I took this screenprinting test-shirt and refashioned it into a cute racerback using 99-cent doilies from Joann’s. I recommend using these inexpensive doilies to practice before using your pretty, vintage handmade doilies from the antique store. Although, admittedly they would look much better.

Here’s how I made it:

Materials:

Tee shirt

Tank top (to use as a pattern)

Doilies

Standard sewing stuff

Copy Tank Top pattern
First, I just laid a plain white tank top over my tee shirt, pinned it to keep it from sliding around and traced around it with a Sharpie to copy the pattern.

Cut around the marked lines leaving a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Lay the doilies out in a pattern you like. Make sure that the doilies overlap enough to give the shirt stability.

Attach the doilies to eachother. Sew the doilies to eachother (NOT TO THE SHIRT) where they overlap. I recommend using a button stitch (individual stitch that is repeated several times in the same spot). Tie each stitch off and then start at another point rather than trying to do blanket stitch which would cause the doilies to bunch up.

Cut the shirt open at the shoulders. This will allow you to get the shirt into your sewing machine and sew around the doilies a bit easier.

Pin the strung-together doilies onto the back of the tee to hold them place.

Sew the top and bottom of the larger doily piece. Sew as if the doilies were one big, oddly shaped doily (don’t sew each individual doily). I used a zig-zag stitch to secure it really well. Leave the sides (where the sleeves are) open.

Here’s what the back of the shirt looks like when you are done sewing. **Note that I sewed only at the top and bottom. Not in the middle and not down the sides.

Cut away the fabric behind the doilies. Insert your scissors in-between the doilies and the t-shirt and cut away the excess fabric.

Sew the shoulder seams back together. Reattach at the shoulders by turning the shirt inside out, pinning and sewing.

Finish arm holes. Fold the arm hole seams in about 1/2-inch, pin and sew using a zig-zag stitch. You can choose to fold the the doilies back or not. Just don’t trim the doilies or they will unravel.

Try it on! You may need to make adjustments by pinching and pinning (and sewing) the underarm area. Once you have sewed it so that it fits to your liking you can wear loud and proud!

BTW- Here is the inspiration for this shirt which I cannot afford nor do they make my size. So what’s a girl to do!? Oh yeah, Do-it-Myself!