How to Transform a Boring Crew Neck T-shirt to One You Will Actually Wear (Over and Over)

Have you ever saw a T-shirt that is soft, has a cute logo, is in a color you like…except the neckline is too high? Or have you ever seen a cute men’s graphic T shirt that you would love to wear, but the neckline is just NOT right?

Recently there was a sale at Target for $7.99 Men’s graphic T (regular price $12.99). I originally was browsing for some T-shirts to get my husband. Inevitably I ended up looking for T-shirts for myself (ha!) Since only the men’s graphic Ts were on sale, I decided to stick to those since I also saw a few that I liked for myself!

At the end, I chose this white Pizza Planet Shirt:

Looks pretty manly right? I knew the neckline would be way too high and I was right. Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT into super low necklines. However, in general I find crew neck T shirts rather uncomfortable because of the high neckline. It feels suffocating and I find myself tugging at the T-shirt all day trying to adjust the neckline.

Unfortunately that never works.

Luckily hemming a T-shirt neckline is quick and easy. I know you can cut off the neckline and wear as is (since knit materials don’t fray). However, I find that the edge still looks a bit raggedy and unpolished. I much prefer finishing the neckline with a bias tape because it looks much nicer.

And yes, although it will take about 15 minutes (vs 3 minutes to cut off the neckline), I think the end result is definitely worth it. Your altered T-shirt will look store-bought, and who doesn’t want that?

I also decided to alter the sleeve (very slightly) since I thought it made the T-shirt cuter. All I did was roll up the edge of the sleeve twice over and tack it down on the top and bottom with a straight stitch. This is completely optional and just depends on your preference.

Follow along with the tutorial to alter your own T-shirt neckline!

MATERIALS:

• Crew neck T shirt
• 1/2″ Single fold bias tape (see Notes) – check out How to make Bias Tape

TOOLS:

• Sewing Machine
• Fabric Scissors
• Chalk for marking fabric
• Ruler
• Thread of matching color

NOTES:

• The amount of bias tape you will need depends on how wide the neckline is. Make sure you have at least an extra 1-1.5″ of bias tape compared to the circumference of your new neckline.

• In this tutorial I used home made bias tape made out of knit material. This allows the neckline to be able to stretch when you pull the T-shirt over your head. You can make your own knit bias tape by cutting knit fabric (or an old T-shirt) and following the tutorial on “How to make bias tape”.

• You can also use bias tape made out of woven material as well, but the neckline will not stretch as much.

• In this tutorial I used bias tape that matches the color of the T-shirt (white). However, using a different colored bias tape can also add an extra “pop” to your T-shirt as well!

INSTRUCTIONS:

CUTTING NECKLINE:

LEFT: Draw the desired neckline on your T-shirt. You will be sewing at 1/4” seam allowance, so make sure to take that into consideration when drawing the new neckline.
RIGHT: Cut neckline

PIN BIAS TAPE TO NECKLINE:

LEFT: Open the folds on a piece of single fold bias tape. Match right side of bias tape to right side of T-shirt. With front of T-shirt facing you, pin bias tape to neckline starting at right shoulder of T-shirt. Leave 1/2” extra piece above the right shoulder.

RIGHT: Pin bias tape around entire neckline back to where you started. You will have some extra bias tape at the end.

Fold the extra 1/2” bias tape down (at beginning of where you started pinning bias tape to neckline)

Fold excess bias-tape-end down over where you started pinning bias tape to neckline.

SEWING BIAS TAPE:

LEFT: Sew bias tape to neckline at fold of bias tape (~1/4”)
RIGHT: Trim seam allowance to 1/8”

Turn bias tape to wrong side of T-shirt. Fold in bias tape and pin to neckline.

Stitch at 1/8” from bottom edge of bias tape all around neckline (black dotted line).

ADJUSTING SLEEVE:

Roll edge of sleeve in once, then roll in again and stitch down both ends (top and bottom of sleeve)

Close up of straight stitch on top of sleeve. Bottom of sleeve stitched in same way.

Finished! Wasn’t that simple? I’m sure you already have T-shirts laying around your closet that need a new look.

Grab some accessories and you are ready for your next Disneyland trip!

Other sewing projects to go with your new t-shirt!