How to Make a Tube Top

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Do you have some old shirts that you no longer wear? Why not turn them into a trendy tube top? If you don't have a t-shirt to spare, get some sewing elastic and stretchy fabric. With a little time and effort, you'll have a bunch of trendy tube tops to wear all summer long.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using a Shirt

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Try to cut through both layers of the shirt at the same time. This way, you will have to do less cutting. When you are done, discard the top part of the shirt, or save it for another project.
    • If you are having troubles cutting straight, use a ruler or measuring tape as a guideline.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Make sure that you are pinning all the way around the top of the shirt; you should still be able to open the shirt, like a tube. For a nice, crisp edge, press the folded hem down with a clothing iron.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Try to sew as close to the cut edge as you can. You will need the space between the stitching and the folded edge for the elastic. Also, make sure that you leave a ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) wide gap between where you started and finished sewing, or you won't be able to get the elastic inside.
    • Try to use a thread color that closely matches your t-shirt.
    • If your sewing machine has a knit fabric setting, try to use that; it usually looks like a standard straight stitch that's broken up by V shapes.
    • Remove the pins when you are done. Also, remember to snip off the loose ends of the threads.
    EXPERT TIP

    Shaelynn Haning

    Professional Tailor & Business Owner
    Shaelynn Haning is a Tailor & Business Owner based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shaelynn is the founder of the highest-rated and most-reviewed alterations and tailoring service in Oklahoma, Tallgrass Tailor, employing a team of skilled craftsmen and women from across the country and the world. Shaelynn is a member of the State of Oklahoma Education Careers and Technologies Board and a member of both the Custom Tailors and Designers Association and the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. She is the host of The Sew Show with Shae, an entertaining and educational sewing channel posting weekly videos on YouTube. Shaelynn earned her BS in Apparel Design and Product Development from Marist College.
    Shaelynn Haning
    Professional Tailor & Business Owner

    T-shirts can convert to tube tops. Turning an old t-shirt into a cute tube top is an easy sewing project. Just fold the top edge over, thread elastic through using a safety pin, and you get a stylish new piece from basic alteration skills. Making one will also build your skills in garment redesign.

  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    This will help hold your tube top up. Even if your shirt was fitted, an elastic might still be a good idea; fitted shirts can loosen over time.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Find the ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) wide gap in your stitching. Push the safety pin through it, and use it to guide the elastic all the way around the top of the shirt. When you reach the gap again, pull the safety pin out. Both ends of the elastic should now be sticking out of the gap.
    • Be careful not to lose the other end of the elastic inside the shirt hem.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Overlap the two ends by 1 inch (2.54 centimeters), then sew them down using the smallest stitch you can. Overlapping the ends of the elastic like this will prevent any unsightly bulges. When you are done, push the elastic back through the gap.
    • Once you have the elastic back through the gap, you can sew the gap shut for a nicer finish.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Be sure to wear a strapless bra with it so that you don't have any bra straps showing.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making a Tube Top from Scratch

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Add 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) to each measurement. You will need this extra width for the seam allowances. [1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Add 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) to your measurement. You will need this extra length for the hems. [2]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    The best fabric to use for a tube top is stretchy, jersey type fabric, like the kind used to make t-shirts.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    The top of the rectangle should equal your bust measurement. The bottom of the rectangle should equal your waist measurement. It will likely taper slightly.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Secure the side edge with sewing pins. Leave the top and bottom edges alone for now. You will hem them later.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Pull the pins out as you sew so that you don't accidentally prick yourself. When you are done, tie the threads off into tight knots, and snip them as close to the fabric as you can.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Flatten the tube top on your ironing board, with the seam facing upward. Spread the seam allowances apart, so that they lay flat against the fabric to either side of the seam. Press them flat with a hot iron.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Secure the folds with sewing pins, and press them flat with a clothing iron. The wrong sides of the fabric should still be facing outward at this time.
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    You will need this gap to slide the elastic through. When sewing the hems, try to sew as close to the raw/cut edge as you can, so that you will have enough space for the elastic. When you are done, pull the sewing pins out. Be sure to tie the ends of the threads off into tight knots and to snip them off, as close to the fabric as you can.
    • Try to use a stitch intended for sewing stretchy fabrics. It usually looks like a straight stitch, but is broken up by V-shapes.
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    This piece of elastic will help keep the tube top up, so make sure it is sturdy.
  11. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Find that ½ inch (1.27 centimeter) wide gap in the top hem. Push the safety pin into the gap, then use it to feed the elastic through the hem. When you reach the gap again, unclip the safety pin. When you are done, you should have both ends of the elastic sticking out from the gap.
  12. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
    Use the smallest stitch you can, and be careful not to sew them to the fabric. When you are done, push the elastic back through the gap.
    • At this point, you can sew the gap shut for a neater finish.
  13. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Tube Top
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What if I don't have a strapless bra?
    T. Chinsen
    Top Answerer
    Attaching a second layer of fabric in the chest area can eliminate the need for a strapless bra. If soft fusible interfacing is added to the second under layer, it can be tailored to the shape of a strapless bra. This will be a built-in support to the garment that will not shift of chafe when worn.
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      Tips

      • Consider decorating shirt with bleach or fabric paint. [3]
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      • To make a ruched front: find the center of your shirt, then, starting from the hem, sew down 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters). Pull the thread tightly until it gathers, tie it into a knot, and snip it. [4]
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      • To make a halter top: Cut a long piece of ribbon, and fold it in half. Find the center of your shirt, and sew the ribbon to the hem. [5]
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      Things You'll Need

      Using a Shirt

      • T-shirt
      • Scissors
      • Sewing machine
      • Matching thread
      • Sewing elastic, ¼ inch (0.64 centimeters) wide preferred
      • Safety pin
      • Sewing pins
      • Iron and ironing board

      Making a Tube Top from Scratch

      • T-shirt/knit/jersey fabric
      • Measuring tape
      • Scissors
      • Sewing machine
      • Matching thread
      • Sewing elastic, ¼ inch (0.64 centimeters) wide preferred
      • Safety pin
      • Sewing pins
      • Iron and ironing board

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about sewing tops, check out our in-depth interview with Shaelynn Haning .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/a-cute-easy-make-lycra-boobtube
      2. ↑ https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/a-cute-easy-make-lycra-boobtube
      3. ↑ http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/summer-t-shirt-reconstruction
      4. ↑ http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/summer-t-shirt-reconstruction
      5. ↑ http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/summer-t-shirt-reconstruction

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you have an old shirt you don’t use, you can easily transform it into a tube top. All you’ll need is a sewing kit, a strip of elastic, and scissors. To get started, first you'll need to cut across the top of the shirt, just below the armpits. You’ll use the bottom half to make your tube top. Then, you'll need to turn the material inside out, fold the cut edge back 1 inch, and sew it together. Make sure you leave a ½ inch gap at the back for the elastic. Once you’ve sewn the hem, you’ll want to cut the strip of elastic to fit around your chest, then feed it through the hem and sew it together in the gap you left. For more tips, including how to make your own tube top from raw materials, read on!

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