Easy Lace Cape-Shirt

My lovely sis-in-law gave to me a set of lace curtains that she could no longer use. What’s a girl to do but make a shirt from them? (This idea works fine with a lace tablecloth, too.)


Within an hour or so, I had a sweet new shirt that goes with just about anything. This may seem like a lot of steps, but it’s just that I’m a little overboard on details, sometimes.

 

Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own Lace Cape-Shirt:

Fabric Lace-at least 40″ in width, 25″ in length
Thread to match
Scissors
Tape Measure
Straight Pins
Sewing Machine
Heat ‘n Bond Tape
Iron
Lace Edging

 

First, fold the material in half from top to bottom.
Then fold the material in half from the left side to the right side.
To make the circle that will be your cape, begin by measuring 20″ from the corner fold across the top fold. Place a straight pin at the 20″ mark.

 

Measure 24 1/2″ from the corner fold down the side fold. Place a straight pin at the 24 1/2″ mark.

 

At a 45 degree angle from the corner fold, measure out 23″. Place a straight pin at the 23″ mark.
Alternately on either side of the 45 degree angle, measure 20 1/2″ at a 22 1/2 degree angle, and 24″ at a 67 1/2 degree angle.

 

Following your pin marks, cut out the quarter circle shape.

 

At the corner fold, measure down 2″ and across 2″. Cut out the tiny quarter circle shape. This will be the start of the neck hole.

 

Unfold the quarter circle to the left, leaving the top folded. This should now be the bottom half of a circle.
Measure and pin 6 1/2″ across the top fold of the lace, centered over the 2″ mark already cut for the neck hole. Increase the neck hole by cutting along these guides making the hole now 6 1/2″ wide.

 

Measure 2″ down from the already snipped portion of the fabric on only ONE side of the shirt. To increase the neck hole on only the FRONT side of the shirt, deepen the plunge the additional 2″.
Leave the back side of the shirt as is.

 

With the front of the shirt folded to once again create the quarter circle, measure down from center 4″.

 

Cut the 4″ slit on ONLY the front side of the shirt.

 

I used a hem stitch to finish off all of the edges of my lace. You can do whatever you want, but this seemed to work the best for me. So there.

 

Sew all of the edges on the shirt, including the neck hole.

 

Once all of your edges are sewn, fold the shirt once more with the neck hole in the front, a fold across the top, creating the bottom of a circle.
On each side, measure 10″ in across the top fold and pin (yellow pin in picture). Then measure from that pin 13″ down and pin (white pin). From that pin, measure back towards the edge 7 1/2″ (pink pin).
(This shouldn’t change the location of the 13″ pin, it’s just a double check that you measured correctly).
Sew two 1/4″ “stays” at the 13″ mark with a quick zig-zag stitch through both pieces of material. This will keep the cape in the right place on the body.

 

I decided to trim out the neck hole with lace edging. I followed the package directions on the Heat ‘n Bond to apply the edging to the shirt.

 

I liked using a darker color to offset the gray lace. But, the same color of lace would be just as pretty to make a plainer shirt.

 

Tah-dah! That’s all there is to it. Slip the Lace Cape-Shirt on over a bold colored cami and call it a day. Below is the back of the shirt.

 

Simple. Cute. Cheap. Fun.
That’s the way I like my crafts (or crap, whatever…).

written by

for the entire world. Deal with it.
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35 Responses to "Easy Lace Cape-Shirt"

  1. beth strub says:

    Love it, not sewn clothes in years, but I think I can do this. Thank You !

    Reply
  2. Sarah says:

    This is such a cute idea…thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Julie says:

    Thanks for linking your lace shirt to Show Your Stuff blog hop.

    Reply
  4. Cherie says:

    Very cute! And super simple. I love those projects the best 🙂

    Reply
  5. Karah @ thespacebetweenblog says:

    What a great idea for either a table cloth or curtain upcycle.
    A few blog friends and I are collectively presenting a new challenge idea that we would love to have you join. If you have a second, check in at http://www.thespacebetweenblog.wordpress.com on Monday to learn more, and feel free to email me if you have any questions!
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

    Reply
  6. Narda says:

    This is great, lace and a cape! So on-trend. I think I have some old table-cloths, might try this.

    Reply
  7. The Belly Dancer says:

    Awesome idea! I am all about recycling and love your shirt! New follower.

    Reply
  8. somedaycrafts says:

    Great idea! I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

    Reply
  9. Leslie says:

    Super cute! What a great way to use old lace curtains! Saw you at Someday Crafts.

