bittersweet cardigan

Added Mar 17, 2008

by elegantmusings

Virginia, Virgin...

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Description

This is a refashion I did, that started out life as a drab, unfitted, and rather plain cardigan I thrifted. (Somewhat like the last photo, although this is a different sweater. I forgot to take a “before” shot! Ack!!) I picked it up at one of the local thrift shop’s dollar days, and since it was a lovely silk/cashmere blend, I thought it would be worth refashioning into something a little more… me!!

I used The Yestermorrow Clothes Book as a reference point for starting the refashion. It details how to take apart a sweater, adjust the fit, and put it back together again! I figured out how much I wanted to take the sides in (‘cause the fit was too boxy for me), cut the side seams apart, removed the bottom ribbing band, cut the sleeves off, and shortened the body of the cardigan by about 4”.

Despite the fact that it is a sweater knit, it wasn’t really that hard to sew the pieces! I just used a very narrow zig-zag (almost a straight stitch… but not quite) on all the seams, trimmed them down and then did a larger zig-zag over the edges. The sleeves I shortened by cutting off the original sleeve cap, and cutting a new one (I was bad… I just eyeballed it, although the book does recommend using a pattern!), and then reattaching to the new armhole (which I narrowed at the shoulder seam).

The reconstruction work was a breeze; deciding on trim and buttons was the hard part! hehe! I hunted through my stash of vintage textiles and pulled out two sleeves I had chopped off an old, eyelet adn lace dress. I knew the salvaged eyelet would come in handy one day!! I just enclosed the front edges with the eyelet, topstitching everything down. The buttons were just from my stash; and I decided to go with the white and red because I didn’t have enough red buttons of the right size.

So… I have a very cute (in my opinion! lol!) cardigan for only nickels and dimes, as my dad would say! Hurrah!!

Material Notes

thrifted cardigan vintage eyelet (salvaged) vintage buttons

Categories

Credits

“The Yestermorrow Clothes Book”

9 Comments

  • Marcymom_110_large

    Feb 9, 2010, 05.26 PMby beaufabulous

    This is so adorable!! you have inspired me, I have a little sweater that I will need to “redo” also :)

  • Aubrey2_large

    Dec 27, 2009, 05.18 PMby aubreydawn

    you did such fun with those buttons! :)

    i refashion “hand-me-downs” for my girls all the time :) you’re a pro :)

  • Poopty11253120100119_large

    Sep 24, 2008, 08.11 AMby xkaramisux

    cutecutecute! i wish i could refashion thriift finds like that!

  • Looking_at_you_large

    Mar 18, 2008, 01.24 PMby sunnilj9

    So cute! I too would love to know about the book. You did a great job here. Love your refashions!!!

  • B010bc32dafd973eb6ca8c07c7e3389a90f93239_large

    Mar 18, 2008, 08.54 AMby mmicare

    Yestermorrow Clothes Book? I’ve never heard of it, but it sounds like a must-have! Is it hard to find?

  • Emilykate_large

    Mar 17, 2008, 03.07 PMby emilykate

    This is so pretty, you did a lovely job, the finish is great. I’m continuing to love your beautifully simple photoshoots too :o)

  • D25168dce431f55c1d85775d233cf3e1959369e9_large

    Mar 17, 2008, 02.17 PMby akwa

    I admire how you transformed this sweater, making it really your own. You are buiding a very nice, consistant wardrobe!

  • 52f4f22947212b197a660ab6fe045fed24e1374a_large

    Mar 17, 2008, 09.58 AMby ceregana

    well done. reminds me of a gingerbread frosting. cute.

  • 127dfcb82189ff43ffb9f0588bfe95549e425085_large

    Mar 17, 2008, 08.59 AMby toupinette

    so so cute! you’re very inspired!

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