Monday, June 28, 2010

Summer Cardigan

Do you ever buy a shirt that you are in love with, but doesn't love you? That is this shirt and I. The heather gray stripes took me to a place that when I put it on, I didn't noticed the 6 month pregnant look that also came along for the ride. When buyers happiness settled down, I was left with something that I kept not wearing. I don't need extra help with my love handles thank you very much.

So this weekend as I looked at the shirt that's been hanging there since probably last summer, I thought I'd try something. A summer cardigan, if you will. Because I love sweaters as much as cookie dough. That's a lot, if you're not my husband and don't see me noshing away at it all the time! Yum.

Here is a little tutorial to go along with my blah to drape front cardigan transformation! Now, I am not a professional seamstress or photographer...love me anyway? Thanks.

step 1: grab your shirt, a cutting mat, a rotary blade or scissors, and all sewing machine tools. Yeah, all that other stuff is outside of this picture. My bad!

step 2: find your center and cut directly down. Be sure not to cut the back side of your shirt! fronts only, please. Check out your handiwork so far:

It's open! Already so much better. But square. Let's fix that.

step 3: iron and or pin your raw edges. Try to make sure they are as even as possible or you'll be looking weird walking down the street. (left is inside and right is outside in the picture).

step 4:
using a basic straight stitch, go along the edge of your drape with your machine. be sure to do a little finishing stitch on the bottom!

step 5: trim excess fabric.

step 6: make sure those stitches are looking wonderful.

step 7: wear and have a love-love relationship with your shirt again!

Any shirt will do for this; long sleeves, short, none, whatever! I like a little bit of sleeve and now I really like this cardigan. And guess what? That necklace was $3 at the DI. Awesome refashioning and thrifting all over.

linked up at Today's Creative Blog

9 comments:

  1. Very cute! I actually did the same thing with a tshirt this week! hahah! :) I bought a solid white t for the sole purpose of making a half cardigan to wear with my summer dresses. :)

    Found you through Today's Creative Blog, Get your Craft On Tuesday!!

    Hope you have a great week!
    ~wendy at wendyandadam.blogspot.com

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  2. Oh, I really like this!! I have the perfect shirt for this project!

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  3. This happens to me all the time and I'm left wondering what was I thinking? I'm sure I have a closet full of shirts I could experiment with. Thanks.

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  4. That is SO cute Mandy! Way to go!

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  5. This is a GENIUS idea! I have a million shirts this would work perfectly for! Love Love Love it! You rock and thanks for sharing! I bookmarked this project ;)

    ashley
    www.littlemissmomma.com

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  6. This is such a great idea! I am so excited to go through my closet with new eyes, thinking about this! I'm glad I found your blog!

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  7. Excellent idea! I have plenty of t-shirts that don't love me. I need to try this!

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