I had an actual meltdown last Saturday night in front of my wardrobe. Nothing looked right. Everything was either too dressy or too casual for drinks at the pub. Then I saw this massive Oasis t-shirt I bought from a car boot sale a few months ago.
Twenty minutes later? The best crop top I’ve ever owned.
I’m not even joking. My sister dropped by on Sunday morning, took one look at me and said, ‘Where did you get that top?’ It’s gorgeous!” When I informed her that I’d made it from that baggy old thing, she nearly spat out her tea.
I have been making clothes since I was a teen, as my mom couldn’t afford the trendy clothes. Began with shortening skirts, progressed to taking in dresses. Crop tops, though? They’re dead easy. Anyone can do them.
The Quick and Dirty Method (No Sewing Required)
If you want instant results and are afraid of needles, this is for you.
Grab the biggest, baggiest t-shirt you own. Mine was this hideous oversize one my ex had left behind. It was the perfect revenge, actually.
Try it on and stand in front of the mirror. Raise the bottom hem up as high as you want your crop to sit. A good spot for high-waisted jeans is above your belly button.
Now, here’s the thing my flatmate Lucy taught me: don’t cut it. Tie a knot instead. Pull all the extra fabric to one side and tie it in a snug knot right at your hip. It looks deliberate; it’s tight and you can undo it if you bottle it later.
I wore mine this way for three weeks before I could bring myself to commit to the cut. Received so many compliments in the office; my manager asked me where I purchased it from. I felt quite smug when I told her that I made it using a £2 charity shop find.
Also Read – DIY Lip Scrub with Vaseline
Actually Cutting the Thing (Scary But Worth It)
All right, if you want something a little more lasting, you need to be brave and get the scissors out.
Put the shirt on first. Use a washable pen or just your finger to mark where you want it to end. I always make it an inch longer than I think because fabric always looks shorter once you take it off.
Take it off. Flatten it on your kitchen table, or whatever. Get a ruler. Draw a proper straight line. And please, I can’t stress this enough, wonky lines look rubbish. Believe me, I’ve made that mistake more times than I care to admit.
Sharp scissors are crucial. Good work, though; my nan always said, “Good tools make good work.” She was referring to gardening, but the same can be applied to t-shirt surgery.
Cut slowly. Don’t rush. I once hacked through my favourite festival tee in about three seconds and it looked like I’d been attacked by a rabid badger.
If you’ve got a sewing machine lying around, fold the raw edge by about half an inch and stitch it down. This will make it look proper professional. No machine? Just leave it raw, as it will give that lived-in look, which is quite trendy anyway.
Getting Fancy With It
After you’ve done a few basic ones, you start getting ideas. I’ve made a lot by now, and every one is a little bit different.
And these days my favourite is what I lovingly refer to as the “tie-front special”. Trim your crop top like you typically would, being sure to leave 2 inches extra. Cut a slit up the centre of the extra piece, and then tie a knot at the front. It looks very cute with a denim skirt on.
Another good one: cut the neckline wider so it sits off your shoulders. Did this with an old uni hoodie and it looks brilliant for autumn nights out.
The wonky hem is quite fun too. Instead of cutting straight across, cut at an angle. It looks like you bought it from some expensive boutique when really you made it from a Primark basic.
Also Read – Simple DIY Skin Detox
What Works (And What Really Doesn’t)
I’ve butchered somewhere around twenty t-shirts by this point so I kind of know what works via experimentation.
- Cotton is brilliant. Cuts clean, doesn’t go mental in the wash, always looks smart.
- Jersey fabric works well too, though it rolls a bit at the edges. Can look quite nice actually.
- Avoid cheap polyester stuff. It looks awful when cut and smells weird when you iron it.
Size doesn’t matter as much as you’d think. Some of my best crops started as men’s XL shirts. That oversized, borrowed-from-your-boyfriend look is dead flattering.
How I Actually Wear Them
High-waisted jeans are your best friend with crop tops. Makes your legs look miles long and shows just a tiny bit of skin. Very classy.
- For work drinks, I wear mine with a blazer over the top. Professional but still a bit fun.
- Summer evenings: crop top with a midi skirt and sandals. Perfect for beer gardens.
- Cold weather? Crop top over a long-sleeved tee. Very 90s, very cool.
My Epic Fails (Learn From My Mistakes)
Cut too short on my first attempt. What should have been a cute crop became something only suitable for Ibiza. I couldn’t even wear it to the corner shop without getting looks.
I never tested my scissors first. Some of them were so blunt they stretched the fabric instead of cutting it. It looked like I’d chewed through the hem.
Made one from a shirt with a massive logo on the front. It looked ridiculous when cropped because the logo got cut in half. Now I check the whole design before I start chopping.
Tried to make one whilst watching EastEnders. Bad idea. Wasn’t paying attention and ended up with something that looked like abstract art. Not in a good way.
Also Read – Create a Walk-In Closet Like a Star
Why This Actually Matters
Learning how to make DIY crop tops has saved me loads of money. Instead of spending £20 on something from Zara, I’m making them for basically nothing.
Plus, nobody else has the same top as you. Very satisfying when people ask where you got it and you can say, “Made it myself, thanks very much.”
My wardrobe’s so much better now. Got rid of loads of old t-shirts that were just taking up space and replaced them with cute crops I actually want to wear.
Just Go For It
Honestly, what’s the worst that could happen? You ruin an old t-shirt you weren’t wearing anyway. Big deal.
But chances are, you’ll end up with something gorgeous and get completely addicted to how to make DIY crop tops. I’ve made six this month alone. My friends have started bringing me their old clothes to transform.
Grab some scissors, find a grotty old tee, and have a go. You might surprise yourself with how good you are at this. I certainly did.
