Customizing your shirts

dagny_t

Member
Sep 1, 2009
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I don't own a ton of band shirts, but the ones I do I usually wear quite often. I've started to think about customizing some (mostly the ones with crew necks, which aren't exactly flattering on me), and was wondering if anyone had any advice. I want to make my new DSO shirt look and fit better, so I'm thinking about cutting a wider, deeper neckline, and maybe putting a dart in the back to make it fit better in the waist.
Anyone else have their shirts customized? Any advice for someone new to doing it (but not new to sewing, just fyi)?
 
I've been wanting to do this with some of my older ProgPower shirts since I was getting them in large back then. Even some of the newer ones that I got in medium aren't very feminine so I've been thinking about doing something with all of them. One thing for sure is something needs to be done with the sleeves.

What I want to do is take a little off the bottom and a little off each sleeve. For the sleeve cut, I'd angle it more dramatically towards the underarm to make something similar to a cap sleeve. It will also blend better with the new seam I want to make, and remove some of that excess fabric that girls don't need ;-) Cut a deeper neckline like you mentioned. Cut a more curvy pattern that will become the outer seam on both sides, so it looks more like this )_( instead of this |_|. That will make it a more flattering fit, and also make it a size smaller. Then sew the front and back together with contrasting colors, just for a little DIY punk-rock feel. For a black shirt, try hot pink and lime green, or red and white. For white shirts, try black and purple. Sew it all the way up the side and under the sleeve in one smooth seam.

Then cut a deeper neckline in the back also, or just cut small horizontal slits about 1 or 2 inches apart across the back (not all the way! just fold the shirt in half and make some snips). When the fabric stretches, it will look like cool rips/strings. With some of the scraps from the sleeves or bottom, cut two long strips and tie one around each sleeve (through the neck hole and sleeve so it makes a bow on the shoulders and pinches the sleeve). It will give the shirt a bit of a girly feel but also be interesting. For a fun touch, instead of scraps from the shirt, use scraps of a totally different color or texture for the ties, like plaid, or something shiny.

The bottom of the shirt can be trimmed with lace, fringe, or more of that same scrap you used for the sleeves. Or you can cut vertical slits along the bottom, every one or two inches, for a make-shift fringe.

There is a group on youtube that I've gotten a lot of ideas from. They are called THREADBANGER. You'll find hundreds of projects you could do, and some even talk about clothing customizing. :-)

I can't wait to see what you come up with! I have all kinds of ideas, but lack the sewing skills. Post pictures if you decide to make something!
 
I may try shortening the bottom of my ProgPower shirts. I know I have a long torso, but the length on these shirts is ridiculous! :D

Thanks for the info, Tammy.

Jess, someone on fem_metalheads on LJ posted a shirt-altering guide awhile back, but I can't remember who it was, or how long ago she posted it. You might try posting there, too. Someone is bound to remember.
 
Make it into a short dress. :)


I think she should go for the Perez Hilton look

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unshaven legs and all.
 
Shoot me a PM and I can walk you through some alterations. There is also a book called 101 Things to do to a tee shirt that will help as well.

I'm not a professional sew-er, but I do make my own corsets and have altered a handful of shirts all hand sewn- changing them into corsets, pillows, jackets, quilts, adding long sleeves, hoods, fitting them etc.

-Metal
 
When you have a finished shirt, please post it! I've stopped buying concert shirts for that very reason - none of them fit or look right and most of the "girlie" shirts are for itty bitty t@ttied people (lol).
 
I am far from a size 1, yet I manage the girlie shirts (provided they sell them L/XL, lol)...so I'm sure you'd look fabulous.

This. In years past, girlie sizes and cuts were so stupid and awful. More recently, clothing-makers have figured out better cuts (i.e., longer waist, wider arm's eye, a neckline that doesn't choke the wearer), so I've been able to purchase them again. I'll usually ask to see a medium girlie and if it looks okay then I go for it. Otherwise I mostly default to an L/XL. I sounds weird to order a Large shirt and ask if they have anything bigger, but the girlie sizes are so dramatically different than the men's/regular shirts.

By and large, the girlie shirts are getting better, in many ways. Sometimes I still find a dud, though. My ParadiseLost girlie that I just bought at ProgPower, for example. The Large would have fit fine except it was uncomfortably tight around the arms and neck. They didn't have anything bigger, so I had to settle. Normally, I'd have returned it and been done with it, but I couldn't pass up a PL girlie :D On the other hand, my Sabaton girlie is outstanding! It fits perfectly! Both shirts are L.

So long story short, check the Medium and Large. They just might fit!
 
I am far from a size 1, yet I manage the girlie shirts (provided they sell them L/XL, lol)...so I'm sure you'd look fabulous.


awww... thanks, Alicia! :) You look fab in everything!!! :kickass: I guess I should have checked them out this year. I didn't even look at them cause I figured none would fit. Then my friend Pam shows up with an awesome Sabaton shirt last Saturday night that I'm sure would have fit me!!! :erk:

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/KathyHCCR/Misc/?action=view&current=DSCN1424.jpg

Tammy, is this like that Sabaton shirt you got, too?