The Long Blue Sweater

 Hello Readers. I wanted a long sweater because it is super cold around here. It would be super cozy. What I really wanted was a bathrobe that I could wear in public without people thinking I was crazy. But let's stick with a sweater for now.

Let's call this a daytime appropriate bathrobe. 

 

This was the sweater I had on hand to work with. It was a bit big so it really did look like a bathrobe. 

 

I started by cutting off the sleeves and setting them aside for later. 

 

 I folded the sweater so I could cut both sides at the same time. I wanted to take some extra fabric from the body. Cutting both sides at the same time would keep them symmetrical.

I sewed all the pieces back together. I used my serger so the seams would not fray. 

I also cut off about 10-12 inches and made a new hem around the bottom with my serger. I wanted a long sweater but not touching the floor. This was nice and cozy and was great with these corduroys and the t-shirt I made yesterday. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

 

 

 

 

Monochromatic Black on Black

 Hello Readers. I wanted to put together some monochromatic outfits from the clothes on my refashion rack. This mock-neck sweater is a men's medium and my daughter didn't want it. Where these dressy pant's came from is a mystery. I really don't know. Let's make a simple but cool outfit.

I look like I work at an art gallery and I am going to sell you a blank canvas and say it's modern art.

Everything was just too long. The waist and hips fit well but the pant legs were too long for me. (I'm short.) The body and the sleeves of the sweater were too long too. I guess medium men have longer arms than I do. I wanted to shorten the pants and crop the sweater. 

 

I shortened the pant legs and sewed a new hem. 

 

I used my serger to shorten the sweater. I turned it inside out and folded the hem up. This will put the new seam inside the sweater. The serger cuts the excess fabric off as it stitches along. I took about 4 inches out of the body length. I stitched right along the top of the waistband so the new seam will look like it is part of the waistband. 

If you do not have a serger you can still do this. I will show you using the wristbands. I cut the bands off right at the top and set them aside. 

I cut off about 3 inches from the sleeves. Now I need to reattach the wristband. I will have to stretch the wristband as I sew to make them fit together but sweaters are stretchy so that will be easy. 

I put the cuff and the sleeve together with the right sides facing each other. You can use a serger here or use a sewing machine with a zigzag stitch. I am stretching the cuff but not stretching the sleeve. I sewed all the ways around the sleeve and it was put back together.

The length of these pants is great and the waist of the sweater hits right at my waist and it looks like it is my sweater and not some mans. Does the black outfit need a little color? I like the black but I also really like bright colors. Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Year End Update***- This is so neutral and basic, this was a great make.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Refashioning a Sweater

 Hello Readers. Sometimes there are cute men's sweaters at the thrift store. (Or in your man's closet!) Men's sizes can obviously be larger and longer in the body and sleeves. It can be difficult to find the right fit. But sewing lets you change that. You can make the sweater fit you! And you can add fun details too!

Before and after.

This sweater was a little too large and it was very long in the sleeves. I really liked the yellow color so I wanted to make it fit. 

I wanted shorter sleeves and a shorter sweater. I also wanted to keep the cuffs and ribbed waistband. They make the sweater look nicely finished. I just needed a sewing machine and a zigzag stitch to do that. 

I sewed the sleeves and the body of the sweater at the new lengths I wanted and then I cut off the extra material. 

If you want to make the sweater more narrow you can also sew new side seams to make the sweater fit better. I used a zigzag stitch along the sides of the body and sleeves. You can change the size of the sweater to fit as you want. Removing more fabric will make he sweater smaller.

 

After I made the new side seams I wanted, I cut the extra material off. 

 

 Now that my sweater fits I can add some fun details like pockets, patches and anything fun. This is an optional step. I have had this piece of needle work for ages. It was in a bunch of fabric I bought at a yard sale. I folded all the edges under so it would look smooth and clean when I sewed it on. 

 

My new pocket is cute and it will be so useful! You can't have too many pockets.

 

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

*Year End Note From Chickie- I like this shade of yellow so I wear this often.