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Side Panel Shirt Refashion: A Tutorial

November 16, 2009 By crafterhours 46 Comments

This one’s an oldie but a goodie.  Refashion a knit shirt by inserting panels of fabric on the sides.  The practical reasons behind doing this refashion could be:

1. make a small shirt bigger

2. make a big shirt smaller
3. get rid of unsightly evidence of perspiration
4. use tapered fabric inserts to make the bottom part of the shirt bigger to compensate for baby bump (either before or after baby)
but the number one reason in my book:
1.  it’s way cute.
You will need a knit cotton shirt and some fabric to make the panels.  I used woven, but you could also use another knit.
Cut up the side seam from the shirt hem to the sleeve hem – right through the underarm.
Cut two panels from your fabric.  If you’re making the shirt bigger, just cut up the side seam and insert panels as wide as you need.  If you’re making the shirt smaller, remove equal amounts of fabric from each side of the side seam and then make panels that are smaller than the amount you removed.  Just remember that you’re replacing it with a non-stretch fabric, so that will help make the shirt smaller in itself.
You can make the fabric insert run all the way between each hem, but I also cut out a smaller square piece and attached it to the longer piece.  That way you have a seam in the panel right where you have the underarm seam in the knit shirt.  I think it helps the woven to bend with your arm, but it isn’t necessary.
Now sew the panel to both sides of the shirt, right sides together, and hem the woven at each end.  This is what the panel will look like inserted into your shirt.  Now do that again for the other side.
Simple, cute, and most importantly: done in about 20 minutes!  (or, 6 hours if you have toddlers)

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Filed Under: maternity, shirt, tutorial Tagged With: clothing, maternity, refashion, shirt, tutorial

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Comments

  1. sonia says

    November 16, 2009 at 3:42 am

    hey der adrianna,
    thanks a lot as you saved two of my tight yet oh-so-cute t-shirts. now i know just wat to do with them..n ur idea is just so cute and useful! keep up the good work! i’l watch dem all!

    Reply
  2. star.originals.stuff says

    November 16, 2009 at 10:59 am

    super cute! I’ve never seen that before… but I think i’ll use it! :D

    Reply
  3. Disney says

    November 16, 2009 at 11:12 am

    Oh I love that!! That is an awesome idea for me, because I’m tall, so if I buy shirt that are long enough, they are always too wide!!

    Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Kari @ Ucreate says

    November 16, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    This is an AMAZING idea!! I am so featuring this TODAY!

    Reply
  5. the mama monster says

    November 16, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    very cute idea! i have a freaky long torso and shirts that are long enough are always to wide for me.

    Reply
  6. Michele says

    November 16, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    That’s so cute! It really made the plain T-shirt!

    Reply
  7. Melinda H. says

    November 16, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    I’ve never seen this before – too cool!!

    Reply
  8. Judy King says

    November 16, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    This is such a great idea! I’ve never seen it before! Glad you shared!

    Reply
  9. little bird says

    November 16, 2009 at 11:11 pm

    really love it thanks for sharing…glad i found your blog

    Reply
  10. Donna says

    November 17, 2009 at 10:53 pm

    Love this idea. I’ve got a few t-shirts lying around that were getting a little tight (not that I am admitting to gaining any weight here…)Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  11. beki says

    November 18, 2009 at 9:40 am

    I love this idea! I’ll have to give it a shot. I’m sure those vertical lines are very slimming…and I can use all the slimming I can get!!

    Reply
  12. Molly @ A Bit O' Shine says

    February 16, 2010 at 5:20 am

    Ohhh the possibilities!

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    February 20, 2010 at 11:01 am

    Ha! I LOVE what you say about the tshirt refashion taking six hours if you have a toddler. It so made me giggle! And I’m trying your Coke Brisket recipe in the sidebar tonight!

    Reply
  14. Brooke says

    February 24, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    I love this! It is way cute! I love the colors you chose too! I’m going to have to try this!

    Reply
  15. ~Beth D. says

    April 23, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    great idea! too cute!

    Reply
  16. Katie says

    April 25, 2010 at 11:10 am

    I love this! Especially as a baby bump idea. :)

    Reply
  17. !?ekerperisi-SerrpilTülin! says

    April 25, 2010 at 6:56 pm

    merhabalar
    çok güzel olmuş eline sağlık
    bende geçen hafta eski olmayan kıyafetlerime bunu yapmayı düşünmüştüm görünce örnek oldu bana nasıl yapacağımla ilgili
    iyi çalışmalar
    sevgiler…

    ingilizcem çok iyi olmadığı için Türkçe yazıyorum çevirirsen sevinirim by..

    Reply
  18. Butler Fam says

    May 24, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    Still laughing about the “or in 6 hours if you have toddlers” comment. You must know my kids. heehee Super cute tut though … I have a snug shirt I was loath to part with. Thanks!! Can’t wait to fix it. :o)

    Reply
  19. Cynthia says

    June 22, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    Okay, I will be busy this weekend, I have about 3 shirts that need (ummm) a little adjustments (ha ha). Thanks for the tut.

    Reply
  20. Artsyga says

    August 4, 2010 at 6:48 am

    Woah. I have a brand new really nice and soft shirt that fits me perfectly. But I managed to splash a little bleach on it close to the seam. How the heck does that happen anyways? So I’ve been hanging onto it for a tshirt refashion idea that doesn’t look too angsty teenager, so my adult shaped body can wear it. I think I found my answer! Thanks!

