I had the top half of a t-shirt (the bottom was used for a different project) and a couple of balls of crochet cotton. Now I have one new shirt.

I have been wanting to try this for a while.

Step 1: Materials:

Top of a t-shirt
Crochet cotton
Crochet hook that is the appropriate size for your thread

Optional:
Pointed crochet hook--designed to allow the thread to be drawn through the fabric
Fabric dye

Step 2: Start

Crochet a round of single crochet around the bottom edge of the t-shirt. My thread and hook were very small so I made my stitches about an eighth of an inch apart.

After the first round, I switched to a non-pointed hook--it was much more gentle on my fingers.

6 rows of single crochet
1 row of double crochet/chain 1 in every other stitch (this created a row to hold a drawstring)
4 rows of single crochet
1 row of double crochet/chain 1 in every other stitch
6 rows of single crochet

Step 3: Continuing

I wanted to wear this shirt with leggings so I wanted this to be a tunic length. I wanted the design to be very simple so I worked the piece using multiple rows of double crochet. Each row was worked in the space between the previous row's double crochet.

For the first round of the scalloped edge, start in the space between 2 of the double crochet. Single crochet in the space. Skip one space. Five double crochet in the next space. Skip one space. Single crochet in the next space. Repeat all the way around.

For the second round, slip stitch until you get to the middle of the 5 double crochet. Triple crochet into the middle of the next cluster of double crochet. Chain one. Triple crochet in the same stitch. Repeat until you have 7 triple crochet with 6 chains between them. Single crochet in the middle of the next double crochet cluster. Repeat the triple crochet clusters all the way around.

The third row is intended to accentuate the shape of the scallops. Start at the single crochet of the previous row. Make 3 double crochet in each of the middle four chain 1 spaces. Single crochet in the next single crochet of the previous round. Repeat all the way around.

The last row is intended to give the bottom edge a bit of reinforcement. I did a single crochet in each stitch of the previous round. To help the edge lay flat, I skipped the single crochet between the scallops and I did 2 stitches in the stitches of the middle of each scallop.

Step 4: Finishing Touches

I made two twisted cord drawstrings. They had to be rather thin in order to fit into the double crochet bands. I weighted the ends of the drawstrings with some metal beads.

I am still debating whether or not to darken the lace. I have a couple of dyes I have been considering. I am also considering something less drastic such as tea staining.