Have you stopped wearing one of your sweats because it's too tight around your neck, or doesn't look stylish anymore? Make some cuts! You can easily loosen the collar or create a deep V-neck to make your sweatshirt look cool. To completely redesign your sweatshirt, cut the bottom so you can wear it with torn shorts or over exercise clothes.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Dropping the collar
Step 1. Lay out the sweatshirt on a flat surface
Take the sweatshirt that is tight around your neck and spread it so that the collar part is smooth. Do this on a table or bench rather than a bed so you don't accidentally cut your linens.
Step 2. Use your fingers to separate the part where the two layers of the collar meet
Pull the front of the sweatshirt in opposite directions so you can easily see where the two sides of the collar meet.
The two layers of fabric will meet in a V-shaped stitch
Step 3. Make a 2.5 cm diagonal cut where the edges meet
Use scissors to make a cut between the two layers of fabric. Cut in the same direction as the top layer of fabric so that it is not visible.
Did you know?
The cut will fray a little as you wash and dry the sweatshirt. If you don't want it to fray, you can hem the edges of the cut.
Step 4. Try on the sweatshirt to see if the collar looks good
Put on the garment and see if the collar is comfortable. If it's still tight, cut another 1.5 cm and try the sweatshirt on again.
For a more rustic look, use your hands to tear off the cut a little rather than cut more
Method 2 of 3: Cutting a V-neck
Step 1. Lay out the sweatshirt on a flat surface
Do not work on the floor or your bed as you may accidentally cut your carpet or bedding. Instead, work on a table or bench.
You can also use a cutting mat to protect your work surface
Step 2. Cut a straight line from the center of the sweatshirt collar
Decide how deep you want the V to be and use scissors to cut from the middle of the collar to the deepest point of the V.
For example, to make a deep V-neck, cut a 13 cm line. If you want a more closed, cut a line of 7, 5 cm
Step 3. Cut or fold the edges of the collar to create diagonal lines
Make an angled V shape by folding the sides of the collar to opposite sides and decide whether you want to cut off excess fabric or keep the collar folded.
If you're going to leave the fabric folded, you can sew it in place so it doesn't unfold
Step 4. Punch holes in the collar and put a shoelace on it to add detail
To create an easy ornament, use a skewer to make three or four holes on each side of the V-neck and thread a shoelace or string through them like a shoe. Then you can adjust the collar with the shoelace.
You can also put a piece of fleece or decorative ribbon on the collar of the sweatshirt
Method 3 of 3: Cropping
Step 1. Decide how long you want the piece
Try on the sweatshirt and think about when you want to cut it. You can wear the shorts or pants you are planning to match with the sweatshirt so you can see how much space will be left between the cropped sweatshirt and the top of the shorts or pants.
To help remember where you're going to cut, mark the sweatshirt with a piece of chalk
Step 2. Hang the sweatshirt and glue the sleeves so they are out of the way
Take the piece off and place it on a hanger. Then hang it against a flat surface and tape each sleeve with duct tape so it doesn't fall off the front when you're cutting.
If you prefer, you can lay the sweatshirt on a table or flat surface instead of hanging it
Step 3. Attach the bottom of the sweatshirt
Take pins, paper clips, or clothespins and use them to hold the bottom edges of the garment together. The edges should line up so you can make a straight cut.
If you don't mind making a crooked cut, you can skip this step
Step 4. Use a ruler to draw a straight line on the sweatshirt
Place a ruler horizontally over the mark you made and use a permanent pen or chalk to draw a straight line where you want to cut the sweatshirt.
Tip:
If you're cutting out a sweatshirt that has a large front pocket, try using the top of the sweatshirt as a guide.
Step 5. Cut to the line
Take a pair of scissors and carefully cut the line you just made on the sweatshirt. So, remove the hanger piece and enjoy your new cropped sweatshirt!
Remember that the bottom of the garment will fray as you wash it. If you don't want this to happen, sew the hem
Tips
- These methods work on sweats that don't have a zipper.
- For a simple tank top, cut around the hood and remove the sleeves. Remember to keep the stitching so that the stitches don't fall apart.