    Reply
  10. Ces says:

    nice lace top, very creative

    Reply
  11. Amy says:

    Really cute shirt and a great idea! This one goes on my “to do” list! Thank you for sharing!! Found you on Creative Itch’s party and will follow you now!

    Reply
  12. Mindie says:

    Pretty, I love lace recenlty in my closset. Thanks for sharing at Bacon Time.

    Reply
  13. Sarah @ Dotted Line Crafts says:

    You are just so creative!! I would have NEVER thought of that– very impressed over here 🙂

    I’m happy to be your newest follower and am hoping that you’ll visit my BRAND NEW blog and follow me back!

    Thanks a million 🙂
    Sarah @ Dotted Line Crafts

    Reply
  14. LaVoice says:

    What a wonderful idea. You really did a super job creating your lace top. Some people just got all all the smart.

    Reply
    • Rebekah says:

      Thanks so much! I’m so glad you liked the shirt-it’s really a crowd pleaser!

      Reply
      • margie says:

        Rebekah

        I am looking for simple pattern to make “cardigan” sort of, lacy flowy to cover up. I have 8 lacy curtains, very soft, kind of like tablecloth. I see the thing I would like on portly women, which I am not. I

        Reply
  15. Krista says:

    Found you on Thingamajig Thursday…What a great idea. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  16. Misty @Creative Itch says:

    What a fun way to reuse those lace curtains! Thanks for sharing @’Sew Cute Tuesday’!

    Reply
  17. Jennifer Juniper says:

    I love that your first instinct was to make a shirt out of curtains! A girl after my own heart 🙂 This cape style shirt is really in right now, I have a few and I call them my “disco” shirts. Great tute.

    jen

    Reply
  18. Alida says:

    Love the tutorial – very easy to follow!

    Thank you so much for sharing last week on Thingamajig Thursday! Hope to see you again this week!

    Alida
    radcrafter.com

    Reply
    • Rebekah says:

      Thanks so much Alida! I’m so glad that you liked the shirt and the tutorial. This is a great way to start a morning!

      Reply
  19. Geraldine says:

    I agree. Love using curtains. The best part, your only limited by your imagination, and with sooo mu ch fabric to work with, ideas are endless. I buy thrift or use fabric given to me, that way i get “my moneys worth plus”. Smirk.

    Reply
  20. Mary says:

    This is Great idea…something else you can do at the point of the stays – you can cut a oval ( like a button hole & run ribbonm as a tie belt. You can tie in front or back. 1″ or so works great.

    Reply
  21. Sindhu says:

    Great job! I’m off to buy lace now…. 😀

    Reply
  22. LC Yeang says:

    Good idea! I have some lace fabric somewhere. Will definitely try it. Have Pin it to my board. http://pinterest.com/aniwasabi/

    Reply
  23. Linda G says:

    Cool idea! I have scoliosis=deformed spine= so I look for styles to help “hide” my uneven back view. Now to find the lace.

    Reply
  24. Essie says:

    Very creative, cute, and fashionable…not to mention easy! Very Scarlett O’Hara-like, making something to wear out of whatever you have. I think Rhett would approve. I’m definitely giving this a try. Thanks for your instructions.

    Reply
  25. Happygirl says:

    Love this, had a gorgeous over the top oval lace tablecloth, not any more!!!!! I have received countless admiring comments and also were did I buy its!!! OH now looking for more vintage lace for me to use…. As a wheelchair user it is just so flattering. Thank you, love my rocknroll also.

    Reply
  26. Sandy says:

    The idea is great, with lace. Sew up a lace top for breast feeding coverlet very light, airy, and stylish,. just love it. Thanks for sharing your ideas on AllFreeSewing’

    Reply
  27. Robyn says:

    This sounds ideal for the hot summers where I live in Australia. It’s been linked in a thread on the forum I’m a member of so expect a few visits :). Simple and stylish is always good, especially when frugal is also in the mix!

    Reply
  28. Balduvina says:

    Thanks for so much.

    Balduvina.

    Reply
  29. Ann says:

    I have been looking for an easy lace “shirt” to make out of my Gramma’s old table cloth (all I have left of her) and this is perfect! Thank you!!

    Reply
  30. Sharon Gilbey says:

    Thank you for detailing how to make your lovely top I purchased some stretch lace for wedding in Nov, & I really like what you have created. Can you do this design by sewing by hand & not a machine?

    Reply

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