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Upcycle Clothing with Freestanding Lace: Easy Embroidery Ideas to Refresh Denim, Tees, and More
Revive worn denim and boring tees with freestanding lace and turn tired clothes into fun, eye-catching favorites.
Are you bored with the same denim and plain shirts in your closet? Freestanding lace can quickly update your clothes by adding style, color, and fun to what you already own. It’s an easy way to refresh your look and create something unique.
Supplies
Check out the DBJJ team’s favorite supplies in the Designs by JuJu Amazon store. And for stabilizers and batting, Designs by JuJu+ has everything you need.
- Wash-away stabilizer
- Fray Check®
- Sewing machine
- Scissors, thread
- Old denim, cotton shirts, or T-shirts
- DBJJ designs used in this project:
If you’ve collected beautiful freestanding lace designs from JuJu but aren’t sure how to use them, try turning them into custom patches. Add bold lace accents to faded jeans, plain tees, or thrifted finds to give them a second chance. Upcycling your favorites or reinventing new pieces is easy and fun.
I’m going to update a child’s skirt using the Free Standing Lace Flowers 1. You can use any denim you have. If you have jeans with a hole, that works great. Or if you just want to add some color, grab your item and let’s get started.
First, pick the freestanding lace design you want to use and load it onto your machine. This design is from Free Standing Lace Hearts 3.
Hoop two layers of wash-away stabilizer and embroider the design.
Soak the finished lace in water for a few minutes, then let it dry.
These are from Free Standing Lace Flowers 1.
When the lace is dry, carefully trim off any loop used for hanging.
Place your dried lace on the denim and position it where you want it.
Pin in place.
Sew the lace onto the denim with matching thread.
After sewing, turn the fabric over. Carefully trim the material close to the stitches, making sure not to cut the threads. Add Fray Check to prevent the denim from fraying. If you prefer, you can leave the fabric untrimmed.
Cutting out the fabric adds a delicate, lacy touch.
Do you have a pair of jeans you thought were destined for the trash bin?
Give them new life with a stylish lace design for a shabby-chic look. For this project, I decided to hand-stitch the lace in place to partially cover a large hole, adding both charm and durability.
If you have a shirt that looks worn out, you can update the pocket for a fun refresh.
Start by choosing a freestanding lace design and loading it onto your machine. Choose a size that fits the pocket. Stitch the design, soak it in water, and let it dry.
Next, remove the pocket from the shirt. Center the lace design on the pocket and pin it in place. Sew the lace to the pocket, stitching close to the edges so it stays secure.
After you finish sewing, turn the pocket over and trim close to the stitches.
Finally, sew the pocket back onto the shirt. Now you have a new shirt with a fresh look!
Do you have old T-shirts you don’t wear anymore because you’re tired of them? Let’s give them new life with lace designs. Stitch a variety of designs. I used Free Standing Lace Flowers 1. Arrange the lace designs on the back of the T-shirt.
Once you like the layout, sew each design onto the shirt one at a time.
Be careful not to pull the fabric as you sew, and keep the front out of the way of the needle.
After sewing, check to make sure you like how it looks. If not, carefully remove the pieces and try again.
Next, turn the shirt inside out and trim each design close to the stitches.
Clean up any loose threads from the front and back.
Your old T-shirt now has a fresh new look!
To keep your creations looking great, wash the garments with lace patches in cold water on a gentle cycle, and avoid using bleach. It's best to lay them flat or hang them to dry. If needed, press with a cool iron to maintain the lace's appearance.
It’s incredibly rewarding and fun to breathe new life into old clothing. Please share your upcycled projects and ideas in the Designs by JuJu Embroidery Blessings Group on Facebook, or anywhere on social media using the hashtag #designsbyjuju. As always we love to see what you create. Remember your ideas may just inspire others to turn something old into something new!
