DIY Lace Cover Up

heather handmade sewing

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Learn how to sew a DIY lace cover up with any lace fabric to wear over your swimming suit. It’s a great sewing project to enjoy at the pool or the beach!

I have had this beautiful crocheted lace fabric for years. I often thought about using it to make a dress, but I could never find the right pattern. It just sat in my stash waiting for me.

After making a DIY swimsuit cover up earlier this year, I realized how easy and fun they were to make. That one matches one swimming suit, so I made a DIY lace cover up to match my other swimming suit!

diy lace cover up

This sewing project is great for confident beginners since it’s almost all straight lines. It’s a couple of French seams, hems, and one casing. Lace can be trickier to sew, but it’s a great way to stretch your sewing skills!

Do you love to sew projects in the summer? Try some of these!

diy lace cover up

diy lace cover up

supplies

When looking for lace to use, look for a lace fabric that is stronger and will hold up to wear. It will not be lined or sewn to another fabric, so it should be sturdy enough by itself.

I chose to use a crocheted lace fabric that I had, and it worked beautifully.

lace fabric

Measure around your widest part and multiply by 1.5. Take that number and divide it by 2. Cut two rectangles with that width and 36 inches tall.

cut two rectangles

Cut one rectangle in half the long ways (center front). Cut two triangles out of the top center to create a neckline. A 4 inch wide by 12 inch tall triangle is a good size to shoot for.

cut one in half and cut neckline

With right sides together clip the two fronts to the one back together. The shoulders should match up along the top with the neckline area open in the middle. Clip the sides from the bottom halfway up the side.

Clips are easier than pins to use with lace.

clip sides and shoulders together

Sew a French seam to finish the edges of the seams.

Clip the fabric at the top of the side seam where the armhole starts to open it for a hem.

sew French seams

Sew a double rolled hem on all unfinished edges like the armholes, center fronts and neckline, and the hem. This was the longest process, but sewing the hem is not that hard.

hem all sides

Take the 1/2 inch single fold bias tape and pin it onto the cover up at the bottom of the armhole. Pin it from center front, around the back, and around to the other center front. The two raw edges should face the wrong side of the lace on the inside.

I found it was easiest to follow the lace pattern to make sure I was keeping the bias tape level.

Sew the bias tape to the lace by sewing on each side close to the fold. Do not sew the short side closed at the center front.

sew casing

Put a safety pin on the edge of the drawstring. Slip the safety pin into the casing created by the bias tape. Thread the drawstring all the way through the bias tape casing.

insert drawstring

Once the drawstring is inside the casing pull it even on each side and tie a big knot at each end so that it can’t be pulled out.

tie knot on both ends

Pull the drawstring in and distribute the lace evenly. Put the DIY lace cover up on and tie the drawstring in a knot to keep it on.

diy lace cover up

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!

diy lace cover up
heather sewing

I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather

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