Reuse & Upcycle: Simple Sweater Makeover |Keeping it Real

Monday, January 5, 2015

Reuse & Upcycle: Simple Sweater Makeover

As promised, here is my first 2015 project. In case you haven't read my previous post, 2015 is going to be the year of no clutter in our house, so obviously I had to start with a little reuse and upcycle.


Sometime last year I bought this sweater on clearance:


It was packaged so I didn't try it on at the store, just bought the smallest size they had, which usually fits. When I got home and tried it on, I found it was too big. The sleeves were too long and it came down almost to mid-thigh. But since my kids had ripped open the package and it hadn't been too expensive anyway, I did not bother to return it. I wore it once with black leggings and then it was forgotten in the back of the closet.

While going through my clothes, I found it again and decided that either I did something to turn it into a wearable item, or it had to go.

After some brainstorming, I picked up my scissors and started to cut the sleeves. I had nothing to loose, since I was going to get rid of it anyway otherwise. So I cut, folded over to create a casing and inserted an elastic for close fitting sleeves.

Then I folded over the middle of the sweater at the waist, again to create a casing, and inserted an elastic as well. Because I was focused on getting it ready, I did not take pictures of the process, although it was really quite simple. The greatest difficulty in these projects is sewing with knits, which can be tricky.

This is the end result:


I did not take a picture of me wearing the sweater before, but this is what it looks like on me now:

(sorry, I guess I'm not very good with selfies...)

Anyway, now I have a sweater I can easily wear instead of another thing cluttering my closet. And I'm hard at work on more of these projects. Reduce, reuse and recycle. Here's to a great 2015!

Enjoy,

14 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, you totally rock this! Great job!

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  2. HA! What a cute idea! Love it!

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  3. Awesome job! It looks great, and I think it's wonderful you were able to take an item you didn't use, and change it into something you could. I'm stopping by from Do Tell Tuesday!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by Christie, have a terrific 2015!

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  4. I love your re-make of this sweater! Thanks for sharing your post at Together on Tuesdays :)

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  5. Wow, I so like you tutorial on re-make of a sweater. Love when you can repurpose anything, wearable items, furniture etc. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  6. Incredible! Your idea of making the casings and adding the elastic turned out perfect. The sweater fits you beautifully now. Nicely done!

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  7. Really turned out cute! Love the added casing! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  8. awesome! Looks so stylish, who would know you upcycled? love it :)

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