Simple to Chic T-shirt Remakes

Simple to Chic T-Shirt Remakes, Nancy Zieman, Eileen Roche

Simple to Chic T-shirt Remakes

Simple to Chic T-Shirt Remakes, Nancy Zieman, Eileen Roche

The machine embroidery designs you’ll see below not only decorate, but transform an everyday knit shirt into a wow shirt. Eileen Roche, the brainchild of this technique, joins Nancy on Sewing With Nancy to take embroidery to the next level. The second of a 2-part series, Simple to Chic T-shirt Remakes, focuses on in-the-hoop T-shirt remakes, using a two-part design.

Prepare a T-shirt for a Remake

It’s incredible what an embroidery machine can do, once you give it instructions! Start with a basic knit T-shirt. Then, stitch creative embroideries, plus embroideries that modify the neckline shape. The result is so chic.

  • Fold the shirt front in half, matching the shoulder seams.
  • Mark the center front with tape or pins. (Tape is featured in the photo below. Later Nancy shows you the option of using pins to mark the center front. Use whichever technique is best for you.)

How to remake a T-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

  • Hoop a water-soluble adhesive stabilizer in a 5″ x 7″ hoop.
  • Score the paper of the stabilizer, within the hooped area, with the tip of a pin or seam ripper. Remove the paper covering.

How to remake a T-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

  • Stitch color 1, a placement guide, directly on the stabilizer. The T-shaped stitches indicate the neckline and center front of the T-shirt. The placement guide is offset to accommodate the larger embroidery design.

How to remake a T-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

  • Remove the hoop from the machine and place it on the narrow end of an ironing board, with the top of hoop at the point of the ironing board.
  • First, place the shirt hem over the board and hoop. Align the shirt center with the vertical stitch line and the neckline at the horizontal line.
  • Carefully smooth the fabric onto the sticky-backed stabilizer.

…..You can easily release and reposition the fabric if there are wrinkles.

How to remake a T-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

  • Nest the shirt above the hoop and transport the hoop to the machine.
  • Attach the hoop to the embroidery machine.

Stitch the Decorative Embroidery

  • Stitch color 2, the tack down stitch, a basting stitch that temporarily holds the stitching field in place. After the embroidery is complete, it will be easy to remove.
  • Stitch the decorative elements, the design and eyelets—colors 2–7.
  • Stitch the second to the last color—color 8—placement marks. Notice the placement marks to the left side of the T-shirt’s center front. These marks are temporary, yet vital to aligning the next design.

Simple to Chic T-Shirt transformations/Nancy Zieman/Eileen Roche/Sewing With Nancy

 …..At this point the center of the design is embroidered with additional design motifs on the left-shirt front. A second hooping is needed in order to stitch the design motifs on the right-shirt front. Not to worry, it will be easier that you think!

Stitch the Neckline Transformation

  • Place a 6″ x 8″ rectangle of prewashed tricot interfacing fusible side UP over the center of the shirt, extending the interfacing ½” above the ribbing.
  • Stitch the next thread color, which is the neckline transformation. The stitching will be spot-on!

How to transform a t-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

Rehoop the Shirt and Line Up the Design

  • Remove the hoop from the machine; then remove the shirt from the hoop. Trim away the excess stabilizer.
  • Hoop another layer of water-soluble adhesive stabilizer in the hoop.
  • Score the paper of the stabilizer within the hooped area with the tip of a pin or seam ripper. Remove the paper covering.
  • Select the second design of this embroidery; it’s a separate file.
  • Stitch color 1 directly onto the stabilizer, this time the embroidery stitches two placement marks.

How to remake a t-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

  • To achieve perfect placement, use PAL, the Perfect Alignment Laser. Place the hoop on a flat surface and turn on PAL. Align the beams with the top horizontal mark and the vertical markings.

How to remake a t-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

  • Place the shirt over the stabilizer.
  • Align the alignment marks on the shirt, using the beam of the laser as a guide.

….. If you do not have PAL, manually align the placement marks. Either way works, but the “laser-liner upper” is an easy and exact way of aligning designs.


