×

Last week I saw this darling top from Anthropologie pinned on Pinterest, and then later that day I got a reader email requesting a tutorial for the very same shirt. Now, I don’t normally oblige to these types of emails cause I already have a list of tutorial and refashion ideas a mile long (also, this), but this shirt was so cute. Plus it seemed like the perfect top to wear on our Six Flags date last weekend. So…I obliged. 
jeans: old navy // wedges: target (old)

Materials:

Since I bought a men’s shirt as the base of my shirt, the first few steps are to get it to fit. If you use a woman’s t-shirt that already has a scoop neck and fitted sleeves, you can skip to step ++++

Step 1. Cut off the neckline ribbing, cutting your neckline into a scoop if it was formerly a v-neck. Discard ribbing.

Next, cut off the sleeves, which you’ll need to keep. Then cut the sides of the shirt from hemline to armpit, and finally cut the back part of the shirt off about eight inches below the neckline.

Step 2. If you’re using a mens shirt, the shoulders are probably going to be too wide for you, so trim them down as much as needed. I made mine about 4 inches wide, as seen below.

Also, if the sleeve opening is too big, raise the shoulder by taking in a few inches on each shoulder, as seen below.

Step 3. Lastly, cut the hem to be slightly rounded, if desired. Now you’re ready to sew.

Step 4. Cut a long strip of fabric (wide enough to go across the entire width of the shirt and several inches longer than your front hem) and with right sides together, attach to the back of the shirt. Add a little pleat in the middle, if desired.

Here’s a little closeup of the pleat.

Step 5. (not pictured) With right sides together, sew up the sides of your shirt from hem to armpit. Trim the seam allowance and zigzag or serge the raw edge. 
Step 6. Now it’s time to add the sleeves. If you’re using the sleeves from an oversized shirt, cut down to your desired size, as seen below. Then with right sides together, attach to the arm hole and sew around the arm hole with a straight stitch. Trim the seam allowance (zigzagging or serging the raw edge is optional since the t-shirt fabric won’t fray).
Step 6. Now it’s time for the neckline. You can just fold the neckline over twice and sew around the entire neckline opening…
OR this is what I did:
cut a 2″ wide strip of fabric from the leftover back fabric and sew the ends together to make a circle. With right sides together, pin this circle of fabric to the neckline, stretching it to make it fit all the way around. 

After it’s attached, turn it right side out and iron the neckline flat, and then sew around the entire neckline with a wide straight stitch to hold the lining in place, as seen below.

Step 7. Next it’s time for the pocket. Cut a square out of your contrasting fabric and hem on all sides, then pin to your shirt and sew sew around all the sides except the top with a straight stitch.

Step 8. Cut the contrasting fabric in a scoop shape and then hem the entire shirt. Press all your seams and you’re done!

May 10, 2013

Anthropologie Pattern Pop Tee (Refashion & Tutorial)

Last week I saw this darling top from Anthropologie pinned on Pinterest, and then later that day I got a reader email requesting a tutorial for the very same shirt. Now, I don’t normally oblige to these types of emails cause I already have a list of tutorial and refashion ideas a mile long (also, this), but this shirt was so cute. Plus it seemed like the perfect top to wear on our Six Flags date last weekend. So…I obliged. 
jeans: old navy // wedges: target (old)

Materials:

Since I bought a men’s shirt as the base of my shirt, the first few steps are to get it to fit. If you use a woman’s t-shirt that already has a scoop neck and fitted sleeves, you can skip to step ++++

Step 1. Cut off the neckline ribbing, cutting your neckline into a scoop if it was formerly a v-neck. Discard ribbing.

Next, cut off the sleeves, which you’ll need to keep. Then cut the sides of the shirt from hemline to armpit, and finally cut the back part of the shirt off about eight inches below the neckline.

Step 2. If you’re using a mens shirt, the shoulders are probably going to be too wide for you, so trim them down as much as needed. I made mine about 4 inches wide, as seen below.

Also, if the sleeve opening is too big, raise the shoulder by taking in a few inches on each shoulder, as seen below.

Step 3. Lastly, cut the hem to be slightly rounded, if desired. Now you’re ready to sew.

Step 4. Cut a long strip of fabric (wide enough to go across the entire width of the shirt and several inches longer than your front hem) and with right sides together, attach to the back of the shirt. Add a little pleat in the middle, if desired.

