Crafts & DIY
Fashion designer reworks the sleeves on cheap T-shirts to make them more ‘expensive looking’
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Luis Gaskell
05.27.24

Transforming a plain t-shirt into a piece that looks like it’s fresh off a designer runway might sound like a challenge reserved for the pros, but with a bit of creativity and some basic sewing skills, you can create a chic, expensive-looking garment right at home.

Here’s a fun and easy guide to give your basic tee a fabulous makeover.

Preparation:

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  1. Rip Off the Sleeves: Start by boldly ripping off the sleeves of your t-shirt. This isn’t just fun; it’s the first step to creating a new canvas for your fashion masterpiece.
  2. Iron the Seams: Iron all seams meticulously to ensure they are smooth and ready for alteration. This step is crucial for a neat, finished look.

Attaching Lace:

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  1. Prepare the Lace: Take the sleeves you just liberated from your t-shirt and attach them to a piece of elegant lace fabric. If your lace piece is on the smaller side, don’t worry! You can make creative adjustments, such as piecing together multiple lace scraps in a patchwork fashion for a boho-chic look.

Sewing New Sleeves:

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  1. Cut and Design: Cut off strips from the original t-shirt sleeves along with the binding. This will be used to extend the lace sleeves.
  2. Sewing: Now, sew these strips to the new lace sleeves. This adds not only length but also a distinctive style that screams high fashion.

Finishing Touches:

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  1. Edge Stitching: Sew a finishing stitch along the edge of the new lace sleeves to prevent fraying and give a polished look.
  2. Seam Integration: Sew the side seam of the t-shirt first, followed by the sleeve seam, to integrate the new design seamlessly with the original shirt.

Stabilizing Stitches:

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  1. Add Stabilizing Stitches: It’s time to add stabilizing stitches along the new sleeves. This step ensures the lace handles wear and tear just as well as the rest of the shirt.
  2. Attach Sleeves: Sew the stabilized sleeves into the armholes of the t-shirt. Precision here will make or break the comfort and durability of your redesigned tee.

Final Adjustments:

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  1. Fitting: Lastly, complete the transformation with a fitting session. Make sure everything is in place, comfortable, and looks exactly how you envisioned. Adjust as necessary to achieve the fit and look you think is best.

Results:

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Your once plain t-shirt is now a stylish, customized piece that’s been given a new life thanks to a bit of DIY.

This transformation doesn’t just make your shirt look a lot less boring, but also allows you to express your personal style.

What’s more, it showcases how small alterations, like adding lace and reimagining the sleeves, can turn a simple T-shirt into a chic piece of attire.

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So, grab that forgotten t-shirt from the back of your drawer, and give it a new lease on life with this fun DIY project.

You’ll not only gain a “new” stunning piece of clothing but also the bragging rights to say, “I made this!”

Watch her full video below.

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