How to Dress Up a Sweatshirt

If you are using a new sweatshirt, it will need to be washed first to allow for any shrinkage. Wash any new material pieces that you plan on using too. A sweatshirt you already have can also be dressed up for a change. Now you can start creating.

Add the lace. Measure from the bottom seam of the neckline, to midway across the shoulder seam. This will be your reference point to pin the lace down. Fold the end of the lace in by 1/4 of an inch. Starting at the back of the shirt, pin the lace down, using the reference measurement (i2 inches from the neckline). Continue all the way around the neckline, pinning the lace down as you go. When you get to the back where you started, cut the lace off, leaving the extra 1/4 inch to fold under. Now, slip the neckhole over the free arm of your machine, with the bottom of the shirt facing away from the machine. Sew the lace down, using either a straight stitch, or a decorative zig zag. Remove the pins and you're ready to add more 'frills" if you would like to.

Add an applique. You can use a store bought applique, or you can cut shapes out of fabric. Pin the applique or your cut out on the front of the sweatshirt. Sewing on your own cut out shapes is easy to do. Just pin them to the front of the sweatshirt. There is no need to hem them first. Sew a straight stitch seam, 1/2 inch in from the fabric's edge, all the way around the cut out. Each time the shirt is washed, this edge will fray a little adding even more creativity.

Add decorative buttons. Adding a couple of different colored buttons to your shirt gives it a stylish effect as well. Hand sew a row of buttons in the space between the neckline and the lace ruffle. Add as many as appeals to you, in mix or match colors.