How to Cut a Shirt Into a Crop Top

Reusing an Old T-shirt

Find an old or unwanted t-shirt to turn into a crop top. Any t-shirt can be turned into a crop top, but it can never be used as a t-shirt again. Therefore, select a t-shirt that’s old (maybe it’s frayed along the edges) or one that you no longer want as a t-shirt (maybe it’s too large to wear as a t-shirt). You could also purchase a t-shirt (new or vintage) to turn into a crop top. You’ll be cutting off the sleeves, bottom, and collar of the t-shirt, therefore if these areas are damaged, it will not impact the crop top. As you’ll be removing the sleeves of the t-shirt, you can use either a short-sleeve or long-sleeve t-shirt.

Determine how short you’d like the crop top to be. Try on the t-shirt and determine how short you’d like the crop top to be. Use a pencil to mark the approximate line where you’ll need to cut the t-shirt. Once the t-shirt is laying flat again, use your ruler or measuring tape to measure the distance between the bottom of the t-shirt and the line you marked with the pencil. Write that measurement down so you don’t forget it. If you’re unsure how short you want to make the crop top, start with a longer version first. Test out the longer version and, if it’s too long, make additional cuts to shorten the shirt.

Mark a line around the t-shirt to indicate where you should make the cut. Lay the t-shirt back onto a flat surface. Find the approximate centre of the width of the t-shirt along the bottom seam. Use your measuring tape or ruler up from the centre to the distance you previously determined. Mark that spot with your pencil. Measure the same distance up from the bottom of the t-shirt 1 inch (2.5 cm) to 2 inches (5.1 cm) from each side of the t-shirt and mark with your pencil. You will not be making a straight cut along the bottom of the t-shirt, therefore you do not need to connect the pencil marks to draw a line.

Make three cuts from the bottom of the t-shirt to create the ties. From the bottom of the t-shirt, make a straight cut up to the middle pencil mark you made. From the same spot on the bottom, make a diagonal cut to the right, up to the approximate location of the right-side pencil mark. Repeat the process on the left side. Your diagonal cuts should be at an approximate 45 degrees angle from the bottom of the t-shirt. The triangle pieces of fabric left on the front of the shirt will be the ties of your crop top.

Cut the rest of the bottom of the t-shirt off. Make a cut from the top of each diagonal to the sides of the t-shirt. Flip the t-shirt over so the front is laying on the table. Cut the rest of the bottom of the t-shirt off along the back of the t-shirt. If you want, you can make more pencil marks with your measuring tape or ruler along the back of the shirt to ensure you’re cutting in the correct place.

Cut both sleeves off the t-shirt along the seam. Lay the t-shirt onto a flat surface, such as a table or counter. Use sharp scissors to cut off both sleeves along the inside of the seams where the sleeves were sewn onto the shirt. In other words, you want to cut the seam off with the sleeves. Use the sharpest scissors that you have to cut the fabric. Dull scissors may catch on the fabric or not be able to cut through 2 layers of fabric.

Remove the collar of the t-shirt along the seam. While the shirt is laying flat, use sharp scissors to cut the collar off the shirt. Like the sleeves, cut the collar off on the inside of the seam such that the seam of the collar is also removed. Your crop top is what you make it, therefore, feel free to keep the collar of the t-shirt if you prefer.

Modifying a Button-up Blouse

Select an old or unwanted button-up blouse you want to convert to a crop top. The only requirement for this crop top is that the blouse you start with is a button-up. It can be long-sleeved or short-sleeved and can be made of any material. If you don’t have a button-up blouse at home that you can use to make a crop top, you can purchase an inexpensive button-up blouse at a clothing store or a gently worn blouse at a vintage store.

Try on the blouse to measure how much to remove from the bottom. Put the button-up blouse on and determine how short you would like your crop top to be. Use a pencil to mark the approximate distance from the bottom of the shirt where you want to blouse to be cut. Just make one mark somewhere on the blouse. You may want to ask a friend for assistance with this step. Ask your friend to mark the spot with your pencil while you stand straight.

