I found this sweater at the Community Aide store for $1.50. As you can see with the before it's not a cardigan. But I'm trying to do only cardigans soooo I made it into one! How? See my step by step below.
I used frogs for the closures. I'm not sure that's what they're called. I then lined the new opening and the neckline with red loopy trim.
I really liked it paired it with this red and white belt and crochet blouse from F21. I bought the purse at the thrift store this morning. Love it.
1. Cut two pieces of twill tape or grosgrain ribbon 3 inches longer than your front.
2. Cut up the middle of the sweater.
3. Fold over opening 3/4" on each side.
4. Sew your twill tape or grosgrain ribbon over the raw edge of sweater.
5. Add red trim to front and neckline.
6. Sew in frogs.
Done.
35 {comments}:
Very nifty. It's so detailed and I think all the various ideas work really well together.
This is so adorable! Where did you get these frogs, they are amazing!
I got them at my local fabric outlet. They have all kinds of overstocked goodies. I'm actually pretty lucky to have it so close to me. It's just down the street.
Here's a place where you can buy them:
http://www.mjtrim.com/Catalog/Category/894510.aspx
I bought mine for only 2 for a $1 at the outlet. But they are sometimes about $3-$4 each which is (to me) a bit pricey.
Perhaps you can find some on etsy for cheaper.
I don't think that you should limit yourself to cardigans. But, if you can do all cardigans for 30 days I'll be pretty impressed.
I'm always impressed.
love the frogs!
That sweater is being pretty lucky cause picked by you:) lovely trim! I wish I have something like this one right now.
That turned out adorable! I love that purse too, lucky!! Nice job! :)
When you cut a sweater like that, up the center, how much bigger than you should it be? Like if I wear a L, should I be shopping for XL sweaters if I want them to close up the whole way?
Yours is totally cute! YAY for sweater surgery month!
It's adorable! I'm excited for this month, Kathleen!
Oh super darling! I'm loving your embellished knit month. So excited for all of the knits to come. This is so especially cute. Its has a rather british air to it. Darling idea!
Cute Kathleen. I like the blue/red/white combination!
Love it!
These posts are so darn cool. You have a very visual imagination.
Why all cardigans? Just curious.
okay, for whatever reason i can't fathom sewing a sweater with anything other than...yarn. so enlighten me--what kind of thread do you use? what size needle? does it really just depend on the thickness of the knit?
So classy!
Great! I love how you styled this cardi too. (I want your shoes!)
GORGEOUS!!! I love those frogs!! I am literally waiting with baited breath everyday to see the next cardigan you are going to create. I am really loving this feature.
those frogs are the cutest stinking things ever!! I love the sweater :)
Love it, but did i miss why the tape/ribbon needs to be 3 inches longer than the sweater?
You are a genius. End of story.
This is so great! I love love love this! Very nautical looking.
I love those frogs, too!! Wow you are amazing. I'm hoping to at least get one "embellish knit" done this month.
just found your blog a couple of days ago, and all I can say is I am impressed. I may have to check out our local Op Shops again, I never go there cause they always have horrible clothes lol.
Cool. I've cut up many a sweater, but I've never quite known what do with the raw edges. I've sewn ribbon and lace right on the edge, on a really fine knit I sewed a scalloped edge, and once I just sewed it under--WHY didn't I just do this? Thanks for the tip!
totally beautiful! i love how a bit of trim can be magical!
~selina
I love the frogs! It wouldn't take much moving about of trim to give it a military jacket type feel. Hmm. I think I might have to do that to a knit!
i love this one! so fast and easy - i've been thinking of doing this kind of thing to some kid/baby sweaters thanks for the tips. did you make the frogs yourself?
Amazing!! It's hard to believe that the before and after pictures are of the same sweater!! So much better in the after.
Keep up the awesome cardi posts! You are really talented.
It had never occured to me to split a plain sweater up the front to turn it into a cardigan! The thrift store will never be the same.
Wow! Amazing!!
I just bought a thrift store sweater yesterday. Today my plans were to find a way to make it a cardigan. And now I've found your tutorial! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for showing howeasy it is to turn a sweater into a cardigan. I've a few sweaters that I love but need a new lease of life.
I love this (and your whole Embellish Knits series) - it inspired me to do my first sweater to cardigan refashion. Your tutorial is very easy to follow. You can see my version on my blog and I linked back to this tutorial. Thank so much for all of your inspiring projects.
http://mytwobutterflies.blogspot.com/2010/11/sweater-to-cardigan.html
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