The great T-shirt comeback

As anyone worth their DIY IQ knows, a pair of scissors, a bunch of old stuff, and a lot of imagination go a long way. Take my old messenger bags in high school. Midway through the year, the quirky day-glo print on my then-spanking-new bag that used to raise my spirits only made me sad. "Who purchases day-glo bags?" I’d say to myself in irritation as I viewed the stained, practically-falling-apart-at-the-seams piece. Perhaps during the heat of a sale, when I purchased that eyesore of a case, I’d convinced myself that a print of dancing mice was cute and kitschy rather than ugly and tacky. It was too late to bring it back to the retailer. (No doubt the saleslady wouldn’t be amused by my semi-truthful reason for return: the bag no longer reflected my taste – six months after purchase!)

The bag was too banged up to pass off as an heirloom piece to some unknowing schmuck and too cheap for my siblings to (forcibly) purchase. The only way to remove the sight of those creepy dancing mice was to give my misguided purchase a much-needed facelift. (Some might argue that a simple solution would be to throw it away, to which I might argue: beggars living on a small allowance can’t be wasters.)

Enter my fashion magazines, which I subscribed to and greedily pored over every month, looking for potential DIY ideas that would make everything around me prettier. Need something to brighten your dull old bathroom? Use your mom’s printed coat as a toilet seat cover! Want to embellish a plain window? Paint your portrait on the glass! That way your neighbors will always be greeted by the beautiful sight of your face rendered in acrylic paint.

In my search for quick-fix DIY projects, I came to realize there are some truths to this makeover lifestyle: 1) If it costs more to revamp a piece than the original cost, it ain’t worth it; 2) A glue gun is your best friend; and 3) If it involves a pitchfork and soldering iron, you should leave it to the professionals.

Accessories designer Irene Pineda came up with a couple of ways to breathe life into those old shirts that are gathering dust at the back of your – or your dad’s – closet. Utilize some unexpected materials and throw in some good old fairy dust and you’ve got the makings of DIY gold. Now there’s something to DIY for.

Turtleneck one-sleeved shirt

Materials: Scissors, needle and thread, and men’s long-sleeved shirt

Time: 20 minutes

Steps:

1. Cut around the collar to create a round-neck collar.

2. Cut one (or both sleeves) for a sleeveless look.

3. Cut open sleeves’ seams.

4. Sew sleeves together (as indicated) to make a cylinder.

5. Cut off extra material from sleeves for a clean finish.

6. Sew added fabric onto neckline to create a turtleneck.

7. Watch as the rest of the grunge-wearing artistes bow to your DIY powers.

Shirt with detachable necklace

Materials: Scissors, needle and thread, T-shirt, old necklaces, and beads

Time: 10 minutes

Steps:

1. Snip out the collar of round-neck shirt

2. Make a series of darts around the neckline, approximately a half-inch from edge of fabric (check diagram for placement).

3. Make several slits (in pairs): 10 in front and 10 at the back.

4. Cut two strips of cloth from the bottom portion of the shirt.

5. Sew them together to make a single long strip. Embellish it with a few beads.

6. Thread strip through slits and tie bow.

7. Wear the shirt to your next soiree.

8. Bat your lashes at the cutest boy.

9. Prepare for him to fall at your feet.

Sleeveless top with flower belt

Materials: Scissors, needle and thread, T-shirt, flower cutouts made from old fabric

Time: 15 minutes

Steps:

1. Cut the collar and surrounding fabric to create a scooped neckline.

2. Chop off the sleeves, giving it the appearance of a boy’s tank.

3. Cut two strips from the sleeves.

4. Cut a strip of cloth from the bottom part of the shirt to use as a belt.

5. Make four equal-sized incisions at the lower part of the front of the shirt to create a peekaboo panel effect.

6. Tie the belt in between the peekaboo slits.

7. Use the remaining two strips from the sleeves as a bow attached to the shoulder straps.