T Shirt Upcycle DIY Tutorial – The Crossback Top

Bring back new life to your old (or new) T shirts. Why wear a basic cotton Tshirt during these hot summer days when you can turn it into a much more interesting and breezy fashion statement. This DIY T-shirt upcycling tutorial is easy to follow and requires minimal hand sewing. The materials list is simple and easy to source: a basic T shirt that is a size or two bigger than you, sharp scissors, a needle, and matching thread. Watch the video below for the full tutorial.

To take this project a step further, try dip dying or tie-dying the finished shirt. A basic tee is essentially a blank canvas for your imagination. Another option is to use cuffs, ribbon, or nicer fabric for the bands at the shoulders which hide the messy seams. If you can source it, large wooden beads would be a nice DIY touch to the shoulders.

As a fun bonus for the hot days ahead, check out my other T-shirt DIY tutorial “A Better Way To Tie a T-Shirt”. This one is even easier than the cross back T shirt project and requires absolutely no sewing. It’s great for making a larger t shirt fit better, especially if you have tee that is dear to you because you love the graphic. In this case, I’ve used a shirt with an obscure reference to the show Breaking Bad that was headed for the thrift store. Hope you enjoy!