How and Where to Cut a T-Shirt to Make it Stylish

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Learn how to cut the back of a T-shirt to make it fashionable

Co-authored by Shaelynn Haning

Last Updated: December 13, 2024 References

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Creating a Slash-Back T-Shirt

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Creating a Cut-Out T-Shirt

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Altering the Hem, Sleeves, and Collar

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Expert Interview

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Tips

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Things You'll Need

Cutting T-shirts is a fun way to upgrade old shirts that are stained, torn, or no longer fit. You can even cut up brand-new shirts to create a new, unique style. There are lots of ways to upgrade your shirt, from cutting off hems and sleeves, to cutting intricate designs into the back.

Altering a Tee

Fold the T-shirt in half lengthwise so the sleeves are on top and bottom. Draw a triangle shape just below the sleeve along the back seam, and cut slits inside the shape. Crop the shirt by cutting straight across the bottom hem until it's as short as you want.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating a Slash-Back T-Shirt

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Fold the shirt in half lengthwise so that the back is on the outside and the front of the shirt is on the inside. Next, pull the front of the shirt out of the sandwich. This way, you won't accidentally cut through the front when cutting the back.^{[1]
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Slash-back t-shirts have horizontal slashes in the back. These slashes are cut at different lengths to create a simple shape, such as a heart or an upside-down triangle.

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Draw half of your desired shape along the folded edge. Divide your desired shape in half lengthwise, then draw it along the folded edge of the shirt. The shape can be whatever size you want it to be, but larger shapes look better in this style. Keep the width of the shape in mind. The wider it is, the more revealing it will be.^{[2]
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- Extend the shape from just below the collar to one-half or two-thirds of the way down.
- Use a tailor's chalk on dark fabrics and a tailor's pen on light fabrics. If you can't find these, use regular chalk instead.
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Cut slits into the folded edge, stopping at the lines that you drew. Use fabric scissors to cut the slits. Space the slits finger-width apart. Begin cutting them at the folded edge of the shirt, and finish cutting at the lines that make up your half shape.^{[3]
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- Use your pinkie finger for thinner stripes, and your index finger for thicker ones.
- Make sure that you are only cutting through the back of the shirt. The front of the shirt must be pulled out of the way.
You should now have a full heart or upside-down triangle filled with horizontal slashes! Don't worry if the edges of the slashes look uneven. You will fix that next.
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Tug on the strips of fabric making up the slashes. This will cause the edges to curl inside the shirt and make any unevenness less visible. It will also help make the strips thinner! Be gentle when tugging, however; you don't want to accidentally rip the fabric.^{[4]
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- Grab a strip on 1 side, and slide your finger across it to the other side. This makes them more even.
You can cut the sleeves off all the way, including the seams, or you can cut them off at the hems. You can also cut the bottom hem off as well as around the collar for a more rugged look. Be sure to pull on the cut edges to curl the fabric inwards when you are done!
This will get rid any chalk or pen marks that you used to create your shape. Check the tag on your shirt to find out what temperature and cycle setting to use. You can also wash the shirt by hand, then hang it up to dry. This is great if you don't have anything else to wash.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Cut-Out T-Shirt

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1
Spread your shirt on a flat surface with the back facing you. These types of shirts have a simple silhouette in the back that is made out of smaller slashes. They work the best on baggy T-shirts.^{[5]
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- If you want to create a design around the collar, keep front of the shirt facing you.
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Draw a simple shape to create your outer frame. Choose a simple silhouette, such as a heart, star, circle, or skull. Draw the design onto the back of your shirt. It can be as large as you want it to be. Use a tailor's chalk for dark fabrics, and a tailor's pen for light fabrics.^{[6]
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- If you are creating a design on the collar, draw 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) lines radiating from the collar instead. Keep about a finger width between each line.^{[7]
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- If you can't find a tailor's pen, use colored chalk instead. You want these lines to be washable.
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Draw a second identical shape inside your first shape. Make this shape a few inches/centimeters smaller. How much smaller you make the shape depends on how long you want the slits to be. About 2 inches (5.1 cm) would be ideal, however. This will create your inner frame.^{[8]
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- Skip this step if you are doing the collar.
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Connect the shapes with lines. Use your chalk or pen to draw lines from the smaller shape to the larger shape. You can make the lines straight or curved. You can make them evenly spaced, or you can vary the spaces by making some closer together than others.^{[9]
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- Keep the lines at least finger-width apart. If you are varying the spaces between the lines, create a pattern.
- You can make the lines point in different directions, but don't let them cross each other.
- Skip this step if you are doing the collar.
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Cut out the lines that are connecting the 2 shapes. Pinch the fabric across 1 of the lines that you drew. Use sharp fabric scissors to cut a small slit, then flatten the fabric. Finish cutting along the line, from your inner to outer frame. Do not cut through the frames themselves. Make sure that you are only cutting through the back of the shirt.^{[10]
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- Use this technique to cut the lines around the collar. Make sure that you are only cutting through the fabric in the front of the shirt.
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Widen the slits into ovals or leaf shapes, if desired. Go back through your lines, and cut the edges to make them more rounded, like ovals or leaves. Make sure that you leave some fabric between each "leaf."
- You might want to skip this step if you made curved lines or angled lines.
- Do this step if you cut slits around the collar.
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Cut the hem, sleeves, and collar, if desired. Cut the hem off just above the stitching for a more rugged look. Complete the trend by cutting the hems off of the sleeves. You can also cut the sleeves off all the way if you want a tank top instead. Finish off by cutting the collar off.
- Do not cut the collar out if you cut slits around it.
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Stretch the cut edges. Once you have your shirt cut as desired, go through all of the cut edges of your shirt, and gently pull on the fabric. This will cause the cut edges to curl into the shirt and hide any unevenness. The spaces between the slits will also shrink.^{[11]
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- You can stretch the slits by pulling on the top and bottom edges. You can also slid your fingers into them and open them like scissors.
You can wash it by hand or in a washing machine. If you was using a washer, check the tag on your shirt to find out what temperature and cycle to use. Dry your shirt in the dryer or by hanging it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Altering the Hem, Sleeves, and Collar

