We started with two over-sized T-shirts. One was an "I heart NY" T-shirt my husband bought, then my daughter tie-dyed for a school project. The other was a Flower Mound High School Jaguars shirt we were given by a friend. Both were too large, so we needed to make them slimmer. The best way to do that...T-shirt slitting and tying or braiding/looping.
The first was the Flower Mound T-shirt. This was way too big, so we started by cutting off just the exact collar and sleeves, cutting just below the seams so they weren't left on the shirt.
We decided on side ties for this one, so we slit each side 1 inch apart and 4 inches long (8" overall since it is 4" on back and front). I find it easiest to measure and mark, but it isnt necessary. We used chalk to mark since the shirt was dark.
We then cut each loop we created in half.
And then double knotted each one.
Once we were done, we realized the sleeve looked odd with just this one bit under the arm (or in the armpit).
So we cut it in 1/2 and knotted it, too.
Here is the finished tied shirt.
And here is what it looks like on the side.
Or the front. Takes several inches off each side! There really aren't any gaps, so you can wear it without an undershirt, or over a bathing suit like my daughter.
Next was the tie dyed shirt and my daughter wanted this to be a tank bathing suit cover. So we started by cutting off the collar and sleeves. We cut the sleeves in a little and the neck a little more scooped. We just eyeballed it at this point (we decided we could always trim more later).
That is to show where we cut it, and this shows what it looked like after.
We decided to do a twist braid down the back, so we folded the shirt in half on the back and cut slits every inch. We cut them 6 inches wide overall (you actually measure 3 inches since its folded in half). This time we used pencil since the shirt was lighter.
Next we braided. And this is simple. It's really just looping. You take the top loop, place it over the second loop, then you pull the second loop through so it is now going through the top loop from bottom to top. Now you don't start twisting until the second loop (you can continue on with a simple loop pull, but we wanted to make it skinnier, so we started twisting on the second loop). So instead of just continuing down, with the second loop you do one twist before you pull the next loop. That's it!
It easiest to put two fingers through the twisted loop then use those fingers to grab the next loop.
Continue all the way to the bottom. Then its time to tie off the bottom. Slit the last loop in half, then slit each piece in half lengthwise.
Place each side of the "V" on either side of the loop it is going through.
Then double knot each
And here is the finished back! Wear it over a bathing suit or tank.
