Knitter’s T-Shirt Hack | Update a Tee with Knit Rib Stitch

Knitter’s T-Shirt Hack

We all have them — shapeless t-shirts supporting a company event or kid’s activity. Welp, how about we turn that plain-shirt-frown upside down? Here’s a knitter’s hack, turning that baggy tee into a cute, cropped vest!

MATERIALS

Unfitted T-shirt

Yarn of choice (I used a double strand of this and this)

Corresponding sized, 32″ long circular needle (I used an 8/5mm)

Embroidery floss & needle

Scissors

Ruler

Chalk or disappearing ink pen

SPECIAL STITCHES
K1tbl = Knit 1 stitch, throug the back loop.

K2tbl = Knit each of the next 2 stitches through the back loop.

HOW-TO

• Fold t-shirt in half, lengthwise. Using chalk or a pen and a ruler as a guide, draw a line along the bottom portion of shirt at the desired finished length, minus 3″.
  Note: Be sure to check the back of the shirt to ensure you’re not unintentionally cutting away any text or graphics.
  

Pro Tip: Use a sweater or vest from your closet as a goal-length guide for your hacked tee!

• Cut bottom of shirt, along drawn line and neck and sleeves off along their respective seams.
• Mark every 1/4″ around the perimeters of the raw edges of the neck, sleeves, and bottom.

Using embroidery floss, needle, and markings as a guide, Blanket Stitch around all raw perimeters.

• Knit Bands
  BOTTOM BAND: Using yarn and circular knitting needle, pick out a loop under every bar created by Blanket Stitch. Ideally, there’ll be a multiple of 4, but you can fake it ’til you make it on the first round of knitting. Round 1: *K2tbl, p2; rep from * around. (If you run short or extra, either work 2 stitches together at the end, or increase by a stitch or 2 until you have a multiple of 4)

  Repeat Rnd 1 until Bottom Band measures 3″ (or desired length)

  Bind off in pattern stitch.

  NECK & ARM BANDS
  Pick up an even number of stitches (or fudge it as listed above).

  Round 1: *K1tbl, p1; rep from * around.

  Repeat Rnd 1 until Bottom Band measures 1″ /2.5 cm (or desired length)

  Bind off in pattern stitch.

  Weave in ends.

That’s all there is to it!

Psst…this same concept works with crochet, too. Simply swap out the knit ribbing with FPhdc, BPhdc rib stitch!