Dollar Store Fashion: Do-it-Yourself $3 Lace Dress!

So recently I've taken a little trip to the dollar store for some poor and creative inspiration. Let me tell you, I bought A LOT. Approximately $35 worth of stuff (granted everything was only $1.00).... So there will be a lot of crazy cool project coming up! 

First in my dollar store fashion project series is this cute little lace dress. It's relatively simple to do, but it does require BASIC sewing skills. Meaning you can either sew with a hand sewing needle, or you can sew a straight line on a sewing machine. I'll give you some quick sewing tips for you beginners who want some help along the way if you'd like to learn.

What you need:

• XL-XXXL Cotton Knit T-shirt (bought for $2 at Walgreens)
• Lace Doilies (bought a pair for $1 at the dollar store)
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine or a hand sewing needle and thread
• Measuring Tape
• A tank top for reference.

How to do it:

 
1. Cut sleeves and straight across under the collar. 
2. Measure the length of the top of you chest above your bust.
3. Cut the top the length of your chest. Be sure to cut equal amounts off from each side. Then gradually cut from the top to the side seam on an angle, until it blends with the side seam. 
4. Sew up the side seams. Meaning, where the arm holes use to be, you'll sew up.
5. Create the lace tank top front. To do so, take a tank top and lay it down flat. Lay the lace centered over neckline of the tank top. Cut out the shape to match the tank top neckline shape. The bottom of the lace section should end a little past your bust, you'll need a little extra in order to sew it to the shirt.
6. Attach the lace to the shirt. How you do that, you'll simply just need to sew a straight line across. The correct way to sew it so it looks good from the outside, is to sew "right sides together". Meaning which ever side you want to show from the outside, put them facing together. Then when sewing on your machine or with a hand sewing needle, leave about a 1/2" extra fabric from the line you sew. Make sure to backstitch your ends so it remains sewn.
7. Create the tank top back. In order to that, think about the shape you want to create. Draw it out if you'd like. Cut out the shape from the lace you'd like to create by folding it half length wise. Lay down the front of of dress with the back on top of it so you can match up where the straps on the front and back match. If you want the lace to dip down into the shirt like on mine, you'll need to cut out the shape in the shirt.
8. Sew the back lace to the shirt. Same way as the front.
9. Sew the front and back straps together. Make sure you sew it so the stitching doesn't show on the outside. Once again, make sure when you sew, right sides are together.

That's all there is to it! (I know it is a little more steps than my usual projects, but I thought I'd up the skill level a bit)

Try it out! Tell me how it goes. Send me a pic! Leave a comment if you have any questions and I'll try to help. Do you like it? Hate it? Let me know!