The simple trick to shrink and shorten a t-shirt without using a sewing machine

And yet, it may happen that we have a shirt in our closet that does not fit as we would like, that is too loose and long. Perhaps because it was the result of a wrong gift or a hasty choice. We may also have consciously bought it some time before, perhaps at a time when we were fatter or dressed differently. If it has been sitting unused in the closet until now, it's time to take it out and repurpose it.

cut and sew

The first method to shrink and shorten an oversized t-shirt is to use scissors and sewing tools. However, we may find ourselves undecided on how to proceed and have doubts about a perfect fit.

Well, by following a few simple steps, it will be very easy to remodel our t-shirt. To do this, we will need another t-shirt, whose model and size are suitable for us. First of all, we match the latter with the one to be changed, placed upside down. We make the shoulders and sleeves fit perfectly. At this point, we take a white chalk and trace the outline of the first point on the second. With precise scissors suitable for clothing, we cut along the traced edges. This way, we can also shrink the sleeves if necessary.

Once we have cut the excess fabric, which made it wide and long, we can proceed to sew it with a sewing machine. If we want, we can also do it with a needle and thread, taking care to make regular stitches and close them. Obviously, we will move around the inside of the shirt.

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However, there is also another method for those who do not have the right tools or great sewing skills. Just as skinny jeans can be made wider without a sewing machine, it's also possible to shrink a T-shirt without one.

What we usually consider mistakes during normal laundry washing can be used for this purpose. Obviously, by proceeding this way, the work will be less precise and more approximate, but it could still help us. We can wash the shirt in the washing machine by setting a high temperature wash cycle. We must also adjust the spin cycle to a high number of revolutions. The heat and revolutions in the drum should cause the fibers to shrink.

Alternatively, we can also wash our hands. We boil water in a pot. When it boils, we submerge the shirt and let it soak for a few minutes. This will act in the same way as hot washing in the washing machine. In both cases, we put the shirt to dry horizontally to prevent the weight of the water from stretching the fibers again.

Of course, in the case of delicate fabrics or with appliqués, these tricks should be discarded because they would irreparably ruin the shirt.