Here’s a little closeup of the pleat.

Step 5. (not pictured) With right sides together, sew up the sides of your shirt from hem to armpit. Trim the seam allowance and zigzag or serge the raw edge. 
Step 6. Now it’s time to add the sleeves. If you’re using the sleeves from an oversized shirt, cut down to your desired size, as seen below. Then with right sides together, attach to the arm hole and sew around the arm hole with a straight stitch. Trim the seam allowance (zigzagging or serging the raw edge is optional since the t-shirt fabric won’t fray).
Step 6. Now it’s time for the neckline. You can just fold the neckline over twice and sew around the entire neckline opening…
OR this is what I did:
cut a 2″ wide strip of fabric from the leftover back fabric and sew the ends together to make a circle. With right sides together, pin this circle of fabric to the neckline, stretching it to make it fit all the way around. 

After it’s attached, turn it right side out and iron the neckline flat, and then sew around the entire neckline with a wide straight stitch to hold the lining in place, as seen below.

Step 7. Next it’s time for the pocket. Cut a square out of your contrasting fabric and hem on all sides, then pin to your shirt and sew sew around all the sides except the top with a straight stitch.

Step 8. Cut the contrasting fabric in a scoop shape and then hem the entire shirt. Press all your seams and you’re done!
«

You may
also like

39 Comments

  1. Martha says:
    May 10, 2013 at 11:16 am

    beautifull!
    I have to sew this for me too!

    Marta

    Reply
  2. Mareike says:
    May 10, 2013 at 11:30 am

    What a great shirt! Thanks for this inspiration – looks pretty on you!

    Reply
  3. Julia says:
    May 10, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    Hi Merrick, this is one of my favorite tutorials you've done.

    When you cut the shirt, I know that you sometimes use a tape measurer, but otherwise is it just freehand cutting? (For example, step 6 where you cut the sleeve shorter, but the edge matched the original edge of the sleeve)

    Reply
  4. BREI says:
    May 10, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    So cute! I work there and you did an excellent job

    Reply
  5. livingoninspiration.com says:
    May 10, 2013 at 1:44 pm

    Awesome! What a great tutorial. I love your pattern mixing too!

    Julia
    http://www.livingoninspiration.com

    Reply
  6. The Ravert Family says:
    May 10, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    Love it!! I want to make one too! Thanks!!

    Reply
  7. The Petersons says:
    May 10, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    Love! I'm in serious need of some new clothes. I had a stack of stuff to try on at Target the other day but 2/3 kids were bawling so I had to hand the stack to the dressing room attendant and walk away. The joys of motherhood.

    Reply
  8. Janssen says:
    May 10, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    This is darling! You are seriously impressive.

    Reply
  9. Sarah S. says:
    May 10, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    LOVE it, you are so talented.

    Reply
  10. Kayla says:
    May 10, 2013 at 3:04 pm

    Amazing. I love this so much!

    Reply
  11. sewbon.com says:
    May 10, 2013 at 4:20 pm

    Swoon! This is amazing! Going to add this to my list to sew!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Erin
    http://www.sewbon.com

    Reply
  12. Victoria says:
    May 10, 2013 at 4:26 pm

    That shirt is to die for! I like it even better than the "designer tee"- oh how I wish I knew how to sew 🙂

    Reply
  13. {jen} iCandyhandmade says:
    May 10, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    I saw that top too… was going to sew one up but didn't have a good contrasting fabric. Where do you find your floral prints? I swear I can't find anything cute for the life of me!

    Reply
  14. {jen} iCandyhandmade says:
    May 10, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    Ooops forgot to tell you how awesome yours is!

    Reply
  15. Naddy says:
    May 10, 2013 at 5:45 pm

    It makes a plain looking shirt into something much more colorful, creative and lively!
    Thanks for the tutorial!

    x Naddy
    http://interestedinall.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  16. dandeliondrift says:
    May 10, 2013 at 5:52 pm

    Cute! I love the pattern mixing!

    Reply
  17. Mickelle McCrory says:
    May 10, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    i like this one better than the anthro options. you're amazing!

