Limbs and head flopped out to sleep. Looking d-e-d.Filed under: How to do it, Refashioned it, Sewed it, Thrifted it | Tags: alter, how to, refashion, sweater
I’m not scared to alter sweaters anymore, having practiced a bunch now, and I’m not even using a serger.
Here’s how to do a sleeveless shell I just refashioned from a giant silk sweater set:
Try the thing on. Measure how much needs to come in on both sides. Pin it up.
Line up the underarms and the bottom edge when pinning, ok? Stitch, using a good zig zag.
Trim close to the seam. I like to stitch the same way again finish the edges.
For the outer cardigan, or any sweater with sleeves, you do the sides first, then the sleeves. The amount you trim off the sleeves will likely taper as you get closer to the wrist.
Filed under: How to do it, Refashioned it, Sewed it, Thrifted it | Tags: red, refashion, Salvy, silk, sweater
I bought this silk sweater set at the Salvy even though at a 1X, it was too big.
The silk was lovely, the muted red color is fantastic and sweater sets are in fact perfect for my work. Also, the bigger size meant the whole thing was longer than normal. And I’ve bought August Silk sweaters before – they last forever if you don’t dry the hell out of them.
Seemed like a worthwhile refashion.
Of course it took a while to get to fixing it. Pathetic: what an easy fix! Used the same technique as this purple sweater
Pulled in the sides. That’s it. Go see the how-to if you like.
The wide neck turned into de facto cap sleeves so I don’t need the top layer in the office.
Thinking now about adding ruffles using the scraps I cut off the sides and this trusty how-to.
Filed under: Finished it, Fixed it, How to do it, Sewed it, Thrifted it | Tags: cotton, purple, sleeves, sweater, wardrobe refashion
Lousy purple is IN this season.
Boils my blood to no end since I’ve loved purple for many long years so I’m already sick of everyone looking like me. Went to a wedding last weekend in a fave purple dress — there were at least four other women all purpled up. Grrr.
A smart lady in my life said to shut up and stock up so when the trixies moved on to teal or yellow or whatever, I’d be all set. It’s pretty good advice. Since I haven’t bought retail since August 2007, I continue to stockpile purple at the Salvy.
This winning XL cardigan is a stunning shade, a solid lightweight cotton and sweetly long. It was too wide and shapeless though,
and the buttons were terrible.
1. Try sweater on inside out. Pin up sides. Fit, repinning as necessary.
2. Using a zig zag stitch, sew up the sides.
3. With sharp scissors, cut off the sleeves at the shoulder seams.
4. Find the middle of the top of each sleeve. About 1 inch, 1 1/2 inches on either side of the middle, baste about 1/4 inch from the edge. Pin the bottom of the sleeve to the bottom of the armhole, and the top to the top. Keep pinning from the bottom.
5. Pull the basted threads slowly from each side until the sleeve fits the armhole with a little gathering. Pin, fit and sew.
I stitched in a little folded netting to support the little puff.
I also replaced the original boring brown buttons with vintage yellow domed buttons, after much debate between yellow and pink.
The purple acorns and green discs wouldn’t fit. Boo.
So much better now.
And check out a similar slimming sans sleeve enhancements. Such a fantastic cotton knit with a boatneck and cheeky sneaky silver buttons up the front of one side, before:
And after:
The change is subtle; the fit is just better now that the sides have been slimmed.
Filed under: Fixed it, How to do it, Love it, Made it, Refashioned it, Sewed it, Thrifted it | Tags: How to do it, leg of mutton, sleeves, sweater
Little lilac cardigan from the Salvy is the right color for spring and the right kind of soft. But the “Before” was too big and awful.
Screamed out for a refit; big sleeves made me think about trying a leg of mutton experiment on them. I think it worked; See what you think.
1. FIX BODICE Pin bodice, fit until right, then baste and sew. Neatly trim edges. Finish as you like, or leave them alone (Most knits won’t unravel).
2. DEAL WITH SLEEVES Cut sleeves off by slicing through shoulder seam, or by trimming all the way off. See where armholes fall – they’ll need to start right on the top of the shoulder for the puff to pouf up. I had to take a good inch off the top of the armhole. Now gather the top of the sleeve by sewing a long running stitch about 2 inches on either side of the top center, and pulling the underthreads.
3. SEW SLEEVES BACK ON Pin sleeve bottom to armhole bottom, right sides together. Pin sleeve top center to armhole top center. Gather the big part of the sleeve until it fits in the armhole. Pin well, baste, fit, stitch.**
** Here’s a little trick to make the sleeves puff up more.
Make a booster out of the edges.
Take the edges you cut off, and fold the short edge under. Sew with a wide zigzag. Fold that whole thing over and sew again. Trim. Take that little rectangle of stiff fabric and pin it into the gathered part of the sleeve seam so it pokes the pouf up. Sew it into the seam allowance, close to the sleeve seam.
4. MAKE THE LEG OF MUTTON (optional) If you like puffy long sleeves, stop. If you want to try the leg, lay the sweater flat and smooth it out. Figure out how long you want the pouf to be, and cut straight across sleeve at that point.
I did about 7 inches. Use one sleeve to measure the other sleeve.
Flip the bottom part inside out and sew a straight seam up from the cuff up to straighten out the lower sleeve.
Pin the top sleeve to the bottom sleeve at the underseam seams, right sides facing. Pin at the top centers, too. Gather the upper sleeve to it fits the lower sleeve, pin well, fit, baste and stitch.
Atta girl!
Filed under: Get it, Thrifted it | Tags: fitzfab@ebay, Salvy, sweater, thrift
Thrift outings last weekend (fitz)fabulous, indeed. Black cords w stovepipe legs. Tuxedo-style wool slacks. Faux wrap sweaters. Cardigans in cotton and silk/cashmere. Bandolino peep-toe pumps (w wooden heels). Love the Salvy! Love dressing myself without shopping retail!
Key items up on the eBay, including this little beauty of a Minnie Mouse sweater. 
Next on the list, um, to list:
This pink knit summer romper. 
This pink bobble sweater.
This red dress. 
These gray Wrangler jeans. 
This Sears sweater. 
But ever since eBay changed its fee schedule, I’m unimpressed with them. Wondering if anyone has other recommendations for selling excess vintage clothing? Etsy perhaps? Other thoughts?
