Skip to main content

Summer of T-shirts: Lace-backed Casual Top

This week's blog is by Julie, the moderator of the Fabricistas blog. 

If you've been following the Summer of T-shirts Event since the beginning, you know that I started this event after being inspired by the vast amount of t-shirt styles out in stores and in pattern lines. Something so simple, like a t-shirt, can be transformed into so much more. 


I love combining different fabrics when I make t-shirts. And many of the ideas I had for this event were to combine lace and knit for a boho chic look.

For this post, I'm going to share with you how to turn a basic t-shirt pattern into a high-low hem and loose fitting lace back.


I used Pamela's Patterns Perfect T-shirt. I know it fits me well when made as is and I've pattern hacked it a number of times with success. Pull out the front and back bodice pieces and let's get started!



Front Bodice
1) Starting with the front bodice piece, trace the top portion on to pattern paper. Stop tracing just after the dart. (If you have one on your pattern.) If you don't, then trace about 2-3" from the top of the underarm seam.


2) At the base of the front piece, make a mark 1/2" from the edge of the pattern. Using a ruler, grade in from the 1/2" mark on the bottom edge, to the mark near the dart where you stopped tracing. This will make the shirt have a little less shape, creating a looser, more casual look on the front. I didn't want the hemline to be curved up, so I straightened it on the side seams.





Back Bodice
3) Making the top back pattern piece - Figure out where you would like the seam on your back. After you have that figured out, draw a line across the back bodice piece. This line should be about 2" below the underarm. This pattern piece will replicate the back bodice piece exactly, except that it will be shorter.






4) Making the bottom back pattern piece - Lay your pattern piece on blank pattern paper. Trace seam line onto the pattern paper. (The seam line is the line you made on the pattern paper that separates the knit top piece to the lace bottom piece.) Measure 1 1/4" from the side seam, all the way down to the hemline. This will create the loose lace back piece. Mark the end as shown in the photo. (This will help when you make the curve from the hemline to the side seam.)



5) Measure 4" from the hemline. This will make the back piece longer in the back for the high-low look.

6) Using a french curve, find a curve that you like and connect the hemline marks to the side seam marks.

Pattern Comparison:


When I made my back piece, I wanted there to be a fold in the back, like you see in the back of buttondown shirts. Since I was creating my own pattern, I needed to mark that fold on my pattern piece.

7) Lay the top back and bottom back pieces together. Your bottom piece should be 1 1/4" wider that the top piece.

 Match up the side seams to see how much you have to work with.


8) Make a mark 3/4" from the fold line. Fold the pattern piece so the side seams match and the pattern is laying flat on your cutting board. Make a mark where the fold was made. You will then transfer these marks to the fabric. (If you don't want to do this, you could also baste the seam on the bottom back bodice and pull the thread to gather and match the top back bodice piece.)


Close-up of the back fold.
You've now finished the pattern making process! 

Sewing Tips:
- Sewing this shirt together is really easy! Sew the top back and bottom back pieces together before sewing the rest of the shirt together per the directions. You may also need to fuse some woven stay tape to the knit portion of the back seam. It will stabilize the lace and knit seam so it doesn't stretch when sewing.


- Try the top on before you sew the hem. I ended up cutting off a little bit to make it the length I desired. You may also need to make a smoother transition from the front bodice to the back bodice.

- Try a different kind of neckline! Pamela's Patterns Perfect T-shirt comes with 3 different necklines. She also has a pattern of New Necklines and Sleeves which can be used with this pattern. I selected the v-neck, but did something a little different for the neck -- I took strips of black knit and sewed them to the neckline with the right side of neckline strips to the wrong sides of shirt. Knits do not fray so it's a quick and easy finish to a fun, casual top. When they are washed, the raw edges roll in on themselves giving it an even more interesting look.



- Other fabric options: I personally really like mixing lace with knits. But if you're not into lace, I could see this made with chiffon solids or prints. You could also use a contrasting knit fabric for some colorblocking. How would you combine fabrics for an interesting t-shirt?



As you can see, I am wearing a cami underneath. You could be daring a wear it bare! (I'm not that daring and do not care to share it with the world! It would also be fun to wear a different color cami to help highlight the lace even more.

Don't forget you can sew along with us at home. Share you t-shirt pattern hacks (new ideas you have and ideas that we have shared with you) on Facebook and Instagram using #FMSummerofTshirts. At the end of the summer, we will compile all the people that used the hashtag and you will be entered into a random drawing for $75 gift certificate to Fabric Mart!

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Why Sew A Muslin

Here it is, my September blog post featuring Newlook N6692 and this pretty rayon challis from Fabric Mart! This pattern style is so in right now. The square neckline, cute puff sleeves and the tiered skirt are all exactly what I was looking for in a summer dress. As always I started with making a muslin first!  Let’s get into why it’s important to start with a muslin.  A muslin is basically a practice garment. It prevents you from cutting into your good fabric prematurely.  I usually use a muslin fabric (natural cotton) but you should also consider using a fabric that is the same weight as your fashion fabric. This will give you a truer gauge of how the garment is going to lay in the final fabric. Anytime I try out a new pattern company I make a muslin. This was my first time using a Newlook pattern so I need to know what the ease would be like for this pattern. Also I need to see how the bust would fit me and where I would need to make adjustments. Plus there were some new techniques

Made By A Fabricista: The Love of Sewing - Basic Pieces for a Beginner

Happy Friday All! It has been a while since I made myself a dress. I am excited to sew after not making anything since my last post (whew) and finally sharing some photos.  This past summer has been a roller coaster journey with plans to release a small collection and then deciding that right before the launch to postpone. Sewing has brought me joy over the past 8 years and the mere fact to sew daily for orders had me in a panic mode. I really don’t want to walk away from my craft due to burn out  and decided that if I do sew for others, it would be only for local clients. Moreover, If next year I decide to launch, it would be seasonal and not year round. I really want to share my talent and love for sewing with others but don’t want it to be a full time job and lose the passion in me.  After a bit of soul searching, teaching and sharing my talent with my community will always be my first love. For the past 2 summers, I was blessed to partner with two nonprofit organizations’ local sum

Made By A Fabricista: Two Late Summer Dresses in Bold Stylized Prints

Hello Sewing Friends! Sharon here with my latest Fabricista make, two dresses that will transition into fall.   You probably noticed I didn’t choose traditional autumn prints or colors.  I planned to, but just couldn’t bring myself to think about cool weather colors and fabrics when the temperatures were still over 100 degrees F.  Instead, I decided to sew a couple of late summer dresses that I can wear when the temps begin to dip into the 80s.   The first is a maxi shirt dress sewn out of this amazing rayon twill . Oh, the drape on this one is divine! The stylized white hearts really pop against the black background. Even though the print is bold, the colors are classic making it easy to accessorize with any color.  My big puppy like to hang close to me when I take photos, but she accessorizes well with whatever I’m wearing 😊 The pattern is the Style Arc Anais Dress. I’ve had my eye on this pattern for some time just waiting for the perfect fabric.  Now that I’ve sewn the dress, I wa