    Reply
  21. Lisa K. says

    September 24, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    Oh, my. I have bags full of cashmere sweaters from the thrift shops that this would really work with. Thank you! I’ll try it tonight.

    Reply
  22. Anonymous says

    December 1, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    This is a godsend for my curvy 7 year old… thanks soooo much!

    Reply
  23. Helby says

    January 5, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    What a great idea! This will really spruce up old t-shirts. Thanks!

    Reply
  24. Carla says

    February 15, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    Love this idea! I’m going to try it when I get a chance.

    Reply
  25. Mama Foss says

    March 20, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    Im trying to do this, and was wondering whether you pinned the fabric in place first or just went to sewing to the shirt right away? Im a relatively new sewer, self taught. Thanks, June

    Reply
    • crafterhours says

      March 23, 2012 at 5:38 am

      knowing me, I probably just went ahead and starting sewing. Pinning is almost NEVER a bad idea though (there are a very few circumstances when pinning would hinder you, but don’t worry about that for now). I would say, when it doubt, pin!
      ps: love your name! it’s our third daughter’s nickname :)

      Reply
  26. The Poulters says

    March 29, 2012 at 6:13 pm

    6 hour timer starting…..now :)

    Reply
  27. Anonymous says

    May 2, 2012 at 12:12 am

    that is a GREAT idea — I enjoy embroidering on T shirts — so I think it would be fun to incorporate some embroidery design to compliment the print fabric that is inserted — thanks for the inspirtation!

    Reply
  28. Anonymous says

    May 6, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    You could also use an old T-shirt, in a contrasting color and cut panels out of that then it would have the stretch like the T-shirt.

    Reply
  29. Linda says

    August 24, 2012 at 9:04 am

    I love this idea. I am always seeing tee shirts at thrift shops that are cute, but too small. Now I can buy them and remake them to fit me. Thanks for the great, easy tutorial. Take care.

    Reply
  30. sweetcrunchyjewy says

    December 3, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    I love it! I am SO doing this to my t-shirts!

    Reply
  31. JeriLynn says

    September 27, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    This is just what I was looking for. I bought a holiday t-shirt and it’s too small so this tutorial will save my new T-shirt, thank you! Also great idea about under arm seams. My T-shirt has long sleeves so I guess the same application would work. I’m a new sewer so this will be a fun experience for me (or not) And it will probably take me 6 hours without any toddlers about.
    Blessings, JL

    Reply
  32. Cathy says

    November 21, 2013 at 12:34 am

    Thank you for this great idea. I have now done two of my old shirts, the second going a lot faster than the first. With a little more practise I will soon be ready to tackle those newer pretty shirts that seem to have shrunk over the winter. (I am in the Southern Hemisphere just in case you are wondering.) I found you on Pinterest, and every day that I look at that site I am astounded at how smart and innovative my fellow human beings are. Thank you for sharing.
    Cathy

    Reply
  33. CHRISTINE M. (uk) says

    February 11, 2014 at 4:25 am

    ACCIDENTALLY SHRANK MY FAVOURITE SHIRT RECENTLY – these are neat instructions to make it bigger!! (GOING TO USE WIDE LACE ) Thanks a Lot !!
    11/2/14

    Reply
  34. Heather gogg says

    April 30, 2014 at 7:54 pm

    Make my own pencil skirts for the office. Going to use this idea for some neutral colored tops I have using the skirt fabric to make matching ‘suits’. Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Monica says

      June 1, 2014 at 6:40 pm

      thank you for sharing your idea, that was very useful.

      Reply
  35. Katie says

    July 6, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    I love this idea! I have some shirts I bout that are to small. I like a certain print. Now it it easy to enlarge! Thank you.

    Reply
  36. Margaret says

    August 12, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    I’ve done this with a few t-shirts which were too small, but I love your idea of the print fabric to contrast with the tshirt knit — very cute!

    Reply
  37. larsen says

    August 19, 2014 at 9:48 am

    Fantastisk ide, thank you.

    Reply
  38. Lena says

    August 24, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    Got a few t-shirts that are in need of altering!! I was going to cut them up to use as crochet yarn, as it doesn’t fray. This way I don’t have to buy new t-shirts. Thanks

    Reply
  39. Jude says

    December 5, 2014 at 9:41 am

    What kind of stitch did you use up the side? Straight? Serger? I’ve had this very same idea in my queue but wasn’t sure how I would keep the knit shirt from bunching or stretching when sewing. Any helps? Your side seams look perfect. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Adrianna says

      December 5, 2014 at 8:33 pm

      I just used a straight stitch. I didn’t even own a serger back then :) Maybe a zig zag to maintain stretch? But taking out an inch or two of stretch on the sides doesn’t change the fit of the tee too much. I don’t remember doing anything special to keep the knit from bunching, and this was a very stretchy shirt. Just go slowly and use lots of pins!

      Reply
  40. zollingermomof3 says

    August 23, 2015 at 7:32 am

    Thanks for the tutorial! A friend gave me a “hand-me-over” cotton shirt that I love, but it didn’t quite fit. I am so glad that I was able to use your instructions and how the shirt is just right.

    Reply
  41. Joyce says

    June 18, 2016 at 12:09 am

    I made mine today using your idea. I LOVE IT. Used a stretch print, green , white , black on a black tee. I used a ball point needle for knits, but just straight stitch ..I did add that little piece at the top for the underarm.

    Reply
  42. ccheryl says

    December 3, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    Get I am going to try on my golf shirts, kind of busty maybe it will give me extra room.

    Reply

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