Ready to revamp your wardrobe but unable to justify investing in new clothing? (I understand that wearing the same outfits every day while in lockdown is just WAY too convenient!) To give your wardrobe some new life while utilizing the items already in your closet, I have a fun DIY project for you to complete. Are you prepared to discover how to create a crop top from a T-shirt? Of course, you are, so let’s get going.
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How To Style Crop Tops
It’s time to style your new crop top now that you know how to transform a T-shirt into one!
If it’s too cold outside to be wearing a crop top, or if you’re a little hesitant to expose some skin!), try these ideas:
- Over a camisole or slip dress, layer your crop top. If you choose to wear a camisole or tank top instead of a crop top, make sure it is a few inches longer to give you a chic, polished look.
- Go high-waisted to prove that mom jeans are useful after all! High-waisted pants or shorts look stunning with a crop top. For some extra flair, wear some strappy sandals or flat heels.
- Layer your crop top UNDER something else, such as a jean jacket, a long button-up shirt, or a thick cardigan, as opposed to wearing it OVER something else. If your new crop top is extremely fitted, this looks great.
Try These Methods To Know Exactly Where To Cut
Because you don’t want to mess it up right away, the first cut might be intimidating. Fortunately, this tutorial will allay your concerns by demonstrating two easy methods for making a clean cut across your shirt. (A helpful tip is to cut longer than you anticipate because you can always trim more if necessary.)
Consider the following no-sew and no-cut methods of making different styles of crop tops from an old shirt:
- Make your own crop top T-shirt. Holding the collar’s middle with your left hand and the sleeves in line with your right, fold your shirt in half vertically. Measure how much of the bottom of the shirt you want to remove, then lay it flat. In the top of the shirt, add some weights or large books. With your fabric scissors, pull up the desired portion of the shirt and cut through it in a straight line.
- Create fun fringes. Fringes can be a nice addition to your upcycled T-shirt project. Your T-shirt should be ironed on a flat surface after being folded in half. Before cutting the fringe, figure out how much of the fabric will cover your body. The shirt should now be flattened and laid out with the front facing up. Work your way around the back and sides of the shirt, taking about two inches off the bottom of the shirt every inch or so. The fringe pieces can be stretched out to make them thinner and stringier.
- Tie a front knot. You don’t have to cut your shirt to make a cute crop top. Cup your right hand around the left-bottom portion of your shirt while wearing it. When you are satisfied with the size of your crop top, thread the shirt through your right hand and tighten. This section of the shirt should be tied in a knot and left to hang to the side.
- Cut the sides. Place your shirt on a flat surface, fold it in half vertically, and use fabric scissors to cut into the sides of the shirt about every inch. Pull at the cutouts to open and thin them out as you unfold the shirt. After that, grab each fringe and cut it in half. To make a shorter, cinched top with ribbons running up the side, tie the two sides of each bisected fringe.
What To Wear Under A Crop Top
I already mentioned that you could create a killer layered look by wearing a camisole or tank top underneath your crop top. Choose an item with feminine details, such as a camisole with a lace hem (or even an all-lace camisole! ), if you want to look more elegant.).
You could cover your crop top with a button-up shirt for a more preppy look. Any crop top would look great with a white button-up shirt, which is a great wardrobe staple in and of itself.). Alternately, experiment with various patterns and materials to wear beneath your crop top!
Layering a T-shirt under your crop top is an additional option for underneath. If your crop top has spaghetti straps, this looks especially stylish. This is a cozy, casual option that is great for school and all of your extracurricular activities.
History Of The Crop Top
The crop top had already become a staple of Middle Eastern fashion long before Kylie Jenner started wearing it. In order to display their shimmying and shaking, belly dancers wore midriff-baring attire. In contrast, the conventional sari in India was paired with a short blouse known as a choli.
It wasn’t until the 1940s that the crop top entered the Western culture. Because textiles had to be rationed during World War II, fashion designers began cutting t-shirts in half strategically. Despite the fact that this was a clever solution, the blouse was deemed to be too revealing for inclusion in the general fashion at the time.
Due in part to Madonna and Dirty Dancing, women began to wear crop tops to aerobics classes later on in the 1980s. The style persisted throughout the 1990s, particularly after Britney Spears made headlines by appearing in her music video for “Hit Me Baby One More Time” wearing a button-down shirt tied in a knot.’
Crop tops are still a common choice for women today. In addition to enhancing a woman’s figure beautifully, they are also ideal for showcasing washboard abs, belly button piercings, and underboob tattoos.
Conclusion
You can simply cut a regular t-shirt in half to create a crop top. However, you will need to use your sewing skills if you want a more eye-catching design and crisp finishes.
Nothing to worry about; it’s pretty simple. If you know how to make the fundamental hand stitches, you can follow this tutorial even if you have never sewn anything before.
We’re going to tie a twist knot in the front. You can also add some extra seams for fun, as I did here.
