I love the layered, preppy look. And if you’re like me, you like having a crisp white collar show atop a comfy knit sweater. And of course we all know, the problem with wearing wearing a crisp white shirt under a sweater is that… it doesn’t look so crisp under a sweater.
A while back, I’d thought I’d found the perfect solution from my favorite magazine, Real Simple. They featured a brilliant product called “The Skinny Shirt.”
It’s a white, sleeveless tank-like top with a crisp collar at the top. But with a price tag of $68 a pop, no way was I going to pay that much for smooth sweaters. So what does any crafter do? Make their own!
(Please forgive my terrible photos. It was night time and I like to use a point and shoot while crafting as it’s too much trouble to use the big gun a.k.a. dSLR.)
Let’s start with my supplies:
$10 Tank Top from Target
$4 thrifted crisp button down white shirt (I wasn’t planning on cutting up a new one in case I botched it up)

Here’s how I did it:
I put the tank top atop the button down shirt to get a rough estimate of how much I needed to cut of it to fit inside the tank top. (I accidentally cut it a little too short but… that’s ok.)

I do have a mannequin form (which I mostly use for photographs) and it was my first time using it for actual sewing! I have rarely used a sewing machine in my life but I figured I should start learning on my cool Brother Computereize sewing machine which was an awesome birthday gift.
So I place the tank top and cut up shirt on the mannequin and pinned it to stay in place. Then carefully sewed it on. AGAIN, my sewing is not the greatest but if Anya Ayoung-Chee can win Project Runway after 4 months of sewing, I can sew an undershirt together.

After sewing, I cut out the excess fabric of the button down shirt.
And there you go! A DIY “Skinny Shirt” at a fraction of the cost.

It would have cost me less had I already had the tops in my closet
but $14 ain’t bad compared to $68!
Grrr now I really wish I had taken better photos. The next time I make this shirt, definitely!
Can’t wait to wear this shirt to work this week!
Linked at the following parties:
Thanksgiving Showcase Tutorial





8 comments
i Love this! I need anything that is slimming! Thank you so much for sharing this at the Meet Me Monday linky party! I love meeting you! I can’t wait to see what you do next! Love, Me
Whet a great idea! I have a few white shirts I can’t wear anymore because of stains, but I can do this to them.
I am a new follower
Donna G.
Reno and Reorganization recently posted..Great weekend scores!
I LOVE this! I have several sweaters that need this touch! Thank you for sharing this at Meet Me Monday linky party! I love meeting you! Love, Me http://www.youaretalkingtoomuch.com
Rebecca recently posted..Meet Me Monday #11!
this is a great idea.
Would luv for my readers to discover your blog, will you please join our weekly party at
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-showcase-tutorial-with.html
have a great crafting week!
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com
What a fantastic idea. That bunchiness is something I am way too familiar with.:)
Shiloh recently posted..Who Have You Bumped Off Recently?
That is amazing. Thank you for linking up to More the Merrier Mondays.
Jamie
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com
Jamie recently posted..Craft FAIL!!!
Great idea. Keep them coming.
That is awesome, thanks!