Sewing Projects

LACED WITH CHARM T-SHIRT MAKEOVER

Tank tops are one of those things that everyone's got lying around. They are the perfect blank canvas for a makeover. This project is easy as pie and takes less than half an hour to complete. It's so feminine and sweet; you'll love being a girly girl in this.

MATERIALS

Tank top T-shirt
122 cm of 13 mm wide satin ribbon for neckline (48 of 1/2")
2 m of 2.5 cm wide satin ribbon for sides (2 yd of 1")
1 m of 14 cm wide lace (1 yd of 5 1/2")
Optional: 30 cm of 2.5 cm wide ribbon for heart (12" of 1")
Pinking shears
Embroidery scissors (or small nail scissors)
Safety pins
Needle and thread
Fabric pencil (optional)

To make up

1. Using the ends of the embroidery scissors, make small holes all around the neckline at even intervals by inserting the point between the fibres. Try not to break the threads - sometimes doing so is inevitable, but just make sure the holes stay as small as possible.

2. Attach a safety pin to one end of the 13 mm wide ribbon (1/2"). Starting below the shoulder, weave the ribbon through the holes, going all around. To finish, make a how. Secure the bow to the tank top with a few stitches.

Side lacing

3. Using the same technique as step 1, make two parallel rows of small holes, moving down each side seam. The rows should run parallel to each other, one going down either side of the seam, spaced 13 mm (1/2") apart and starting 13 mm down from the armhole. Do this on each side.

4. Cut the 2.5 cm wide satin ribbon into two equal lengths. Attach a safety pin to each end of one of the pieces and lace it back and forth through the holes, as if you are lacing a shoe. Tie a knot at the bottom. Repeat for the other side.

Sleeves

5. Cut two pieces of the lace, each about 28 cm (11") long. Pin each to an armhole along the inside. Pleat the lace if you wish to create a lift at the top of the shoulder seam. Notice that the lace does not go all the way around the armhole; it's more like a cap sleeve.

6. Turn the tank top inside out and hand-sew the lace along each armhole seam, as pinned.

Bottom (optional)
7. Measure the bottom of the tank top stretched. Cut a piece of lace that's just a bit longer than half it's circumference. Then cut the piece in half lengthwise.

8. Pin one piece of lace along the bottom of the front, on the inside. Pin the other piece to the back. Sew down.

Heart decoration (optional)

9. Sketch a heart shape onto the tank top with fabric pencil, then use the embroidery scissors to poke holes through the tank top in a heart shape.

10. Seave the ribbon through the holes, ending with both ends of the ribbon on the inside of the tank top. Tie in a knot.

Variation

Instead of using lace for the sleeves, use wide ribbon (5-8 cm/2-3") or strips of raw fabric. The lacing on the neckline and the sides can also be done with strips of fabric, lengths of lace or decorative rope.

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO WHILE WEARING LACED WITH CHARM

1. Ride a carousel
2. Go to the pier and get candy floss
3. Make a mini Laced with Charm shirt for a friend's baby
4. Go to charm school
5. Se Pretty in Pink starring Molly Ringwald
6. Buy yourself a charm bracelet
7. Glue pink Swarovski crystals to your mobile phone
8. Get a Lucky Dip bag
9. Buy flowers for your prince charming
10. Wear bright pink lip gloss

Further information

This project is from Just for the Frill of It by Sonya Nimri (ISBN 9780823099979). Give your existing wardrobe a quick nip and tuck using the great ideas in this book for a fast and easy makeover. An ideal book for young (or young at heart) stitchers - it includes 25 projects to reshape and embellish plain and boring garments into fashion delights. Taking simple sweaters, T-shirts and skirts, Sonya shows how to cut, finish and trim items with lace, ruffles and ribbons for a more shapely and trendy look. Published by Watson-Guptill and priced at £7.99. Available from GMC Publications, tel: 01273 477374.