From Baggy Shirt to Cute Crop Top

I haven't made a project in a while, and recently saw a super cute crop top online with an embroidered flower on the pocket. Here's the catch: It was $52! I thought I could make something really similar for a much cheaper price, so I decided to make this Instructable. The whole project only cost me about $4 (because I already had thread and needles and etc. laying around) so I highly suggest trying it out if you are interested!

1. Sewing Machine

2. Thread for the machine (any color)

3. Embroidery thread (any color)

4. Scissors

5. Oversized T-Shirt (here's where I got mine)

6. Sewing needles

7. Iron-on fabric stabilizer

8. Pen

9. Iron and Ironing Board

To begin, put on the shirt and make a light mark where you want to crop it. Lay the shirt on a flat surface and cut about 1 1/2" - 2" below the mark you made, so that you'll have room to hem the bottom.

Turn the shirt inside out and make two more rows of marks, about 1 1/2" - 2" apart so that you know where to iron, and you keep the line strait all the way across the bottom.

Iron along the lines so that the hem is easier to sew.

Line up the edge of the sewing machine's footer with the edge of the fold and sew a strait line all the way across.

Make sure to go back and forth on at the beginning and the end so it is secure and the stitching won't come out. It should look like the last photo above.

This step is optional but I think it makes the shirt look even cuter! Just like the bottom hem, fold the edge twice and make four seams around the sleeve.

The seams should be vertical so that it doesn't draw too much attention to the thread. Also make sure to repeat the back and forth motion to ensure that your stitches will stay securely in place.

To make the pocket, print this template and make it whatever size you would like (I don't own the template, I am just including it here for you guys to see what I used).

Use the scrap fabric from the bottom of the shirt that you cut off for the pocket. Trace the outside of the template on the fabric then cut out the smaller piece and trace that on as well.

Cut out a piece of the stabilizing fabric and draw on the design you'd like to embroider.

Iron the stabilizer fabric onto the back of the fabric (where you made the markings). Iron the creases around the edges as well so that it is easy to sew.

Hand-sew the design onto the pocket then re-iron the creases if necessary.

To sew on the pocket, put on the shirt and mark lightly where you would like to put the pocket. Sew a seam along the top of the pocket, because you don't want to sew the pocket all the way around (then it wouldn't be a pocket!).

Lay the shirt on a flat surface and pin it down. This will help keep the pocket in place while you sew. Sew around the other four edges.

And that's it! I hope you enjoyed this Instructable, let me know if you made it and what you thought. I had so much fun making this shirt and I think it turned out really well! Also please vote for me in the Sewing Contest and subscribe for more content like this! Thanks :)

I discovered Instructables 4 years ago and have been on a journey through crafting and creating ever since. I am very passionate about making DIY's and would love to share them with you, so subscribe if you haven't already!