How to Upcycle a Men’s Shirt for Men

Learn how to upcycle a men’s shirt for men by combining two shirts. This refashion project is a great way to reuse the best parts of a shirt.

Does a man you know get holes in their long sleeves? Do they have a shirt where the collar is stained? Did they put a pen in their pocket and get ink in it? Did you find a great men’s shirt and the thrift store that has a combination of these problems?

This men’s shirt upcycle is for you! This project takes two men’s button up shirts with different problems, and it combines the parts worth saving into one shirt. It’s a fun way to create a whole new shirt!

What parts of the shirts should I reuse?

Look at all the different parts of the shirt:

• Sthe collar that isn’t stained or worn out.
• Save the pocket that isn’t stained or worn out.
• Save the cuffs that aren’t stained or worn out.
• Save all the buttons to replace any missing buttons.
• If the sleeves have holes in the elbows plan on turning the long sleeves into short sleeves.
• If the hem is too long, plan on cutting the hem to shorten it to a fashion length instead of a tuck in length.

Love to upcycle? Try one of these sewing projects:

• Men’s shirt upcycle and refashion projects
• Upcycled gift ideas

How to Upcycle a Men’s Shirt for Men

Supplies

• Two button up shirts that are the same size but have different problems in the collar, pocket, sleeves, etc
• Sewing tools
• Sewing machine

The green striped shirt has a hole in the left elbow. The blue striped shirt has a hole in the right elbow and a stain on near the hole.

Instructions

Remove the parts of the shirts that you want to reuse, and remove the same areas from the other shirt. In this case I removed both collars and both pockets.

I decided to keep the blue striped shirt as the base, and I sewed the green collar into the blue stand. Then I sewed the green pocket onto the blue shirt. You are putting the pieces in the same place which makes it easy, but make sure you pin and sew carefully.

Men’s shirts are extra long so that they can be tucked in and stay tucked in, if this shirt is going to become a fashion shirt instead of a dress shirt then cut the bottom straight. Sew a new 1/4 inch double fold hem along the bottom.

If there is problems with the long sleeves like holes or stains, cut the long sleeves into short sleeves. Sew a new 1/2 double fold hem.

Enjoy the new shirt (and save the other pieces for more upcycling projects!). You finished!

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!