How to remake a t-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

  • Insert the hooped shirt back onto the embroidery unit.
  • Tape the interfacing toward the stitched design to keep it out of the way of the embroidery.
  • Stitch the remainder of the second design.

How to remake a t-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

  • Remove the hoop from the embroidery unit and the hoop from the stabilizer.
  • Trim away the excess stabilizer. Remove the basting stitches of the tack down and placement guides.

How to remake a t-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

Finish the Neckline

In Part One Nancy detailed how to transform and finish the neckline. Watch online (the first episode of this series) as Eileen and Nancy demonstrate this technique.How to remake a t-shirt with machine embroidery, Nancy Zieman, Eileen Roche

Side Hemline Makeovers

Necklines aren’t the only area where makeovers can occur. Using comparable processes, watch how side hemlines can make a fashion statement. The embroidery and transformation are comparable to the neckline technique.

How to remake a t-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

How to remake a t-shirt with machine embroidery Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche

 

Simple To Chic T-shirt Remakes, How to Embroider a T-Shirt, Nancy Zieman Eileen RocheWatch Simple to Chic T-shirt Remakes Part One and Part Two on Sewing With Nancy online.

To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.

Simple to Chic T-Shirt Remakes Part Two as Seen on Sewing With Nancy

 

Create Exciting T-shirt Transformations with this Unique Embroidery Collection

Simple to Chic Nancy Zieman Eileen Roche T-shirt remakes Sewing With Nancy

Simple to Chic T-shirt Remakes package contains:

  • 8 neckline designs
  • 7 sleeve designs
  • 9 hemline side seam designs
  • Step-by-step instructions for T-shirt remakes
  • 24 designs that fit in 5″ x 7″ hoop and two bonus jumbo designs

To be the randomly selected winner of  Simple to Chic T-shirt Remakes DVD from Nancy’s Notions, leave a comment below telling us which of these designs is your favorite:

Simple to Chic T-Shirt Remakes with Nancy Zieman and Eileen Roche

Screen shot 2016 01 04 at 2.40.22 PM

Nancy Zieman's Giveaway Winner

 

The random winner of the New! Free-Motion Framework book, from the June 5th post is E. Watson.

Her comment is:

I like looking through all the fabrics as I select the fabric I’m going to use. However, it can be a bit daunting to decide which fabrics to use, they’re all so pretty! :)

 

2Q==

 

Happy Sewing,

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC.

Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC

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34 Comments

  • Patti
    June 12, 2018

    I like the paisley like shirt design on the black the best. This is a great way to dress up a plain t-shirt. Also if the shirt is too tight at the hips, using the embroidery on the sides adds flair to the shirt there as well.

  • BevM
    June 12, 2018

    I love all of these t-shirt embellishments! I especially like the fifth on gray. I like the side slit details, too..

  • Marsha
    June 12, 2018

    Love this!!! This would be perfect for my daughter. She has a sensory issue and only wants to wear t-shirts. I would rather she wear something more feminine. This would be a great way to “dress up” a plain shirt, and keep us both happy!

  • Susan
    June 12, 2018

    Like the white shirt without the tiestrings as it has a quiet elegance about it.

  • Susan Spiers
    June 12, 2018

    I have often admired these T-shirt designs! Love the turquoise shirt with white designs – the side slit designs adds extra dimension! Thank you, Susan

  • Susan
    June 12, 2018

    The paisley design is my favorite…. playful but not to much !

    • Jackie
      June 12, 2018

      Great ideas for upcycling!

  • Peggy Bibb
    June 12, 2018

    Love the paisley design! Once again, they have digitized the design to make it easy. Thank you!!

  • Chris
    June 12, 2018

    What a beautiful way to transform an ordinary t-shirt into something elegant and chic! I think the black tee with the white embroidery is my favorite.

  • Verena Jones
    June 12, 2018

    The white shirt with the teal colored thread is stunning! Teal is my favorite color, reminding me of the Gulf of Mexico’s water from Destin, Fl to Panama City Beach, Fl!