    Reply
  18. Kristin says:
    May 10, 2013 at 7:10 pm

    I saw and bought the anthropologie one and even though I am 8 months pregnant it fits great. But I super love your version too and think I need to make a bunch for my after baby wardrobe since I want to keep it simple, but still cute in the heat of summer while nursing. Awesome work as usual. 🙂

    Reply
  19. Jenni says:
    May 10, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    You rocked this!!! What a great tutorial! If only I could sew! =)
    Jenni
    http://www.foundinmycloset.blogspot.com

    Reply
  20. Kristina says:
    May 10, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    This turned out so adorable!!

    Kristina does the Internets

    Reply
  21. Jessica Steele says:
    May 10, 2013 at 9:06 pm

    I love your tutorials, I think I may hit up a thrift store to get some shirts to alter.

    Reply
  22. Amanda Young says:
    May 11, 2013 at 11:09 am

    I love your blog! I stumbled on it awhile back & fell in love. I am a mom of 3 little ones & am in nursing school, so there is no time for shopping & sewing or better yet, looking cute anymore. But this summer I have some of your tutorials saved so I can try them out. I saw you pin this shirt from Antron the other day & love it! I saw the reader post about the tutorial & was secretely hoping for one too! I have an Antron gift card left from Christmas & actually ordered this shirt and it is adorable. Now I can't wait to try it on my own! You are just adorable & very talented! I live love love reader your blog!

    Reply
  23. A.Michelle says:
    May 11, 2013 at 5:52 pm

    I love this idea! Can't wait to try it.

    http://www.thepreppylittlepolkadot.blogspot.com

    Reply
  24. FitTravelerAJ says:
    May 11, 2013 at 6:11 pm

    WOW! How awesome. That shirt is SO adorable, and this project seems very inexpensive (definitely less than a top at Anthro!) I wish I had your skills in sewing and creativity!

    -AJ
    FitTravelerAJ.com

    Reply
  25. Lindsay says:
    May 11, 2013 at 9:45 pm

    Thank you thank you!

    Reply
  26. Sonja says:
    May 15, 2013 at 12:02 am

    This is great! Just yesterday I went into Anthropologie and I fell in love with that very shirt, but decided that it was way too expensive and I could totally make it myself. Now I really can 🙂 Thank you so much for the tutorial!

    Reply
  27. Stephanie Fazio (aka lealou) says:
    May 19, 2013 at 11:24 pm

    Yep love all your stuff but this is one of my favourites!

    Reply
  28. BCR says:
    June 25, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    Whats your jeans color? Thanks!!

    Reply
  29. Susan Lindeman says:
    July 13, 2013 at 2:37 am

    Love it! I actually bought one from Anthro – the only piece I own from them – and it's my favorite top: very forgiving in the "muffin" area for those of us that aren't a size 3 🙂 I was just thinking tonight how easy they should be to make, so I googled and Voila- there you were! Thank you – will try one this weekend!

    Reply
  30. Lisa says:
    July 24, 2013 at 4:36 am

    So glad I saw this! I decided to make one and love how it turned out! Thanks for the idea!
    http://greylustergirl.com/anthropologie-shirt-refashion/

    Reply
  31. kate lewis says:
    July 25, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    I had been searching for some updates in discount mens cotton t shirts since last week and this blog gives me a great of using a t shirt in various ways.This is excellent thinking.I had never seen this before.Creative work.
    http://www.apparelnbags.com/mens-t-shirt-cotton.htm

    Reply
  32. Cait says:
    August 11, 2013 at 3:51 am

    I like yours so much better than the designer one! It's adorable! I love the idea and am going to use it to make a shirt using fabric I only bought so I could get free shipping at fabric.com (lol). Thanks for the awesome idea, love your blog!

    Reply
  33. Hadley says:
    September 1, 2013 at 12:45 am

    Hi! I just recently found your blog and have loved browsing through all your tutorials!! You've got some fabulous ideas! I did have a quick question about this one tutorial though… I've had problems before with sewing knit necklines and was wondering how you sew yours so that the neckline doesn't stretch out and gape as you sew it. Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!

    ~Hadley

    Reply
  34. Sarah Seufert says:
    February 16, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    COOL and CLEVER re-ourposing of a men's T-shirt to LOVELY inspired UNIQUE T. I love the floral print for the back & also the added touch of a small pocket on the front. BRAVO!! Detailed photos and text to explain. THANKS for the idea. Sarah Helene, Minneapolis

    Reply
  35. 8 Clothes Upcycling Ideas To Keep It Frugal | says:
    June 27, 2019 at 1:09 am

    […] As seen on Merricks Art […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply