Cut Out + Keep

Complex Variables Off Shoulder/Corset T Shirt

Turn a baggy T-shirt into a perfectly fitted shirt with corset back.

https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/complex-variables-off-shouldercorset-t-shirt • Posted by Melissa Beth

I don't have specific measurements, so this is a bit fly by the seat of your pants. It is listed as so-so difficulty because the lack of formal measurements, but this is actually not terribly hard.

You will need

Project Budget
Cheap

Time

2 h 00

Difficulty

So-so
Medium 100 0895 1283812945 Medium complexback 1283813102 Medium complexfront 1283813123

Description

I don't have specific measurements, so this is a bit fly by the seat of your pants. It is listed as so-so difficulty because the lack of formal measurements, but this is actually not terribly hard.

Instructions

  1. Small 100 0857 1283813945

    If your T-Shirt is too long, cut 1-2" off the bottom so that the shirt lays at your waist. Keep the part you cut off. Make your T-shirt a scoop neck by cutting around the existing neckline. If you cut as much off as I did (along the yellow dotted line), you get an off the shoulder shirt.

  2. Small 100 0858 1283814044

    Now make two lines on opposite sides of the shirt. I chose to put them around the text. Somewhere around your bust line is good. Cut along these (yellow dotted) lines one at a time.

  3. Small 100 0867 1283814615

    Turn the shirt inside out, hold the shirt where you cut with right sides together and pin along the seam.

  4. Small 100 0872 1283814750

    Sew along the seam about 1" from the edge. This is of course what takes the shirt in. Like I said, I don't have specific measurements, just try it on as you do it. You can always rip out a seam.

  5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 for second line on the front. Then make 2 lines on the back (to match the front) and repeat what you did on the front.

  6. I decided to square off the neckline in the back. I also put a third line down the middle of the back because the back of the shirt was always floppy. I more or less fixed this later with the corset.

  7. Small 100 0877 1283815171

    Take the bottom you cut off at the beginning and cut just under the seam. Keep the piece from below the seam, fold it out, and use fusible tape to line the neck of the shirt with it. You can also use the bottom of another shirt in a contrasting color. That is what I did - I had a leftover from a previous project. Take the bottom of another T-Shirt and line the bottom of your shirt using the same method as above.

  8. Small 100 0875 1283818205

    Now to start the back corset piece. Start by putting a small hole on each side of the shoulder seam. Do on both sides. You should have squared off your back neckline. Put 3 evenly spaced, small holes down the vertical part of the back neckline. Do on both sides. When you get to the horizontal (bottom) of the back neckline, place two small holes towards the center but about an inch apart form each other.

  9. I used grossgrain ribbon to lace the corset. You are going to need a couple of yards of something, especially if you want enough for a bow. Start by threading the the ribbon through the shoulder line holes, as seen above, and then just lace as usual. Tie the ribbon tight and it should close up the floppiness of the back.