A new T-shirt with an interesting motif, but too big will be a waste if you keep it. An easy way to overcome this is to shrink the clothes with or without sewing so that your favorite clothes fit on your body and are ready to wear.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Shrink Shirts
Step 1. Soak a new, oversized shirt in hot water
The fibers of the shirt will shrivel when immersed in boiling water, causing the shirt to shrink. For that, prepare a large pot, fill it with clean water, then bring it to a boil on the stove. The hotter the water, the better the results.
- Remove the pan from the stove.
- Put the clothes in hot water. Use a spoon to press the shirt into the water so that it is completely submerged.
- Soak clothes for 30 minutes.
Step 2. Wash the clothes with hot water
Set the washing machine temperature to run very hot water, then wash the clothes as usual. If you buy a T-shirt that is a bit too big, it may shrink a bit in hot water because the fibers will shrink.
- Hot water can dissolve the color of the fabric. Therefore, wash new clothes separately so that other clothes do not fade.
- A washing machine with a door at the top is more effective at shrinking clothes than a washing machine with a front door.
Step 3. Dry the clothes on a high temperature
Put the clothes in the dryer, then dry on the highest temperature. Clothes will shrink slightly when exposed to heat. Dryers are less effective at shrinking T-shirts than hot water, except for woolen clothes. If you want to reduce the size of the clothes a little, wash the clothes in cold water, then spin them in the dryer on the highest speed.
- When soaked in hot water or spun in a hot dryer, synthetic fibers shrink more than natural fibers.
- Wool will be damaged if it is twirled in the dryer because the twisted yarn will unravel so that it clumps and the cloth shrivels because the yarn rubs against each other and becomes tangled.
Method 2 of 3: Sewing the Shirt
Step 1. Prepare a t-shirt that fits the body
Look for t-shirts that fit your body, but don't wear them anymore because old clothes will be cut out and used as patterns.
- Make sure the size of the shirt that you want to make a pattern is the same as the size of the new shirt after it has been reduced.
- Before cutting, make sure the clothes for the pattern are not your favorite clothes and are not worn again.
Step 2. Remove the sleeves of the shirt you want to make a pattern
Cut the seam that joins the sleeve to the body of the shirt. Expand the sleeve fabric by cutting the seam that joins the underside of the sleeve.
Step 3. Cut the seams of both sides of the body of the shirt
Make sure you cut the stitches as neatly as possible. At this point, you've finished making the pattern out of the worn shirt with the shoulders connected and the neck clasp in the original.
Step 4. Cut the seams of the clothes you want to reduce
Remove both sleeves and cut both sides of the body of the shirt.
Expand the sleeve fabric by cutting the seam that joins the underside of the sleeve
Step 5. Spread the body of the shirt you want to shrink on the table
Flatten the fabric by hand so that nothing is wrinkled or folded.
- Place the pattern from the old clothes on top of the new clothes.
- Make sure the necklines of the two shirts overlap each other.
- Use a pin to hold the pattern on top of the new shirt so it doesn't slide.
Step 6. Cut out the new clothes to reduce the size according to the pattern
Make sure you prepare a 1.5-2 cm wide seam when cutting clothes.
- Cut the new sleeves according to the pattern, but don't forget to prepare a 1.5-2 cm wide seam.
- If needed, trim the bottom hem of the new shirt so it's the same length as the pattern.
Step 7. Sew the sleeves and body of the shirt together
Take the sleeves that have the seams opened, then attach them to the body of the shirt using a pin.
- When threading pins along the sleeves, make sure the outer side of the fabric is down so that the seams of the sleeves are up.
- Flatten the fabric of the sleeves before putting them together with the body of the shirt.
Step 8. Sew the sleeves with a sewing machine
Use overlock or zigzag stitches when sewing sleeve cuffs, as T-shirts cannot be sewn in straight stitches.
- Choose a sewing thread that is the same color as the fabric.
- Tuck the seams of the sleeves under the shoes of the sewing machine, then sew them together.
Step 9. Sew the sides of the shirt
After sewing the sleeves together, fold the shirt in half with the inside side out. Sew the two sides of the shirt starting from the end of the sleeve to the bottom of the shirt.
- Use sewing thread that is the same color as the fabric.
- When sewing the sides of the shirt, make sure that the inside of the fabric is on the outside so that it sits on the inside when the shirt is worn.
Step 10. Sew the bottom hem of the shirt with a sewing machine
Leave the inside of the fabric outside, then fold the bottom edge of the shirt 2 cm wide. When making the hem, fold the hem of the shirt into the inner side of the fabric so that the hem is not visible when the shirt is worn.
Use a sewing machine to sew the hem on the bottom edge of the shirt with the inside of the fabric still outside
Step 11. Press the hem with an iron
Use an iron to bend the fabric along the newly sewn hem.
Step 12. Put on a freshly sewn shirt
Currently, new clothes are the same size as old clothes. Save the pattern so you can use it again to shrink other clothes.
Method 3 of 3: Using Other Methods
Step 1. Tie the back of the oversized shirt by making a knot
If you want to wear a T-shirt that's a bit tight at the waist, gather the bottom hem of the shirt at your back and tie a knot.
- Pull the shirt back.
- Twist the bottom hem of the shirt.
- Tie the bottom end of the shirt in a knot.
Step 2. Secure the back of the shirt with safety pins
Pinch the back of the shirt with your fingers, then hold it with safety pins so that the shirt is wrinkled at the back.
- Pin it on the inside of the shirt so you don't see it.
- Wear a blazer or cardigan to hide wrinkles from shrinking clothes in an instant way.
Step 3. Cut the bottom edge of the shirt
If you want to look casual, cut the bottom of the shirt to the waist. You can hem the bottom hem of the shirt or leave it as is.
Wear a tank top or tight t-shirt as an interior for a more fashionable appearance
Tips
- Sew the sleeves 2 times because the seams on the armpits are often pulled when the clothes are put on or removed so the threads break easily.
- Buy an oversized t-shirt at a thrift store, then shrink it to fit.
- Wet the shirt in cool water, then tie a heavy object at the end of the shirt to stretch the fabric and prevent creasing while hanging it up to dry.
