!!!! Thank you!:)

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  35. Great polo shirt, the color and detailing were as in picture. Easily washable and doesn't fade. Arrived right on time!

















    Mens Shirts Store

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  36. I love this! Very creative, especially when it was so big. I recently took a turtleneck and turned it into a cute summer top. It's called The Red Shirt Project for anyone looking to check it out.
    deannamcneil.blog.com

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  37. Hello,
    I was wondering if I could use some of your cool photos for a school project about repurposed things? They would be part of a slideshow at the screens in our school halls, part of the national Thriftness week (in Finland)...

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  38. Great tutorial and great idea--thank you so much for making a you tube video because I was just getting back into sewing when I tried this and needed all the help I could get! I blogged about it, too...http://glitterrs.blogspot.com.au/2013_05_01_archive.html

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  40. This is awesome! I have my husband's almost new shirts lying in the closet that he doesn't want to wear 'cause apparently the colors are "too girly." Well good for me as I can turn them all into Dolman t-shirts for myself :) Thank you thank you for this tutorial!

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  41. That's a pretty neat idea! Will definitely give it a try. Thanks.

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  42. In regards to present day fashion, the fitness world has created a craze of certain items such as gym tank tops and yoga pants that are worn as casual wear by many people on a daily basis, whether they attend a gym or not.

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  43. My husband passed away 3 months ago...and I've been wearing his t-shirts as pi's... When I saw this idea, tears came down my face immediately because now I get to wear my husband's t-shirts all the time, I will try it!!!

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  44. Hi there. I noticed in the youtube tutorial that your sewing machine is oriented opposite standard machines. Is this a left-handed machine?

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  45. I like this idea! It is wonderful to bring to life old, unused T-shirts or clothes.

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  46. Great post! I love your blog about sewing and styling.This is really useful post.Thanks for posting useful information about sewing.

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  49. Gorgeous idea! I have few favorites among my husband's old tees that would look so great recycled into women's tee for me. Thank you for the inspiration!

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