Two-Piece Set Transformation

Honey lly
by Honey lly
9 Materials
$10
3 Hours
Medium

Two-piece sets are super on-trend this season! Instead of going out to the store to buy a set, I decided to completely refashion a men’s shirt and ended up with the perfect two-piece set. This upcycle was fun and easy and I am so excited to wear this new two-piece set!

Tools and materials:

  • Men’s shirt
  • Measuring tape
  • Ruler
  • Chalk
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Safety pin
  • Elastic
  • Sewing machine
Men’s button down shirt refashion

Remove the pockets and sleeves 

In the first step of this DIY, seam rip the shirt pocket and sleeves off of the shirt. 

Mark across

Cut the shirt 

Measure, mark, and cut across the shirt to create the two pieces for your new set. 

Trace around shorts

Make the shorts

Lay down the bottom piece and use a pair of shorts that you already have as a template to trace around.

Refashion men’s shirt


Then cut both the back and front pieces for your new shorts. 

Sew the side seams


Lay the front and back pieces, right sides together, pin and sew the side seams with a straight stitch and a zig-zag stitch. 

Simple men’s shirt refashion


Then pin the crotch seam together and sew the same way you did for the side seams. 

Easy men’s shirt refashion

Add an elastic waistband 

Next, fold the waist inward and pin it down. Sew leaving a small gap to thread the elastic through. Topstitch as well while you are at your machine. 

Thread the elastic


Once you have finished sewing, use a safety pin to help thread the elastic through the channel. When it is all the way through, sew the two ends together and sew the small gap closed. 

Basic men’s shirt refashion

Make the top  

In this step, move on to work on the top of this two-piece set. Lay a top that you already own and love, over the shirt piece, as a template and trace around it. 

Cut out the top


Then go ahead and cut the top. 

Sew the sides


Next, place the front and back pieces of the top right sides together and pin along the sides. Then sew a straight stitch and a zig-zag stitch along the pinned lines. While you are by your machine, zig-zag stitch along the raw edges on the top and bottom of your new top. 

Hem the top and bottom


To hem the top, fold over the bottom of the top and pin the fold in place. Then sew all the way around the bottom. Repeat this step for the raw edges at the top to give a clean and neat finish. 

DIY men’s shirt refashion

Sew on sleeves 

Next, pin the sleeves onto your new top. Sew them on and add a zig-zag stitch. Don’t forget to hem the sleeves!

How to refashion men’s shirt


This two-piece set is just perfect! It is definitely going to be one of my most worn outfits this season. Let me know in the comments if you have any other men’s shirt upcycle ideas. 

Suggested materials:
  • Men's shirt
  • Measuring tape
  • Ruler
See all materials

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