Refashionista: Lace embellished Tee Tutorial (from H.E.R. archives)

This was my first and to this date the most popular tutorial I have made. So, I thought it would really be a crime not share it with you.

Lace can make a simple t-shirt so much more special and elegant. I'm not a t-shirt+jeans kind a gal, I usually don't wear simpel t-shirts, and that's exactly why I'm thinking of ways to make them just a little bit more special. If you're like me, I think you're going to love this tutorial. And this one.

Be sure to click "read more" to see the full tutorial.

You'll need:

1. sewing machine
2. one old or new simple t-shirt
3. lace fabric, preferably stretch
4. thread in matching color
5. double-pointed needle (optional)
6. sewing needle and thread in contrasting color
7. scissors, pins

Step 1

Put the t-shirt on your sewing dummy or lay it flat on the ground. Pin the lace stretch fabric on the t-shirt, covering the area you want to embellish. For me, that was the front upper section.

Step 2

Take your sewing needle and contrasting thread and trace a line where you want the lace to end. I did it free-hand, because I wanted a wavy edge, but you can also use a ruler for a straight or curved edge. since I did mine free-hand, I did it only on one side and have to trace that to the other side in the next step. 

Step 3

Trace the edge markings onto the other side. Fold the t-shirt in half and use pins or needle and thread, to trace the markings. I did it with the pins and after that traced the line with contrasting thread to make it easier to sew. 

Trim off excess lace, but leave a couple of cm/an inch of seam allowance.

Step 4

Put the double-pointed needle on your sewing machine. Sew the upper edge of the embellishment. My upper edge coincided with the neckline seam, which is why I used a double-pointed needle. If your embellishment is somewhere in the middle of the t-shirt, use the method in step 5 (zig-zag stitch).

Step 5

Switch to a standard jersey needle and continue with the lower edge of your embellishment. Set the machine to a dense zig-zag stitch, you can choose the width yourself. Sew along the marked line leaving the marking thread in the middle of the zig-zag stitch.

Step 6

After finishing the seams remove the marking thread and cut the seam allowances of the lace very close to the seams. Then turn the shirt inside out and cut the t-shirt fabric from the inside of the embellishment, close to the seams. Press the seams.

Voila!! You're finished!

This method can also be used on non-stretch fabrics, so the possibilities are endless. If you have any questions about this tutorial, please leave a comment and I'll try to help. Side note! Since a red t-shirt colored my lace in the washing machine I had to bleach it. That's why the color in the after pictures is much lighter than in the tutorial pictures.

Special thanks to Marianne for modeling the t-shirt for me!