Choose a shirt with a bit of stretch. This will work on pretty much any style, but fabrics with t-shirt-like material are best. I chose a tank top.
Lay your shirt so that the two side seams meet. Center them and smooth by wrinkles. You should now be looking at the side of the shirt. As you can see, both of the side seams are together.
Fold the back of the shirt towards the center slightly. It is very important that you have no wrinkles and you fold both layers smoothly. Spin your shirt so the folded part is facing you.
Now we start cutting small cuts, about a centimeter wide and a centimeter apart. Start as high or as low as you want. Just be sure you don't cut the neck or bottom seams of the shirt. There are my cuts-centimeter apart and long.
Unfold your shirt so the back and cuts are facing you. Grab your shirt on either side of the cuts and give a slight tug, pulling in opposite directions-left and right. This should be your end result.
Here comes the tricky part: this is the weave/braid/fold/loop everyone talks about. Repeat the same looping technique on the other set of slits. The second set is a touch more difficult because the shirt is starting to bunch up. You're almost there. Now just give it a little stretch to even things out.
You can wear it looking braided by pulling the shirt top to bottom, or ruffled by pulling it left to right. Ta-da. Keep in mind you should hang dry these as the dryer tends to make them a little ratty. Finished product. I apologize for the weird angle of the photo. The braids will loosen as you wear and wash your shirt.
Tips for best results:
- Use a fabric with slight stretch for clean, even braiding.
- Keep cuts uniform for a symmetrical braid.
- Handle with care when tugging to avoid tearing.
- Air-dry to preserve braid integrity over time.
Variations and adjustments
Experiment with the number of slit rows and their placement to create different braided patterns. You can alternate braids with plain sections for contrast, or adjust the width of each cut for a looser or tighter braid.
Maintenance and care
Hang dry after washing to prevent fraying and maintain the braid’s shape. If the fabric begins to loosen after wear, consider a light touch-up with serge or a narrow hem to extend the look.
