Easy Sewing Tutorial: How to Make a Sports Bra From an Old T-shirt

Tools and materials:

• Long or short sleeved t-shirt
• Measuring tape
• Tailor’s chalk
• Scissors
• Ruler
• French curve (optional)
• Pins
• Sewing machine

1. Draft the basic shape

Measure around the fullest part of your bust and the distance from the top of your shoulder to the point of your bust. 

Decide how long you want the top to be and measure that distance from the top of your shoulder. 

Also measure around your waist or upper body at the length you want for your top.

Lay the t-shirt out flat and line up the shoulders, side seams and lower edges.

Mark out the top length from the top of the shoulder seam.

Draw a line straight across the shirt at this level and cut it out.

Fold the t-shirt in half lengthways along the center front.

Mark a shoulder length of 6 inches (15 cm) from the center of the neck along the shoulder seam.

Measure the armhole depth of 7.5 inches (19 cm) from that point.

From the top of the shoulder, mark the length of the bust point.

Measure one quarter of your full bust measurement from the center front at that level.

At the bottom edge, make a mark at one quarter of your upper body circumference from the center front.

Join the side seam marks with a diagonal line.

Use a French curve if you have one to draw in the armhole.

Cut out the basic shape of the top.

2. Shape the neckline

Cut off the neck edging.

Open out the top flat and then fold it in half lengthways at the center front.

Measure 1 inch (2.5 cm) down from the neckline at the front edge.

Measure half an inch (1.25 cm) from the neckline at the center back.

Join the two marks with a curve and cut it out.

3. Armhole edging

Measure around the armhole from one side seam to the other.

If you made yours the same size as mine, this will be approximately 21 inches (53 cm.

Cut two strips 3 inches (8 cm) deep and 21 inches (53 cm) long from the lower section of the t-shirt. Keep the ribbing intact.

Open the top out flat with the right side uppermost.

Fold each armhole strip in half lengthways and widthways and mark the center.

Placing the center mark to the shoulder seam and working outwards, pin the doubled strips to the wrong side of the armholes.

4. Neckband

Fold the top in half lengthways and measure half the circumference of the neckline, from the center back to the center front.

Cut the waistband off the t-shirt and put it to one side.

Cut one side seam of the remaining fabric open.

Fold the strip in half lengthways with the right side inside.

Trim it to double the length you measured for the neckline by 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) deep.

Place the cut edges together and notch the opposite folded edge.

Open out the strip and join it into a circle with a half inch (1.25 cm) seam allowance. Press the seam flat.

Fold the circle in half lengthways. Pin the notched edge to the center front and the seam to the center back on the wrong side.

Distribute the rest of the neckband around the neck edge.

Sew the armhole and neck edgings in place.

Fold the bands to the right side and pin and sew in place, covering the raw edges.

5. Waistband

Place the back and front together with the right sides facing and join the side seams.

Measure the length of the lower edge between the seams.

Cut the doubled waistband to the same length.

Open out the short edges of the waistband and join them together.

Pin and sew the waistband to the right side of the top.

How to make a sports bra: DIY sports bra

This t-shirt upcycle makes a very cute sports bra that you can easily wear as a crop top as well.

T-shirt material doesn’t fray, so you could even leave the armhole and neck edges raw if you like that look.

I’m delighted with how mine turned out and it was so quick and easy to do.

What do you think? Will you make this? Please let me know in the comments.

Next, learn  How to Alter Pants That Are Too Big.