‘Tis the season for good ol’ corn hole, merry tailgating, and, of course, football. We, students of Maryland, don’t take the treasured festivities of game day lightly. We pull out all the stops: war paint, funky knee-length socks, and on not-so-rare occasions, wacky costumes. As homecoming approaches, and the hype for classic college memory-making builds, many of us are getting crafty.
Saturdays in College Park are painted with a fashionable array of red, gold, black and white. But don’t expect to see any girl in a plain crew neck t-shirt. We like to go the extra mile by styling our own Maryland apparel. The t-shirt crafting creativity seen at tailgates and in the stands is nearly as impressive as the football plays on the field. To get ready for your next game day, these are some crafty t-shirt tailoring ideas that will have you walking down College Ave. in style.
Fringe is a statement on the runways and a staple in stores. This free and fun trend is also an easy way to doctor up a plain tee. Cut one inch-wide strips around the bottom trim of the shirt. Make the strip-lengthdependent on how much midriff you dare to show (generally three to four inches). Tie off the bottom of each strip or add beads if you’re really feeling crafty.
If you’re looking to flaunt some back action, you can achieve a racer back with a cool twist (literally). Cut the sleeves and trim the neckline so that you have created a tank top. At the neckline in the back of the shirt, cut away a V about 5 inches deep. Then trim away the bottom hem of the shirt so that you’re left with a long inch-wide strip. Stretch the strip as long as you can and tie one end of it around the bottom the V of the tank. Wind the strip around until it ends and knot it at the top.
Cut-away slits are a doable peek-a-boo look that can be done on nearly any part of the shirt. Some prefer to have cut-away sin the back while others favor to reveal some skin on the sides of the shirt. In order to make slits on the back of the shirt, fold the tee so that the when its laying flat, half of the back and half of the front are visible. Cut slits about two inches down from the neckline. Make the slits an inch thick and two inches long. Cut all the way down the back until about 3 inches from the bottom. Once the slits are made, unfold the shirt and lie it on its front. Gently pull and stretch the strips so that they roll and thin out. What’s left is a tasteful and edgy cutout.
These simple 20-minute alterations will spice up your average Maryland tee so that your next game day is a little more stylish and bold. So grab some scissors and start cutting!