WELCOME

Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

Lovely appliqué cardigan tutorial

I thought it was time for another tutorial! Today I want to show you a cute hand-sewing technique you can do to embellish a cardigan with a pretty look for summer.  I was inspired by this lovely thing from Anthropologie:
I don't love the sweater itself all that much, but the flowers on the side are just a piece of cotton hand-sewn invisibly down--I like that idea!  Easy and pretty.  So, I tried it myself--here's the tutorial!
  • Take a plain sweater, preferably cotton, that needs a little something extra to make it interesting!  This is an old one from Target.
  • Use a fabric that goes well in color and style.  The pinks in the print are close to the pink in the sweater, and it's a fresh summery print for the lightweight cotton sweater.  I have this darling vintage cotton print that I got from somewhere ages ago, probably Goodwill Outlet but I don't remember.  The apple and cherry print cracks me up--pretty sure they're not both in season at the same time, but... okay...
  • Carefully, with sharp, sharp small scissors, cut around the design you're going to use leaving 1/4"-1/2" extra fabric that we'll turn under.  If the design is simple, with few bends and curves, I'd use closer to 1/2" than I did.  Add little clips toward the design on all of the curved edges, so you don't get wrinkling when you turn under.
  • Carefully press under the fabric 1/4"-1/2", whichever you used when cutting.  You may have to add some clips on the curves and the indents to make it lay flat.
  • Position and pin the design on your sweater where you think you'll want it.  I didn't get too creative; I just stuck it where the Anthro sweater had a design, but you could use this technique on the hip of the sweater, or on the shoulder... wherever!
  • Carefully whipstitch the design down, making sure to keep all sides of the design flat so it doesn't pucker when it's done.  I caught about three threads of the appliqué with each stitch, so my sewing just barely shows on the top.

Ta-da!

Great to pair with a summery skirt and top for going into air-conditioned buildings!

12 comments

  1. Love it. Now to find a sweater in need of some love.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous7/07/2010

    So sweet and girly! LOVE IT!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Super cute! And you're right...I used to live in a big fruit agricultural town and cherry season is during the summer, apple season is in the fall. LOL

    http://silverrosesewing.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous7/07/2010

    PLEASE, PLEASE come to Toronto, ON, Canada, and offer up a course or workshops. I'll be your student from start to finish.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a prefect little sweater! so cute and summery.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So pretty - I found you through One Pretty Thing and have looked at a few of your creations before but... I am now a follower and since I have just bought my very own sewing machine (instead of ducking over to Mum's house everytime I wanted to sew), I will be taking inspiration from your creations.

    And PS, I just spent my whole work day reading every single one of your posts... Love it hard!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is an awesome idea! Now to scour the charity shops for a suitable cardi...

    Thanks for your kind words about my dress :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great!!! I just noticed that Target has a bunch of cropped sweaters on clearance. I might have to go back and grab one. They are short sleeved and great for our California nights that can be a bit nippy even in summer.

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a great Idea! I actually have a white cardigan in need of some spark! Thia may do the trick :)

    Natasha xoxo
    http://poshxoxo.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love it! I love the color of the cardigan too. You always come up with great stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous7/17/2011

    iT LOOKS GREAT ON YOU ! :)

    ReplyDelete

Search

© Create / Enjoy • Theme by Maira G.