Polo to Cardi Refashion

Remember last week I mentioned that one of our awesome readers emailed us a bunch of pictures of cardigans and vests she had seen at a department store?  She didn’t love the prices and asked if we could help her out.  I’ve got another department store knock-off for you.

Here is a picture of one of the cardigans she emailed us:

Sorry it’s so small.  It’s basically a 1/2 sleeved cardigan with a braided trim around the neck and down the front.  Super cute.  I didn’t have a shirt with that sleeve length, so I just used one I had.  It as actually a polo shirt.

Start off by cutting straight up the shirt, and cut off the collar.

Serge or zig-zag around the raw edges you just cut.

Cut several long one inch strips from a tee shirt, knit fabric, or use a roll of knit ribbing.  That’s what I did.  I sure hope The Queen (my MIL) didn’t want this roll of ribbing back.  I have used tons of it, and I’ve still got more ideas for it.  Can you believe it?!  I took her son AND her roll of ribbing.  Tsk, tsk.

I cut three strips that were about 6 1/2 feet long.

If you use strips from tee shirts or knit fabric, sew them together so they’re about 6 1/2 feet long each.  It depends on what size your shirt is.  It always a good idea to cut/sew everything longer than you think you’ll need.  It is a lot easier to trim something than to miraculously make it longer.

I sewed  the top of my three strips together.  I left my strips under the presser foot of my sewing machine (with the needle down) to hold it into place.  Then I braided.  And braided. And braided.  I ended up with one l-o-n-g braid.

Disregard the toys on the floor and the cartoons on the TV.  I live in a real world, with real boys, real toys, and very real messes.  I sure love it!  Good times.

Sew the end of your braid closed.

Pin the braid to the cardigan up the front, around the neck, and down the other side.  Tuck the braid ends under the hem of the cardigan.

Sew the braid into place 1/8 of an inch from the inside of the braid, then 1/8 of an inch from the outside of the braid so that you have two seams near the outside edges of the braid.

Here’s a close-up of the stitching:

…and there’s my take on the cardigan.  I love how it turned out.

I’ve got one more that I’m working on:

…and I’ll get the tutorial up for that next week.

Now for a bit of randomness.  I got new glasses.  Monkey broke my frames, and I loved them.  They were my fave.  I couldn’t find any that were similar, so I chose these.

Are they okay?  I don’t know how I feel about them yet.  I mostly wear my contacts, but I usually only make it until about 8:00 p.m. before my eyes are begging for mercy.  You know how it is. 

So do they work for me, or not?!  I can’t decide. 

I’ll see you again tomorrow.  Ash isn’t feeling well.  No fun.  Get feeling better, Ash!