Free sewing project: Polo Shirt for Tweens

Pretty Up a Polo Shirt

Materials Needed:

One Polo Shirt
2 Yards of 1" wide Double-Edged Flat Lace Trim
5" x 7" Remnant of Coordinating Fabric (we used cotton eyelet)
Straight Pins
Scissors
Thread
Hand Sewing Needle
Sewing Machine
Tape Measure
Ruler
Pencil

Getting Everything Ready:

A little preparation goes a long way – getting your polo shirt, trim and fabric ready ahead of time makes everything much easier to work with and you’ll get a better result. Take the time to do the following:

Step 1. If you are using a brand-new polo shirt, wash and dry it ahead of time. This will pre-shrink the shirt, rather than shrinking after you’ve sewn on all of the embellishments. If you’re using a shirt you’ve already worn, you won’t have to do this – chances are it’s already been through the laundry.

Step 2. Iron your polo shirt, especially the collar, sleeves and front. It’s easier to attach trims when everything is smooth and flat.

Step 3. Iron the lace trim and the remnant of fabric. Use a steam setting and blast the steam while ironing, which will pre-shrink the trim and fabric. Since the trim and fabric are so small, this will work fine.

Adding Lace Trim to the Collar

Step 1. With your tape measure, measure the outer edge of the collar, from point to point. Add 1” to this measurement. Cut a length of lace trim this total measurement.
Step 2. Turn back each end of the lace 1/2”, and use straight pins to pin them in place.
Step 3. With a hand needle and matching thread, hand stitch the ends, being careful to catch the raw edges of the lace. Use very small stitches so that they blend in with the lace and don’t show from the right side.
Step 4. Press the finished ends of the lace.
Step 6. Using a regular straight stitch on your sewing machine, stitch the lace to the collar, stitching as close to the edge of the lace as possible.
Step 7. Trim the thread ends close to the collar, and then press the stitching smooth.

Adding Lace Trim to the Sleeves
Step 1. With your tape measure, measure the lower edge of one sleeve. Start at the underarm seam and work your way around, until you get back to the seam. Add 1 1/2” to this measurement. Cut two lengths of lace trim this total measurement.
Step 2. Turn back one end of each length of lace 1/2”, using straight pins to pin them in place.
Step 3. With a hand needle and matching thread, hand stitch the ends, being careful to catch the raw edges of the lace. Use very small stitches so that they blend in with the lace and don’t show from the right side.
Step 4. Press the finished ends of the lace.
Step 5. Line up the raw edge of the lace with the underarm seam of the sleeve. With this as your starting point, place the lace trim along the edge of the sleeve, overlapping the lace and the sleeve fabric about 1/4”. Pin the lace to the sleeve as you go, until you get back to the sleeve seam.
Step 6. You will have a little excess lace trim; work this excess around the sleeve until you run out of lace and the finished edge overlaps about 1” over the other end of the lace.
Step 7. Using a regular straight stitch on your sewing machine, stitch the lace to the sleeve, stitching as close to the edge of the lace as possible.
Step 8. Using a hand needle and matching thread, hand stitch the finished end to the lace underneath. Trim all of the thread ends, and then press the stitching smooth.

Adding a Lace-Trimmed Fabric Pocket

Step 1. Place the fabric remnant on a flat surface, with the WRONG side of the fabric facing you.
Step 2. With a ruler and pencil, draw a 4” X 4” square on the fabric. Cut out the square.
Step 3. Still with the WRONG side of the fabric facing you, fold back each edge of the square 1/2”. As you fold each edge, press it with a hot iron to hold the crease. This square is the pocket.
Step 4. Cut a 4” length of lace trim. Turn back each end of the lace 1/2”, and use straight pins to pin them in place.
Step 5. With a hand needle and matching thread, hand stitch the ends, being careful to catch the raw edges of the lace. Use very small stitches so that they blend in with the lace and don’t show from the right side.
Step 6. Press the finished ends of the lace.
Step 7. Hold the pocket with the RIGHT side facing you. Starting at one end, place the lace trim along one edge of the pocket, overlapping the lace and pocket fabric about 1/4”. Pin the lace to the pocket as you go, being sure to keep both layers smooth and even. Work your way along the pocket edge until you reach the other end.
Step 8. Using a regular straight stitch on your sewing machine, stitch the lace to the pocket, stitching as close to the edge of the lace as possible.
Step 9. Trim the thread ends close to the pocket, and then press the stitching smooth.
Step 10. With the RIGHT side of the pocket facing you and the lace-trimmed edge at the top, place the pocket on the shirt front. When you get the placement where you want it, pin the pocket to the shirt front; be careful not to pin all the way through the back of the shirt.
Step 11. Using a regular straight stitch on your sewing machine and starting at one lace-trimmed upper corner, stitch the pocket to the shirt front, stitching as close to the pocket edge as possible. Sew along one side until you reach the lower corner.
Step 12. When you get to the corner, leave the needle in the fabric and raise the presser foot of your sewing machine. With the needle acting as a hinge, turn the pocket and shirt so that the lower edge of the pocket is positioned to be sewn. This is called pivoting, which lets you sew a crisp corner with one continuous row of stitching.
Step 13. Put the presser foot back down and stitch the lower edge of the pocket to the shirt. When you get to the next corner, pivot again. Stitch the other side of the pocket to the shirt. Leave the upper edge of the pocket open.
Step 14. Trim off excess threads and then press the pocket stitching. Your prettied-up polo shirt is now finished and ready to wear!