Cut the Shirt:
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-Wash and iron shirt
-Lay out flat on a hard surface
-Use rotary cutter or fabric scissors to cut shirt following pink lines
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- On the back side only cut straight under shirt sleeves
- On the front side angle cut from bottom of sleeves up to shirt collar
-Cut straight under shirt collar
- Put scraps aside

Turning Shirt:
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-Shirt should now look like this picture
- Turn Shirt inside out to hem

Hemming the Top:

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- With the shirt inside out roll a 1/4" hem around entire raw edge EXCEPT for the top neckline, pin in place

- Fold neckline over 1/4", iron and then fold an 1" over, pin in place to create a "pocket" hem. This will hold the neck tie.

- Sew hem in place, I recommend using a longer stitch and a looser tension in order to sew the t-shirt fabric

Folding the Pleats:

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- Turn shirt right side out
- Fold 1" pleats along back of the shirt. iron and pin in place
- Do as many or as few pleats as you need to make the shirt fit snug around your frame
- I usually do around 5 pleats

Sewing Pleats:

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- Once pleats are pinned in place sew over entire length of the pleats making sure to back stitch on either side
- For extra security sew twice 1/8" apart

Completing your top:

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- Use scraps ( I recommend the back section) and cut 1-2" wide strip(s) long enough to tie comfortably around your neck
- Pull strips on both ends in order to roll edges in and extend the length of the tie
- Pull tie through neckline pocket hem and scrunch
- Try on top and enjoy :)