3.22.2008

Easy Peasy Sweater Recon

As I was getting dressed this morning, I thought "a yellow cardigan would go perfectly with this outfit." Unfortunately, I don't have one. Then, an old yellow pullover caught my eye. I used to love this sweater, but I haven't worn it since I spilled soy sauce down the front (I'd like to say that I'd had too much sake, but honestly, I spill stuff on myself all the time). It has probably been over a year since I last wore it. I grabbed it, did some quick alterations, and threw it on to run errands with Nate. I love getting new clothes that aren't actually new at all!

This is how I did it:

Start with a sweater that has seen better days.

Chop up the center.

Grab some bias tape.

Stitch that sucka!

Strategically cover soy sauce stains with doilies; add button to neckline.

Done! Wear your new sweater to the mall, where you will discover that a West Elm sofa you've been coveting for years is on massive, ridiculous sale. Order said sofa, go home and sit on your old ugly sofa with a big smile on your face.
All in all, it was a very successful day!

24 comments:

Barbara at Oodles and Oodles said...

This looks great! I may have to go ruin a sweater now!

sweetjessie said...

Wow - that looks great! Anthropologie will be very displeased if I start reinventing my old sweaters.

hanna said...

oh I love it, that came out great, I love the doilie detail, well done.
Hi I'm Hanna - (found you from doe-c-doe, I wonder who will win the fabric!!)

Paige said...

Wow - that is so cool!!

joanie said...

Looks great! Love the grey & yellow combo too.

jo2308 said...

I LOVE this so much! I agree with sweethessie - very Anthropologie (which is one of my favorite stores in the world so that's a BIG compliment) You're a very clever lady!

Anonymous said...

Did you create a button hole at the top? It looks like it's buttoned in one of the photos.

Rhiannon said...

I adore this cardigan - i've got a similar green jumper that needs this treatment asap!
But first... it sounds like a silly question but...

Do you stitch the bias tape on both the inside and outside of the sweater, or is it enough just to do the outside?

Thanks very much

Alli said...

Thanks for the comments! I decided to take the easy road and instead of putting in a button hole, I simply added a snap at the top and sewed a button over it. I did sew the bias tape to each side to prevent the sweater from fraying, but it might be okay attached to one side only. It would probably depend on the sweater.

Miriam said...

great idea. that's an awesome looking dress form. what brand is it?

Alli said...

Thanks, Miriam! The dress form is a vintage Acme that I picked up on Ebay. I absolutely love it - it is extremely easy to use and it looks so pretty in my craft room.

debra cooper said...

I did this this past fall with a sweater I've had forever, still liked, but never wore. I ironed a contrasting ribbon in half lengthwise instead of bias tape. I like it better now, but your sweater is the cutest ever! I swear it looks like it came straight out of an Anthropologie catalog. Hey, and didn't I read somewhere that that soft buttery yellow is really hot right now?? ;-)

amy t sharp said...

love it!!!

Ansley Bleu said...

Super cute!

Miss Grace said...

How do you know that the sweater will hang right as a cardigan? Or do you just figure that soy sauce stains, etc. mean that it's worth taking the chance?

Super cute, btw.

rebecca said...

this is so awesome. Just found your blog through whip up and I'm glad I did...you are really creative!

Julie Andrea said...

You are amazing! Can't wait to show this to mum. I am ashamed to say that she and I are the queen and princess of slopping stuff on ourselves. I have no idea why, I innocently declare that I have a hole in my bottom lip. hee hee Thanks for the awesome tip!
sundayschild1966(at)yahoo(dot)com

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Wow, beautiful job! I'm inspired to go through my own old sweaters now. I'll be linking to this as well.

FinnyKnits said...

FANtastic. Seriously. With the amount of spilling I do, I will have one hundred adorable cardigans.

nikkishell said...

Fab refashion :)

brnh said...

Featured on How To--Craft Magazine and Green Carnival!?! Congratulations!

It's exciting to see you pop up in my reader on other blogs. :-)

Alli said...

Thank you, everyone! I'd love to see your own sweater refashions. I'm blown away by the positive response that this sweater has gotten - you all are wonderful!

katia said...

wonderful idea! i'll do that, and add you to favourites!
happy everything
katia

disa said...
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