Measure the amount of fabric that’s to be cut off the blouse. Take the blouse off and lay it flat onto a table or counter. Use a measuring tape or ruler to measure the approximate distance between the bottom of the blouse and the pencil mark you made. Write this measurement down on a piece of paper. Err on the side of caution if you aren’t 100% sure how short you want your crop top to be. You can always cut more fabric off later if the crop top is too long, but you can’t make the crop top longer if you cut off too much.

Mark a cut line along the back of the blouse. Turn the shirt over so that the front of the shirt is lying on the flat surface. Use your measuring tape or ruler to measure the distance from the bottom of the back of the blouse, based on the measurement you previously wrote down. Make 4 or 5 marks with a pencil along the back of the shirt, then draw a line between those marks. Keep in mind that the distance from the bottom of the blouse may be different if the bottom of the blouse is not straight. Some button-up blouses have curved ends so they can be tucked into pants. If your button-up blouse is curved at the bottom, measure up from the two side seams and draw a line between those two marks.

Remove the bottom of the blouse with your scissors. Use your scissors to cut along the back of the blouse along the line you’ve marked. Turn the blouse back over so that the newly cut back is laying on the flat surface. Continue the cut 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 3 inches (7.6 cm) from each side of the shirt inwards, towards the buttons. If you would prefer, you can make additional pencil marks along the front sides of the blouse.

Make two diagonal cuts along the front of the blouse. Use your scissors to make a diagonal cut towards the bottom of the blouse, from where you stopped cutting 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 3 inches (7.6 cm) in from the sides of the blouse. Repeat the same process on the opposite side of the blouse. These diagonal cuts can be at approximately 45-degree angles. The triangle pieces of fabric that are left on the bottom of the blouse can be used as ties when wearing the crop top. You’ll need to unbutton the bottom portion of the blouse before tying the two pieces together.

Remove the sleeves of the blouse along the seams. Use sharp scissors to cut both sleeves off the button-up blouse. Make the cut just on the inside of the seams where the sleeves have been sewn onto the main body of the blouse. There is no requirement to cut off the sleeves. If you would prefer a crop top with sleeves, skip this step.

Converting a Tank Top

Locate an old or unwanted tank top to make into a crop top. Find a tank top that you would like to turn into a crop top. It can be an old tank top, an unwanted tank top, or even a new tank top that you would prefer be turned into a different style. The style of the tank top doesn’t matter. However, the longer the tank top, the better, as you’ll be using that length to make ties behind your back. Tank tops made of stretchy fabrics will work better than those made of stiff fabric.

Cut the front of your tank top in half vertically. Start the crop top conversion process by making a straight cut down the middle of the front of the tank top using your sharp scissors. You want the cut to be made vertically, from the top middle of the front of the tank top to the bottom middle of the front of the tank top. If your tank top has a couple of buttons on the front, undo the buttons and make the cut starting at the bottom of the button seam.

Determine how long the back of the crop top should be. The back of the crop top should be long enough to cover the back of your bra, but it doesn’t have to be much longer than that. Try on the tank top to measure that distance or estimate the distance without trying it on. Use a ruler and a pencil to mark a cut line along the entire back of the tank top, from the left side to the right side. If you need to cut more fabric off the back later, you can.

Cut off the bottom portion of the back of your tank top. Lay your tank top on a flat surface with the front side down. Make one vertical cut on the left side of the back of the tank top, upwards from the bottom to the cut line, on the left of the left-side seam. Repeat the same process on the right side, to the right of the right-side seam. Then make a cut from left to right, along the cut line marked in pencil. When the back is cut off, you want to make sure both side seams have been cut off as well.

Try on your new wrap-around crop top. Try on your new crop top. Take the right front side of the top, pull is across you right breast, and bring the bottom portion of the fabric around to your back. Take the left front side of the top, pull it over your left breast and the right-side fabric, and bring the bottom portion around to your back. Tie the two pieces of fabric together at your back. If the fabric pieces are long enough, you can tie them into a bow. Otherwise, just make a knot with the fabric.