How to Make an Embroidered Lace Shirt

9 Materials

$30

1 Day

Medium

Sometimes my ideas come spontaneously and other times I am inspired by something. For this DIY I was definitely inspired when I saw an amazing couture dress with the most amazing colors and fabric design. I used the dress as a basis to create a shirt that was more my style but shared the same unique details.

Tools and materials:

Fabric
Sewing machine
Scissors
Pins
Interfacing
Pencil
Pattern paper
Ruler
Lace

Lace applique shirt

Cut out the fabric

For the pattern of the shirt, I used a previous pattern I had made without making any adjustments. The only changes I would be making for this shirt would be on the sleeves. I pinned the pattern to my blue fabric and cut it out leaving a bit of seam allowance.

Cut out the upper sleeve

I used the same basis for the upper part of the sleeves and cut out the fabric I would need.

Fold pleats

Fold pleats at the back

I started working with the back panel. I folded the pleats and sewed it to the shoulder piece, right sides together.

Make a button tab

Create a button tab

For the front pieces, I folded the fabric twice to create a button tab on each side and pressed the folds. I then topstitched the button tab in place.

Pin the front and back

Sew the front and back pieces

Next, I pinned the front and back pieces, right sides together, and then sewed.

Draft sleeves

Sew on lower sleeves

It was then back to the pattern paper to start drafting the bottom part of the sleeves for my new shirt.

DIY applique shirt

Once I had cut out the lower sleeves, I pleated at the top and then attached them to the upper sleeve pieces, right sides together.

Cut off excess fabric

I then cut off the excess fabric using my serger.

Add interfacing

Attach the collar

Next, I started working on the collar for my shirt. I added some interfacing to a few strips of fabric which would become the collar and collar stand.

Sew on to the collar stand

Once the pieces were ready, I sewed the collar to the collar stand.

Pin on the collar

Next, I pinned and sewed the collar in place on the bodice.

Sew the buttons

Sew buttons and buttonholes

I moved on to sew all the buttons and buttonholes on the shirt using my button foot.

Sew the sleeves to the bodice

Attach the sleeves

I also pinned and sewed the sleeves onto the bodice, right sides together. I didn’t rush to sew closed the sleeves and sides as it would make the embroidery process more difficult.

Pin on the lace

Add the lace

I put the shirt on my mannequin and started playing around with the positioning of the lace pieces until I was happy. I wanted the lace to be on the upper bodice and at the top of the sleeves.

Hand sew the lace

With the lace positioned perfectly, it was time to start hand sewing. Although this was the longest part of this DIY project, I found it very relaxing.

Sew closed the shirt

Once I was finished with the lace, I could finally go ahead and sew closed the arm and side seams of the shirt. I also sewed the hem of the shirt and decided what length I wanted my sleeves.

Sew cuffs

Attach cuffs

Next, I cut two rectangle pieces and sewed them to create cuffs.

Shirt with applique

Having decided on the final length for the sleeves, I cut off the excess fabric and gathered the sleeve ends to create the desired look.

Sew on the cuffs

Next, for my final step, I pinned and sewed the cuffs onto the sleeves.

Embroidered lace shirt

I love my beautiful, lace embroidered shirt! What is your favorite detail on this piece? Let me know in the comments!

Suggested materials:

Fabric
Sewing machine
Scissors

See all materials

2 comments

Kandy Johnson Pate Sullivan
on Dec 12, 2020

I really liked the shirt with lace!!

1
Reply
BARR Couture
on Dec 19, 2020

Hi Kandy! Thank you very much! :) I love it and wear it very often.

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