  • Lee
    June 12, 2018

    All of these wonderful tee shirts would would be welcome in my closet!!! It would only make it more exciting if Nancy’s expertise and products helped ME create them!!!! I would wear them and make them as gifts proudly!!

  • Julie Kill
    June 12, 2018

    Paisley, paisley, paisley! I work with chemicals so I have to wear cottons to work, that means T-shirts and jeans. This would be a Godsend! I could learn how to customize my t-shirts and actually look dressed up! Thank you for these wonderful ideas!

  • Carol Pearson
    June 12, 2018

    These designs are all delightful. I will be reentering the workplace and will need some new clothes. Using these designs on some nice shirts will give me shirts to wear over slacks and under jackets. I’ve watched Nancy since she began her show and was truly saddened when she passed away. I’m so thankful that you are continuing her legacy.

  • Sue L
    June 12, 2018

    I like the pattern on the blue t-shirt that Eileen is wearing.

  • L Watson
    June 12, 2018

    I like the turquoise and white designs. I do like the last picture showing the designs on the side of the black shirt. I like the idea of getting a less expensive shirt and then making it your own by putting on a design yourself. Lots of fun!

  • Janet johnson
    June 12, 2018

    I love the first blue shirt. The design is lovely.

  • MoeWest
    June 12, 2018

    I like the design on the cover. This is a great way to make a plain t-shirt special.

  • Therall Pugliese
    June 12, 2018

    What a great selection of t-shirt transformations! They are all very unique. I especially like the white tee with the endless squares.

  • Doreen Linehan
    June 12, 2018

    I’d like to stitch all of them! I’d start with the first one. The blue t-shirt with the flower looks nice and simple.

  • Jane
    June 12, 2018

    I especially like the white shirt, bottom left. All are great and would be fun to make.

  • Debbie
    June 12, 2018

    I really think this transformation is a wonderful idea. I typically avoid tshirts because I don’t like the neckline. I love all the designs but the blue one with the paisley design is my favorite. I just love paisley and would love to try the side accent as well. Thank you for the opportunity.

  • Barbara
    June 12, 2018

    I tried to pick just one but I love them all. I will surely be getting the book & DVD. Can’t wait to dress up my plain t-shirts. The possibilities are endless with these designs.

  • Marilyn D.
    June 12, 2018

    I like the pink design that’s on the black T- shirt. I can see me wearing that.

  • Martha
    June 12, 2018

    I like the idea of the lace-up front with the designs that are equally balanced like “rectangles” on the two sides. I don’t have an embroidery machine, but this style format seems doable for me with sew-on woven/decorative ribbon.

  • Gail Beam
    June 12, 2018

    I love the lace up neckline!! I would like to see a lace up design for the sides of a jean jacket or sweatshirt.

  • Bonnye
    June 12, 2018

    I like all of the embroidery designs on the split neckline shirts.

  • E. Watson
    June 12, 2018

    I like the final black side view. 🙂

  • Clem
    June 12, 2018

    I really like the white one in the lower left corner! I have been wanting to try this since it first came out! I live in my t shirts. This would be fab for upgrading them!

  • Esther
    June 12, 2018

    Love #5. From a distance, the design looks like peacock feathers!

  • Clovis
    June 13, 2018

    All the designs are cool. Anyone of them would be great to make. Thanks for the chance to win.

  • Nanavan
    June 13, 2018

    Really love them all, but if forced to choose just one it is the white row 3, the first one. The one first featured at beginning of article.

  • Sandy Davis
    June 14, 2018

    My favorite is the white on black design, and I really like the paisley design, as well. What a fantastic way to transform a T-shirt! All are very beautiful & I’d be thrilled to make any of them. Thank you for the opportunity to win this package!

  • Sarah
    June 14, 2018

    I think the last shirt that is black with the design on the side looks nice and I like that it makes the shirt look a lot more rich.

  • Bonnie
    June 14, 2018

    Love the Bella design on the bright blue T-shirt! These designs are a beautiful accent for customizing an ordinary shirt. Thanks for the great giveaway.

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