For a totally hot punk tee to dance in, this deconstructed punk tee shirt has long fringes that flip around to the beat. To make this tee, you’ll need a sharp pair of scissors and a man’s extra large tee shirt. Don’t worry if the tee has a logo on it, it can be turned inside out as it’s being reconstructed.
How to deconstruct
Step 1: Lay the tee shirt perfectly flat on the kitchen floor or a old table.
Step 2: Cut off the neck band. Throw away.
Step 3: Cut off one of the sleeves at the seam ~ from top of the shoulder to the underarm. Cut a 12″ fringe, discard the rest of the material.
Step 4: Working from the side of the tee shirt that’s missing the sleeve, locate the shoulder seam. This is the seam that runs from the side of the neck to the top of the sleeve.
Step 5: Make a diagonal cut from the midpoint of the shoulder seam to the side seam on the opposite side where it meets up under the arm. Discard the fabric you’ve just cut away.
Step 6 : Slice open the side seam.
Step 7: Match up the cut seams, with the front of the shirt matching up perfectly straight with the back of the shirt.
Step 8: Cut side fringes through both thicknesses ~ depending on your size, fringes should be between 6-12″ in length for a snug fit.
optional cut : remove the bottom shirt hem.
Constructing your new punk dance tee
This part will need to be done with a friend.
Step 1: Scrunch up the tiny bit of shoulder remaining on the shirt and tie up with the 12″ fringe saved in step 3 of the deconstruction.
Step 2: Have your friend “knot” you into the shirt. Grab a hold of the top pair of fringes, then tie them in a double knot. Repeat with all the remaining fringe pairs until reaching the bottom of the shirt.
After the shirt has been knotted up the way you like it, toss it in the washing machine and then dry it so that the raw edges of the shirt and fringes will curl. That’s all there’s to it!
Double Fringed Punk tee
For a dance tee with a double set of fringes, follow the first 5 steps of the above instructions and then finish up with these:
Step 6 : Slice up both side seams.
Step 7: Match up the cut seams with the front of the shirt matching up perfectly straight with the back of the shirt.
Step 8: Cut side fringes through both thicknesses of fabric ~ with six inch fringes on both sides.
To reconstruct the tee:
Step 1: Scrunch up the remaining shoulder and tie up with a strip of material.
Step 2: Put the shirt on, and have your friend knot you into the shirt. For a perfectly straight knotting job, she should work back and forth ~ first knotting up one pair of fringes under the left arm, then knotting a pair of fringes on under the right arm. Knots may have to be slightly adjusted for an even fit.
Need a wicked punk skirt to go along with the shirt? Follow this link for my article on “How to make a no sew punk skirt.”
