Picture this: your alarm goes off. It’s 8:45 a.m. and you have a 9 o’clock lecture to get to. Being the Fashionista you are, you need a split-second option that also happens to be stylish to throw on. Thankfully, you probably own a handful of oversized graphic tees. Why not up your T-shirt game with this on-trend DIY?
Lace-up tops and dresses are literally everywhere you look these days. Instead of spending the better half of your paycheck on one of these trendy pieces, swing by your local Goodwill and craft store. I spent less than $25 on my shirt and the supplies to make it. Not to mention it’s a great weekend alternative to your Netflix marathon. Happy crafting!
What You’ll Need:
- Graphic tee of choice, I recommend going up a size for a slightly oversized look
- Black trim
- Silver eyelets
- Black cord of choice (must fit through the eyelets)
- Scissors
- Needle and black thread
- Hammer
Step 1— Try on the shirt and decide where and how deep you want to cut the neck, then cut. Be sure to cut in a straight line and use a ruler or straight edge to cut along.
Step 2— Iron shirt for best results. Lay the trim down and sew along the neckline. You can use a sewing machine, but I just sewed by hand and it turned out fine.
Step 3— Lay out where you want the eyelets. Be sure that both sides match up. You can put as many or few as you want. I went with fewer on my first try.
Step 4— (Disclaimer: this is where you might break a nail or two.) Cut tiny slits where you placed the eyelets. Push the eyelet through, flip over and pound it in with the hammer. I also used the tool that came with the eyelets and I highly recommend it.
Step 5— Lace it up! Once the eyelets are all placed and hammered in, take your string or cord and lace it through just like you would with a shoelace. At the top, you can either leave the laces hanging or knot them off and cut them short, which is what I chose to do. I also cut off the collar of my shirt, but you can just as easily leave it on!
It felt so good to sit down and craft a little. I felt so proud when people complimented my shirt and I got to say, “Yup, I made it myself.”
