Revamp His Shirt for Her

August 25, 2009

By Roseann

shirt_front

 

Revamping an old tee shirt is one of my favorite DIY fashion projects, and since most of us have so many, we can sacrifice a few for fashion’s greater good.  With a little innovation and feminine lace (lace inserts are one of fall’s hottest trends) we can create a men’s small tee shirt into a comfortable and effortlessly chic women’s top.   

shirt

shirt_back

 

Materials:

 

Instructions:

  1. Lay your shirt out flat and decide how long or short you want your finished top to be.  Note that you will be adding extra length at the shoulders if you use the same lace as I did you will add 3 ½” to the length of the shirt. 
  2. Once you have chosen the length measure equally across the bottom of the shirt and pin and crop.
  3. If you shirt has ribbing around the neck cut around to remove it.  Do the same to the seam at the bottom of the sleeve.

 blog_t-shirt

  1. Using a ruler and your chalk draw a strait line starting at the shoulder seam at the neck line to the bottom of the sleeve.  Cut. See image above.
  2. Mark a strait line from the seam at the inner arm to the edge of the top of the sleeve.  Cut.  If this is not done the new sleeve you are creating will not hang correctly.
  3. Measure the length of the top of the sleeve to the neckline.  Add 1” to this measurement and cut lace.
  4. Hand stitch the lace to each or your shoulder pieces with ½” left on each side.  Fold excess over and stitch a hem.  Sewing can be done on a machine; however I feel that you can hide your stitching better if this is done by hand.
  5. Measure the bottom of your shirt, cut lace with extra 1” and sew to the bottom.  I left the seam open in the back.
  6. Now try your shirt on.   Depending on the type of lace you used the neckline may or may not be too big.  If it is, like it was on me, this is easily fixed by adding pleats to the back neckline. 
  7. I added 4 ½” pleats to bring the neckline in 2”.  Decide how much you need to bring the neckline in.  Once you have done this divide your measurement by the number of pleats you want to add.  Start in the middle of the neckline and begin measuring towards the sides. Fold, pin, stitch down 1 ½”.  I used the lines in the jersey knit as guide to make sure my pleats were straight.
  8. For a more glam look bead your lace with bugle beads, sequin, or any other embellishment you desire.  M&J has a plethora of fashion accents, and more is more this fall  so go nuts!

shoulder

shirtcloseup

Entry Filed under: Fashion. Tags: , , , , .

5 Comments Add your own

  • [...] Roseann from M & J Blog shows how to refashion a basic t-shirt by adding lace panels to the bottom and to the sleeves.  Get the tutorial. [...]

    Reply
  • 2. LOIS NELSON  |  September 3, 2009 at 8:41 AM

    Will you please kindly teach me how to do with t-shirts?
    ThankYou,
    LOIS
    6428 Sunset Dr.
    Godfrey, IL 62035

    Reply
  • 3. LOIS NELSON  |  September 3, 2009 at 8:42 AM

    Do you have directions for t-shirts?

    Reply
    • 4. Roseann  |  September 4, 2009 at 9:52 AM

      Hi, I will try and post more ways to reconstruct t-shirts in future blogs.

      Reply
  • 5. Stacy  |  October 5, 2009 at 7:23 AM

    I really like this idea…and I have a pile of men’s t-shirts just waiting to be revamped into something more feminine. Thanks for the great idea…oh and I found you by way of One Pretty Thing!

    Reply

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