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1
Turn the shirt into a stylish tank top by cutting the sleeves off. Cut off 1 sleeve, making sure that you include the seam. Widen the sleeve by cutting further into the bottom of the arm hole, if desired. Fold the shirt in half so that the side seams match up, then use the cut sleeve hole as guide for cutting the second sleeve off.^{[12]
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- Finish the rugged look by cutting the collar and bottom hem off as well.
- For a shirt that's perfect to wear with a bralet, cut the sleeves down to 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) above the bottom hem.
- For a tied shirt, cut all the way down to the hem, splitting the front from the back. Tie the bottom corners on each side of the shirt together into double-knots.
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Cut the bottom of the shirt into a split-V if you want a tied top. Cut across the back of your shirt (not the front), 6 inches (15 cm) above the hem. Next, cut a small slit into the middle of the hem in the front of your shirt. Connect the slit to the cut edges of the side seams using angled lines. Cut a 6 in (15 cm) vertical slit into the bottom of the V, then tie the tails into a double-knot.
- Take things a step further by cutting the collar and sleeves off. Be sure to cut the seams off as well!
3
Cut a fringe into the hem if you want to give your shirt a hippie vibe. Spread your T-shirt out on a flat surface, then lay a strip of tape across it, from side-to-side. Cut vertical strips into the shirt, starting at the bottom hem and finishing at the bottom edge of the tape. Peel the tape off when you are done, then gently tug on the fringe to even it out.
- How far up the shirt you place the tape depends on how far up you want the fringe to go. A third of the way up the shirt is a safe bet.
- How wide you make the fringe is up to you. Anywhere between ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄ inch (0.32 to 0.64 cm) wide would look great.
- Tie the fringes together in an alternating pattern for a macramé look!
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Fold the hem and cut triangles into it for a geometric look. Spread the shirt out on a flat surface, then fold the bottom hem up by 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm). Make sure that the tips of the triangles don't go through the stitching on the hem. Leave about ¹⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm) of space between each triangle. When you are done, unfold the hem to reveal a diamond pattern.^{[13]
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- Make the triangles about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) wide.
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Create peek-a-boo shoulders by cutting semi-ovals into the sleeves. Spread the shirt out on a flat surface. Cut a semi-oval into the top edge of 1 sleeve, starting at the shoulder seam and finishing just above the hem's stitching. Fold the shirt in half, and use the cut sleeve as a template for cutting the second sleeve.^{[14]
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- You are cutting semi-ovals so that when you wear the shirt, they will turn into full ovals.
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Widen the collar if you want an off-the-shoulder shirt. Cut a slit on each side of your shirt's collar. Make the 1 slit next to the stitching, and the other slit about halfway between the collar and shoulder. Cut the collar off, starting at 1 slit and finishing at the other. When you are done, tug the collar apart to curl the edges of the fabric and hide any unevennes.^{[15]
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- Finish the rugged look by cutting the hems off of both the sleeves and the bottom of the shirt. Tug on the cut hems to curl the fabric.
- Decide which shoulder you want the shirt to hang off of, then make the second slit on the shoulder.
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Create a choker cut-out shirt by cutting a V below the collar. Use a tailor's chalk or pen to draw a V below the collar. Make sure that the top of the V connects with the collar. Cut the bottom of the V out, then cut the top, using the curve of the collar as a guide.
- Don't make the V span the entire width of the collar. Leave about 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) to either side of the V.
- Make sure that the V is centered and be careful not to cut through the back of the shirt.

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Tips

Practice on old shirts you won't mind ruining.

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Most of these techniques work best on baggy T-shirts, but you can try them on fitted tees as well.

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Cut off less than you think you need. You can always go and cut more later.

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