Make a plain T-shirt into something special!

In this easy tutorial, learn how to lower the neckline of a T-shirt, and how to embellish on an embroidery machine. Fun, fast and unique!
MY FAVE SEWING TOOLS: My sewing machine - Babylock Sofia 2
My serger - an old Kenmore
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Music: Psychedelicacy by Doug Maxwell from the KZbin Audio Library.

[@auburnandgrey4457]

Would love a video showing how to make a "boat neckline". Mature women look good in something modest and more classic like a straight neckline.

[@CatherineSews]

That might be a really fun way to make over a T-shirt! Let me think about it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@carilynjurgeson6178]

Love it! Can you believe my husband has used my embroidery machine??? He has bought packs of plain black and white shirts from Costco and put his own designs. He has put dolphins, sharks, spiders and a bulldog. I wish I had seen this video earlier...I would have been redoing my necklines long ago. TFS

[@katlambert3649]

OMG!! A Seamstress who irons her seams! That’s the way I was taught. It makes all the difference. It makes “homemade” look store bought. Kudos to you. I subscribed. ☘️

[@lindap9079]

Personally, I like a jewel neckline, but your make over is amazing.

[@lucilledaub5991]

I love your bee it looks extra nice on your tee shirt.

[@JoytoWorld]

Enjoyed seeing how you did all these steps.

[@belieftransformation]

Great tutorial; thanks for sharing!

[@claytoncrawford]

Dear Ms. Catherine Sews.... EXCELLENT!!... My Mom came from a generation that she owned one of those 8-hundred pound sewing machines, so I totally get it, and hopefully, YOU won't my humor when I harness the expression...Be Calm and Sew On.....Always in Good Taste... CHEERS!!

[@CatherineSews]

Cheers to you too, Clayton! Thanks for checking out my channel. :-)

[@MsGorobin]

Catherine, how do you prevent the hemline from curling so that you don't have to iron it down after every wash? Thanks again for sharing your techniques which I find to be so useful!

[@CatherineSews]

A hem of at least 2cm or 3/4 of an inch should prevent rolling.

[@pattypage2108]

I used your directions and got 8 tee shirts all altered to fit! Now I have 2 blouses that fit except the shoulder and sleeves drop down below where my shoulder is. I also want to make the sleeves shorter. this is a blouse that fits over my head. Can I do your technique to fit the shoulders and shorten the sleeves?

[@CatherineSews]

Wonderful to hear, Patty! Yes, do the same thing to your blouses. It should work great!

[@daisyy99]

Very cute. The embroidery and lowered neckline make it look much more expensive and chic.

[@QueenAmethyst55]

Looks amazing & you always make me smile when you describe necklines you don't like 😊

[@CatherineSews]

Haha, thanks for the very cute comment. It made me smile right back!

[@yoursewingteacher1729]

Thanks for the great video. I have an old Janome MC9700, but it doesn’t have to many programmed images. I’d love to get it so I can upload images from the computer. My students love to use it for names and monograms. I’ll share this video with my students next year and them remake one of their old tees.

[@CatherineSews]

Yes, I'm thinking of encouraging my students to use this machine more, when my gr 9s make tshirts and also when the grade 10s make hoodies. I really hope your students enjoy this video! You could also show them my most popular video, how to resize a tshirt. They can start with one that's way too big and end up with a new favorite. :-)

[@esperansaloughran693]

Yep! This is you!

[@CHrisPetE056]

Just adorable. I love the bee 🐝. And the neckline makeover. Just fabulous.

[@AnneluvsKatz]

Too bad your bee was off center… live and learn. Even teachers❣️. Great job on that neckline. Thanks for the 75%tip… never knew that (I don’t sew all that much).

[@AsburyArtist]

Hi Catherine, You had a KZbin about transferring a graphic to a different t-shirt but I can’t find it anymore just when I had all my ducks in a row!! 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆 Did you take it down for some reason or is it still out there and I just can’t find it?

[@CatherineSews]

Was it this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqKmZ6SVfbuibqssi=GPI4td89rXibC69B&t=800

[@annseabolt6645]

I have been sewing all my life and when T-shirt type knits became available I really don’t remember how I discovered how to put a neckband on but I did and patterns that would show using a facing I would put a neckband on like you did. Like you I don’t like how high a “traditional” T-shirt neckline is. If I find a T-shirt I like I usually lower the neckline. I’m large chested and I find when lowering the neckline it sometimes seems to make the chest feel a little looser, which is great for me.

[@bekesize]

Love the idea of cutting the length to make the new neck band!

[@CatherineSews]

Yes! Use what you've got. Thanks for watching and commenting. I'm so glad to have you on board!

[@lucilledaub5991]

I love the bee design.cute tee shirt.

[@renepellissier2193]

love the tee!

[@lorrainedempsey3320]

I really like your finished t-shirt, with that jacket. It looks great!!!

[@LikeMonika25]

Oh, wow! that is amazing machine! I only have the regular machine and I want this one, lol. Thanks for sharing my friend!

[@CatherineSews]

Isn't that cool? Even my Babylock Sophia2 can do some beautiful embroidery. It's a lovely option to have.

[@LikeMonika25]

@@CatherineSews yep, it’s absolutely cool!👍

[@elizharber3564]

✨🧵

[@eileenfb1948]

❤❤❤

[@ChowScience]

Who knew machines were so sophisticated!

[@CatherineSews]

I know, right? Once it's set up, all you do is push START, and then watch the pattern develop before your eyes. It's kind of mesmerizing.

[@sandybush1661]

Couldn't you just resew the hem back on, the way you do jeans, to save the original hem? I really enjoy your videos, especially the remakes and upcycles. Great job!

[@CatherineSews]

Yes, you could! That's a really good idea! (Duh! I wish I'd thought of that!)

[@janielawson6553]

Love your videos!! I don't have a serger (yet) so is it necessary to finish the raw edges of the t-shirt material before hemming? Thanks

[@CatherineSews]

Janie, you can get away with not serging the edge on knits, especially if you use a double needle because it gives you a zigzag on the back. I use one in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGOzkHaLYt-HbKs

[@jimlawson2613]

@@CatherineSews Thank you, Catherine! I actually found a used one on FB marketplace. Now watching your serger video!

[@judih.8754]

Awesome and easy to do!

[@theresadillon3471]

What chalk do you use to mark your material?

[@CatherineSews]

@@theresadillon3471 For that one, I probably used tailors wax, but now I just use a scrap of soap!

[@theresadillon3471]

Just a plain bar of bath soap? Do you shave it to get it thin and kinda point?

[@CatherineSews]

@@theresadillon3471 I use a white soap like Dove and when the bar is just a thin wafer, I just put it aside to dry off and then it’s perfect! Works like a charm and smells good too!

[@theresadillon3471]

Oh ok, Thank you. I just love your videos and have saved most of them. They are so easy to follow and so helpful. 🤎

[@niksand1713]

Real nice

[@IMOO1896]

Great result

[@Maplecook]

Yay! Another KS vid!!

[@CatherineSews]

Hahaha, it's CS!!

[@Maplecook]

@@CatherineSews I'm an idiot!!!1

[@CatherineSews]

@@Maplecook Haha, no problem. If you want you can just edit it and we'll start over!

[@Maplecook]

@@CatherineSews I don't mind displaying my idiocy for the world to see. It's neither the first, nor the last time I've been a public moron. hahahaha

[@CatherineSews]

@@Maplecook Lol, I thought you might say something like that!