Men’s button-up shirts are the upcycler’s favourite raw material. They are made of good-quality cotton, they come with a ready-finished button placket, collar and cuffs, and charity shops are full of them. With a few seams you can turn one into something completely new.
Here are six easy ways to upcycle a button-up shirt, from a quick no-pattern project to a little dress, plus tips for choosing the right shirt.
Choosing and preparing the shirt
- Pick 100% cotton or linen in a large size (XL–XXL gives the most fabric). Look for poplin, oxford, chambray or flannel.
- Check the elbows and collar. Worn spots are fine for projects that do not use them.
- Wash and press the shirt before you start.
- Harvest everything useful: cut the buttons off and keep them, and keep the cuffs, the pocket and the collar band for later projects.
1. Cropped tie-front top
Level: very easy · 1 hour. Turn an oversized shirt into a cropped top that ties at the front.
- Try the shirt on and mark where you want the top to end at the side seams, usually at the waist.
- Cut each front panel into a long tail that starts at the side seam and gets longer towards the front, keeping 25–30 cm (10–12″) of length at the centre front for the ties.
- Cut the back straight across at the same height as the side seams, plus 2 cm (3/4″) for the hem.
- Hem all the raw edges with a narrow double-fold hem. Roll the sleeves or shorten them to elbow length and hem.
2. Little girl’s dress
Level: easy · 3 hours. A men’s shirt makes a pretty dress for a child aged about 2–6, keeping the original button placket at the front.
- Cut the shirt straight across under the arms. The lower part, with its placket and curved hem, becomes the skirt.
- Use a child’s T-shirt or dress that fits as a template to cut a sleeveless bodice front and back from the sleeves and upper back.
- Sew the bodice shoulders and side seams, and finish the neckline and armholes with bias binding.
- Gather the skirt along the top edge and sew it to the bodice, matching the side seams.
- Keep the shirt’s original buttons on the skirt front, or sew the placket closed and add a sash.
3. Tote bag
Level: very easy · 1 hour. Sew the shirt’s buttons closed, cut a rectangle from the body (front and back together), sew the sides and bottom, and box the corners. Make two straps from the sleeves, folded in four and topstitched. For a sturdier bag, line it with a second shirt or an old pillowcase.
4. Apron
Level: easy · 2 hours. Cut the back of the shirt into a half-apron shape, keep the shirt’s chest pocket and stitch it onto the front, and turn the sleeves into long waist ties. A plaid flannel shirt makes a lovely gardening or kitchen apron.
5. Button cushion cover
Level: very easy · 45 minutes. This is the classic: the button placket becomes the cushion opening, so there is no zip to sew.
- Button the shirt and lay it flat. Place your cushion pad on top, with the placket running across the middle.
- Cut a square 2 cm (3/4″) bigger than the pad on all sides, through both layers.
- Turn it inside out, sew all four sides with a 1 cm (3/8″) seam, clip the corners, and finish the edges.
- Unbutton, turn right side out and slip the pad inside.
6. Visible-mended elbows
Not ready to cut your shirt up? Give worn elbows a second life instead: add soft patches inside and stitch over them with sashiko running stitches in a contrast colour. It is the easiest way to make an old shirt look intentionally special.
More slow-fashion sewing
Keep your clothes in use for longer with our mending guides and free patterns.
Frequently asked questions
What can I make from an old button-up shirt?
A cropped tie-front top, a little girl’s dress, a tote bag, an apron, a cushion cover with a button opening, or you can mend it with visible sashiko patches.
What kind of shirt is best for upcycling?
A large 100% cotton or linen shirt in poplin, oxford, chambray or flannel. Bigger sizes give you more fabric to work with.
Can I upcycle a shirt without a sewing machine?
Yes. The cushion cover, apron and visible mending can all be sewn by hand with a backstitch, it just takes a little longer.
How do I turn a men’s shirt into a girl’s dress?
Cut the shirt under the arms and use the lower part with its placket as the skirt. Cut a small bodice from the upper shirt using a child’s top as a template, then gather the skirt onto the bodice.
Happy sewing!
