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Spiffing up a cheap T-Shirt

5/8/2014

2 Comments

 
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I bought one of those cheap T-shirts they sell at Joann's intending to turn it into yet one more piece of my mix and match fairy wear wardrobe I wore at Costume Con last month, but ... sigh ... not everything I planned to do got done.

So, I've decided to turn in into a cute top to wear this summer. I am impatiently awaiting warmer weather.
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Men's style t-shirts, in my opinion are always too long, the sleeves, too.  So, I fold up the bottom and the sleeves to the length I like.
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Which meant I trimmed off 4" at the bottom and 3" off each sleeve.  I then did a skinny little hem with my serger. 
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This gives a more feminine edge instead of the stiff formal hem it came with. Looks better already.
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I pulled some grey lace scraps out from my stash and ...
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decided this was the winner.
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The plan was to make a beautifully shaped symmetrical yoke on this shirt, but I really liked the jagged shaped of this lace remnant, so I kept it. 

Now, this is when a dress form in your size comes in really handy.  I just started pinning the lace, as I liked it, to the t-shirt so it laid smoothly over the shoulders.
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I knew there would have to be a seam somewhere and I also knew, since this lace doesn't stretch, I would need some kind of a slit to be able to pull this over my head. So I decided to have a long opening in the center back, allowing the back yoke to point downward.
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But, I wasn't careful and didn't allow enough on one side of the back slit for a hem.  But, I contend, there is a fix for all problems and saw that the selvedge edge of this lace was good, so I cut off a strip along the selvedge following the lace motifs.
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Pinned it along the back opening on both sides and zig zagged, following the motifs, in place.
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Trimmed away the excess from the back side.
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And I like the results better than a plain hem.
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Then I do the same thing with the entire yoke.  I zig zag the cut edge to the t-shirt where pinned.
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And again, trim away the excess from the back.
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I'm liking this! 

I thought I would want to put a narrow binding, using some of the fabric trimmed off the hem of this shirt around the neck, but I like so much the delicate edge of the cut lace I want to see how I can keep that.
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I run a zig zag test on a scrap of this lace and it works. I was worried it would stretch out or do something else undesirable.  So, after smoothing out the curve of the neck, I simply zig zag all around it. 
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But, there is something I can use some of the cut off fabric for.  Even though I've shorted this shirt, I am still finding it tight around my hips.  So if I take out the 1" hem on this 4" strip cut from the bottom, I can get 5" squares for ...
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Little mini godets at each side.
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Just what I wanted!
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Rummage in one of my button boxes ...
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Make a thread loop ... and ...
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Tahh Dahhh!

Not bad for a $3 shirt and some of this and that I found at home. 

Can't wait to wear it.
2 Comments
Lynn Sigafoos
5/8/2014 12:01:50 am

I love this! The asymmetrical neckline is terrific, as well as the godets

Reply
Stephanie Sigafoos
5/8/2014 12:45:34 am

You are SO talented Aunt Andrea! Love love love love love that shirt!!!

Reply

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    From Andrea 

    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
    The water is fine!!

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