Diy T Shirt Upcycle To Cropped Top With Lace Up Detail

About

You Will Need (11 things)

Steps (18 steps, 120 minutes)

1. 1

   First crop the shirt to your desired length by drawing a line straight across the shirt and cutting about 1 inch below your line (for seam allowance).

2. 2

   Next, because my t-shirt had a pocket that I didn't want in my crop top, I removed the pocket with a seam ripper.

3. 3

   Now we're going to make the side slits. Mark on one side where you want your lace-up slit to be, then measure from the side seam and mark the other side the same distance from the side seam.

4. 4

   Next, line up your eyelets along the mark and draw another mark where you want the slit to end. My lines are 3.25 inches from the raw edge.

5. 5

   Using the leftover material from cutting the bottom off the shirt, cut two rectangles of fabric large enough to cover the entire area around the slit plus at least 1/2 inch beyond the eyelets on each side. My pieces are 2.5 inches by 4 inches. These pieces will be used as facings on the inside of each slit.

6. 6

   Next, on the wrong side of the fabric of each of the facing pieces, draw a line up the center matching the lines on the shirt.

7. 7

   Pin each facing piece to the shirt, making sure right sides are together and matching the slit markings.

8. 8

   Sew up each of the long sides of the line and across the top, about 1/8 inch from the marking. Repeat for the other slit.

9. 9

   Use your scissors to cut a straight line up the center of your stitching, being careful not to cut through any stitches.

10. 10

    Next, turn your facing to the inside of the shirt and iron flat, making sure none of the facing shows on the outside of the shirt. Pin the facing to the inside.

11. 11

    Sew along the slit; about 1/8 inch from the edge. This will keep the facing in place securely.

12. 12

    Line up the eyelets around the slit and mark in the center of each eyelet.

13. 13

    Next, insert an eyelet into each of these marks. To insert eyelets: cut a very small hole in one of the marks, insert the front of the eyelet into the hole; stretching the fabric to fit, place the eyelet back over the back of the eyelet front, then place eyelet pliers over the eyelet and squeeze until you feel a “click.” Repeat to insert all of your eyelets.

14. 14

    Next, to finish the hem I serged the raw edge (you can finish the raw edge with a serger, zigzag stitch, or just leave it raw because the knit fabric won’t fray). Then, turn up the hem and pin in place. Sew along the hem with a zigzag stitch or double needle, then iron for a crisp finish.

15. 15

    Now we're going to make the fabric laces to lace through the eyelets. First cut two long rectangular pieces from your leftover fabric (mine are 14.5 inches by 1.5 inches). Pin the strips in half lengthwise, with right sides together, then sew about 1/2 inch from the raw edge.

16. 16

    Trim the raw edges approximately 1/4 inch from the stitching to reduce bulk.

17. 17

    Next, use a safety pin to turn the strips right sides out and iron flat with the seam in the center.

18. 18

    Thread your strips through your eyelets in a pattern you like. I then sewed the ends of the strips down with a small line of stitching and trimmed the ends close to the stitching. You're done!