How to Upcycle Old Leggings and a T-shirt Into a Cute New Top

2 Materials
$5
1 Hour
Easy

Don't throw away your old leggings! Upcycle them with a t-shirt to make a new top. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to make sleeves from your old leggings and sew them to a t-shirt to create a new color block top.

Read on for the full tutorial, or watch the video:

Upstyle Recommends!

Cut any fabric smoothly and easily with these bestseller fabric scissors that Amazon reviewers swear by!

Step 1: Cut down the sides of the t-shirt

The t-shirt I had was oversized and baggy. To alter it to fit, I laid my favorite long sleeve t-shirt on top of it, folded back, and cut around it with a 1/2" seam allowance

Step 2: Cut out sleeves from the leggings

Lay the long sleeves of your template t-shirt over the leggings, aligning the hems. Cut new sleeves around the sleeves of your template.

Step 3: Attach the sleeves to the t-shirt

Open up the bodice and lay it flat. With right sides together, pin and sew the shoulder cap of the sleeve to the flattened armhole of the bodice.

Step 4: Sew the sides of the bodice and sleeves

With right sides together, fold the bodice and the sleeves lengthwise. Pin and sew along the edge.


In less than one hour, you'll have a super cute t-shirt with leggings sleeves. Using your favorite t-shirt as a pattern will guarantee a great fit.

Suggested materials:
  • Leggings   (Thrift store)
  • T-shirt   (Thrift store)

The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Pivot Point Patterns
Want more details about this and other fashion and style ideas? Check out more here!
Go
Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 15 comments
Next