No-Sew Laced Up Tank Top

Mark your calendars: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Whether you walk, run, or responsibly conduct a breast self exam for the cause (do it once a month!) here's a T-shirt transformation tutorial (plus a bonus throwback!) to honor all of you making a difference and supporting those affected by breast cancer. Just set aside an old baggy T-shirt, a pair of scissors, and in 10 minutes you've got yourself a fitted tank top (inspired by the Outer Lace tank top in Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt). Get the team together and tie-dye and snip your way to its completion, then wear it for yourself, or wear it for a loved one--I know I will be!

What you need:

-plain white T-shirt

-Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Fashion Art Kit (includes 2 shades of dye plus gloves and rubber bands, black dimensional fabric paint, glitter spray)

-sharp scissors

-2 safety pins

TIE DYE
Step 1: Choose your tie-dye design and follow the instructions in the kit to wrap and color your T-shirt (I made two: a bullseye design and a ribbon design, as shown on the front of the package). Let them set for 6 to 8 hours before unwrapping and rinsing.

Step 2: Unwrap the shirts and let them dry completely. (Here's how mine turned out! I was impressed that the ribbon was as clear as it was -- considering it was my first time making it!)

CUT THE T-SHIRT

Step 1: Lay the T-shirt flat.

Step 2: Use the scissors to cut off the sleeves just inside the seams, cut the hem off just above the stitching, and cut an additional 1"-wide strip off the bottom of the shirt.

Step 3: Try on the shirt and pinch the excess fabric on either side to estimate the amount of fabric you'll cut off from each side. Then take the shirt off and lay it flat again to cut off the fabric. Tip: To keep the shirt moderately symmetrical, cut off one side, then flip the piece you cut off, place it on the opposite side of the shirt, and trace the line with your scissors.

Step 4: Using just the tips of the scissor blades, snip tiny holes about 1/2" in from the edge of the shirt, and about 1 1/2" apart from each other, from the bottom of the armhole down to the bottom of the shirt.

CUT THE T-SHIRT

Step 5: Cut the stitching off the hem piece. Cut through both loops from the bottom of the shirt, and stretch out the strips to make long cords, or laces. Attach a safety pin to each end of one of the strips.

Step 6: Thread one end of the lace through the top two holes on one side of the tank top. Pull it so the ends are even.

Step 7: Cross the ends and, threading in the direction from inside of the shirt to the outside, pull one end of the lace through the second hole on the opposite edge. Continue crossing the ends of the lace and threading them through the subsequent hole on the opposite edge--just as if you were lacing up a shoe.

Step 8: Crisscross the laces all the way down through the last hole (always threading inside to outside) before tying the ends in a knot or a bow. Remove the safety pins from the ends and try on your new tank top! Optional: Cut out the neckband, just outside the seam.

Wear your shirt alone...

...Or wear it with all your (ahem) breast friends! Shirt #2, below, is a variation of the Fringe Benefits shirt from Generation T and the Fringe Fabulous shirt
from generation-t.com.

Head over to our TIE DYE YOUR SUMMER site for even more inspiration, how-to's, and fun videos to get you mega-inspired for some DIY summer fun!