Sequined t-shirts are quite a staple in most women’s holiday—New Year in particular— wardrobes. However, they are a bit on the pricey side when you purchase them fresh off the retail racks. It also becomes difficult to rationalize paying for something so expensive that you might only use once a year. So what better way to avoid spending a fortune than making your own sequined t-shirts?
Sequins can easily transform a plain, boring old shirt into something fancy and party-appropriate. So why not rummage through some of your old clothes and redesign them into something holiday-ready with sequins? Here are a few suggestions you may consider in creating your own sequined t-shirts:
Sequin Collared T-shirt
Spruce up your white v-neck shirt and make it go from plain and casual to fancy and party-ready!
Materials needed:
A plain white v-neck shirt
1 yard of gold sequin trim
Gold thread (or at least something that has a color close to the trim)
Needle
Instructions:
Place the end of the sequin trim on the part where the collar makes the V shape. Stitch the trim onto the collar by poking through the sequin holes. Continue until the entire collar is covered in sequin trim. Overlap the ends slightly and cut the excess trim.
DIY Sequin Phrase
Materials needed:
Plain shirt
Sequin trim
Needle and thread
Fabric glue
Marker
Scissors
Print out of your phrase
Instructions:
First, print out the word or phrase you want to appear on your shirt. Make sure the print-out is the same size as you want it to come out. Using scissors or a cutter, create a stencil out of your print out. Use a marker to trace the middle of your stencil. Put some fabric glue on the left side of the marker outline and set your sequin trim on top of it. Put some fabric glue on the right side of the marker outline, then make a u-turn at the end of your phrase or word to trace it backwards with your sequin trim. Feel free to make them overlap a bit. When you reach the end, cut the excess trim and glue the ends in place. Once the glue sets in, secure your sequin trim by going over it with a needle and some thread.
Sequin Stripe Tee
An embellished shirt that you can wear not only to fancy events, but on casual days as well.
Materials needed:
A gray shirt
Scissors
Black sequin trim
Masking tape
Fabric glue
Needle and thread
Instructions:
Using some masking tape, mark or outline the area where you want to place the sequins—maybe straight down the shirt, about a little over an inch wide. Lay out your sequin trim leaving around half an inch on the end. Apply a small amount of fabric glue every few inches. When you’ve filled in the entire area with sequins, let it dry. Although fabric glue is meant to hold through wearing and washing, it is best to reinforce the embellishments by stitching them. You don’t necessarily need to stitch per sequin, just enough to keep the entire row in place. Tuck the ends in for a clean finish.
See how easy it is to create your own sequined t-shirts? Feel free to share more DIY ideas below!