Making tassels on a t-shirt is an easy and fun way to create a new look from a t-shirt you already have in your wardrobe. There are several ways to decorate a tufted t-shirt and you can experiment with different decorating ways to create a unique look that you've created yourself.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making a Tufted T-shirt
Step 1. Gather the ingredients
To make a tufted t-shirt, you'll need a few materials:
- A T-shirt (men's shirts are looser, women's shirts are tighter)
- Scissors (cloth scissors work best)
- Ruler
- Chalk or pencil
- Decorative beads (optional)
Step 2. Mark where the tassel starts
Put on a T-shirt. Stand in front of a mirror and use chalk to make a temporary line on the front of the shirt, where the tassel starts.
Note that you can reveal the belly, depending on how long the tassel is cut. Some people like this look, while others prefer the tassel that starts at the waist of the trousers or shorts
Step 3. Measure the line with chalk
Spread the t-shirt on a flat surface such as the floor or a table. Measure the distance from each armpit of the shirt to the end of the line drawn with the chalk. This will help to determine if the line is straight and even on both sides.
- If the two sizes are different in length, measure again and mark where needed to make a straight, even line with chalk. Then place a ruler on the shirt and draw a horizontal line again, connecting the two equal sizes.
- For example, if the chalk line on the left armpit is 17.5 cm and the chalk line on the right armpit is 12.5 cm, find a more appropriate length. Measure and mark the same length on the adjusted side of the shirt.
- If the two ends of the chalk line are equidistant from the armpit, connect the two marks to even out the chalk line. This line will be the place to stop cutting the tassel strands.
Step 4. Mark the tassel line
Place a ruler on the chalk line you have drawn and use the chalk to mark a distance of 1.25 cm where the tassel will be cut. When you're done marking the top of the shirt, place a ruler at the bottom of the shirt and again, mark a 1.25 cm distance for the location to cut the tassel. Then place the ruler vertically on the shirt and connect the marks 1.25 cm apart. This will create a clear line for cutting the tassel.
- You can also trim the tassels without markings, but cutting along the measured lines will make the shirt look tidier.
- If you want to beading the tassel, the narrower strands of the tassel will make the beads easier to insert.
Step 5. Cut the shirt
Cut the bottom hem of the shirt, just above the top seam. Use the scissors to cut vertically the 1.25 cm line measured for the tassel. You can cut both sides of the shirt at once. Make sure the front and back of the shirt are spread out and flat when you start cutting. Stop cutting when you reach the top of the chalk line.
The first and last tassels to be cut will be at the waist of the shirt. This means that the waist tassel is 2.5 cm wide because it is 1.25 cm wide at the front of the shirt that connects to the 1.25 cm width at the back of the shirt. Cut this 2.5 cm wider strand of tassel in half towards the center, so that it is the same as the rest of the tassel
Step 6. Stretch the tassel strands
When all the tassels have been cut, use a hand to hold the shirt in place. Use your other hand to tug at the bottom of the tassel strands, to twist the cut edges and make the tassel strands look like tassels.
You can leave the shirt like that as a simple tassel top or you can also decorate the shirt to make it look more unique
Method 2 of 2: Decorating a Tufted T-shirt
Step 1. Make a tassel knot
Take two adjacent strands of tassel and tie them about 2.5 cm from where the tassel begins. Repeat this step for all of the tassels on the shirt.
You can leave the shirt like this with small knots on the shirt or you can add another layer of knots to create a criss-crossed look
Step 2. Make a criss-cross knot on the shirt
If there are already small knots in the shirt, tie the right tassel from a knot with the left tassel from the other knot and tie the two strands about 2.5 cm from the original knot.
Continue to knot the outer tassel strands of adjacent knot pairs, for a criss-crossed effect on the shirt
Step 3. Make alternating patterns on the tassel
Make alternating patterns on the tassels by trimming some of the tassels to make them shorter than others. You can try trimming the tassels alternately to make them shorter, just the fringes at the back of the shirt or irregular strands.
Step 4. Attach the beads to the tassel
Attach decorative beads to the tassel strands. You can add as many beads as you like, but most tassels look beautiful with 1-3 beads on a single tassel. When you're done attaching the beads to the tassel, make a small knot at the bottom of the tassel to keep the beads in place.
You can add beads to a plain tufted t-shirt, a t-shirt with a criss-cross knot, and an alternate tufted t-shirt. It's just a matter of taste. Experiment to find out what look you like best
Tips
- If you like the tassel strands narrower or wider, go ahead. If you are cutting a very thin tassel, it is recommended that you cut the shirt into thirds first, then cut the three pieces into smaller tassels. This will make the shirt easier to handle than trying to cut small pieces of the shirt at once.
- To give your t-shirt the way you want it, consider using a tie-dye, painting, or embroidery technique in addition to creating a tassel.
- A tufted t-shirt can be a great item to sell at a street vendor or sell for a fundraiser at a school bazaar.
- Practice with a used T-shirt you got from a flea market first if you're worried you won't be able to make a good one. If you're brave, you can do it on a t-shirt that you want to make it look fantastic!
