How to Make a Cute DIY Milkmaid Top Out of an Old T-Shirt

Julia Rafael
by Julia Rafael
6 Materials
$3
1 Hour
Easy

In this tutorial, I will be showing you how I turned an old t-shirt into an adorable milkmaid top. I love this DIY milkmaid top thrift flip because it’s so easy, and the results are beautiful. Happy crafting!

Tools and materials:

  • Oversized t-shirt
  • Scissors
  • Measuring tape
  • Fabric chalk
  • Pins
  • Sewing machine
The original t-shirt


Mark the shirt

1. Mark

I measured a line across the t-shirt, 40 centimeters (15¾ inches) from the bottom, and marked it with pins.

Cut across the shirt

2. Cut

Then I cut across that line.

Measure your bust top to bottom

3. Measure

I measured from my chest to right below my bustline. For me, this was 15 centimeters (6 inches).

Easy milkmaid top

4. Mark and cut

I added 2 centimeters (¾ of an inch) to that measurement and measured and marked a line of that length from the top of the t-shirt. Then I cut across that line.

Fold in half

5. Fold

I turned the top half of the shirt inside out and folded it in half.

Mark the edges

6. Mark

I marked a point 6 centimeters (2½ inches) from one raw edge, and another point 6 centimeters to the right of the edge opposite the fold, and then connected those marks with a line.

Cut along the line

7. Cut

Then I cut along that line.

Use a basting stitch

8. Sew

I sewed across both layers of the top edge with a basting stitch, with no back-stitching at the beginning or end.

Make a milkmaid top

9. Gather

Next, I gathered the fabric along the thread, and then tied off and cut the threads at the edges.

Cut two strips

10. Cut strips

I cut two 30 centimeter (12 inch) strips.

Basic milkmaid top

11. Insert the strips

I pinned the layers together on the sides and inserted the strips at the top corners, and then sewed the sides down, sewing the straps in place, as well.

Sew along the bottom edge

12. Sew

I flipped the fabric right side out and sewed the bottom edge with a basting stitch.

How to make a milkmaid top

13. Gather

I gathered the bottom edge along the thread, as well, and tied off and snipped the ends of the threads.

Measure the top piece

14. Measure and cut

I measured the bottom edge of the ruched part, which for me was 40 centimeters (15¾ inches), and cut the bottom half of the shirt to the same width.

Cut the bottom piece


Cut to size

15. Cut

I separated the layers of the bottom of the shirt. I cut one layer so it was a rectangle measuring 40 centimeters by 20 centimeters (15¾ inches by 8 inches).

Pin the top and bottom together

16. Pin and sew

Next, I pinned the rectangle to the top part of the shirt, right sides facing, and sewed it down with a zigzag stitch.

Hem the top edge

17. Pin and sew

On the back panel, I folded the top edge of the fabric in once and sewed it down with a zigzag stitch. 

Cut to size

18. Cut

I folded the back panel and trimmed 3 centimeters (1 inch) off the open edge, so the shirt would fit snugly. 

Pin the side seams

19. Pin and sew

I pinned the side seams of the front and back panels together, right sides facing, and sewed them down.

Pin the straps in place

20. Measure and pin

On the back panel, I measured and marked 6 centimeters (2½ inches) from both sides, and pinned the ends of the straps at those points.

Sew a milkmaid top

21. Sew

Then I sewed the straps in place. 

Sew down the little side pieces

22. Finish it off

I folded down the little pieces on the side where the front and back were uneven and sewed them down. 

DIY milkmaid top thrift flip

DIY milkmaid top tutorial

I’m so happy with how this top turned out. I hope you enjoy doing this project as much as I did. Let me know what you think of this thrift flip!

Suggested materials:
  • Oversized t-shirt
  • Scissors
  • Measuring tape
See all materials

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