How to Reuse it Creatively » Sweaters http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com Get your weekly dose of creative reuse tips, tutorials, and inspiration! Wed, 16 May 2012 21:46:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 How to Reuse a Cardigan Sweater to Make a Skirt. http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/reuse-cardigan-sweater-skirt/ http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/reuse-cardigan-sweater-skirt/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:08:54 +0000 Lauren http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/?p=1317 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> A red cardigan sweater sits on a blue table ready to be turned into a new skirt.

I am really getting into making my own clothes lately.  I especially love turning one thing into another by just a few changes.  Over the weekend I made a dress from a laundry bag and a skirt from a cardigan sweater.  For today’s tutorial I will focus on the Cardigan Sweater Skirt.

You are looking at a door with a full length mirror. You can see the bottom half of a woman. She is wearing a pink shirt and a red cardigan sweater skirt with the buttons running down the side of her leg and mens ties of various colors on the bottom of the skirt. She is wearing chunky fuzzy slipper like boots.

Look for more tutorials on upcycled clothing in the months to come and also get ready for my launch of a new upcycled clothing section in my online store in 2011.  I can’t wait!

How to Reuse a Cardigan Sweater to Make a Skirt:

1. Turn the sweater inside out and remove the sleeves.

Showing how to turn a cardigan sweater inside out and remove the sleeves with scissors

2.  Cut along the seam that would have sat on your shoulder when wearing the cardigan.

The shoulder seam of a red cardigan sweater (close up) on a blue table.

3.  Open up the cardigan and use the top of the cardigan as the bottom of the skirt.

A red cardigan sweater with no arms is open up and turned upside down. What was the top of the cardigan is now the bottom of a skirt.

4.  Cut the bottom of the skirt so it is even.

Showing an even cut on the bottom of a cardigan sweater skirt.

5.  Choose fabric to fill on the holes and pin them in place.  Hem the edges first!

Black and white fabric. The background is black and there are several different shapes and sizes of flowers. This is pinned to a red cardigan sweater.

upcycled-cardigan-sweater-skirt

6.  After filling in both holes with fabric hem the bottom of the skirt.

A close up shot of the red cardigan sweater, now the bottom of a skirt, with a hem.

7.  Add any embellishments you would like to!  I decided to add a few silk ties to the mix.

A silk tie with a navy blue background and puffy orange flowers has been added to the bottom of the skirt.

Now, go stay warm in your new cardigan sweater skirt!

A door with a mirror showing the bottom half of a woman wearing a pink shirt, a red cardigan sweater skirt, and fuzzy tan slipper shoes.

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]]> http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/reuse-cardigan-sweater-skirt/feed/ 0 How to Reuse a Cardigan to make a Neck Warmer. http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/reuse-cardigan-neck-warmer/ http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/reuse-cardigan-neck-warmer/#comments Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:17:08 +0000 Lauren http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/?p=1202 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> I have an old cardigan sweater that is down to having only one button left.  The color is fantastic and it is so soft and cozy that I knew I had to do something to make it new again.  I decided to make a neck warmer!  If you have an old cardigan that needs some refreshing, it just takes a few steps to turn it into a new accessory.

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How to Reuse a Cardigan to Make a Neck Warmer:

1.  Cut your sweater underneath the arm or at the point your buttons end.

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2.  Unbutton the sweater and open up to see how long it is.  Pick a fabric to sew along your newly cut edge. Cut the fabric to 1 inch longer than the sweater and 4 inches wide.

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3. Fold the fabric at the ends and iron a crease.  Do this to both ends.

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4.  Fold the fabric in half lengthwise and iron crease.  Open the fabric back up and fold one end to the crease you just created and iron crease at folded end.  Do the same with the other side.

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5.  Place one side of each fabric on either side of the cut edge of the sweater and pin to keep in place.  Sew the fabric to the sweater.

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6.  Since my sweater only had one button left and three button holes I found two new buttons to add to my new neck warmer.  I decided to move my buttons in order for the neck warmer to have a certain drapery effect.

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So, even though we are experiencing a major heat wave this week, I am still getting myself ready for fall and winter.  And this neck warmer is just the beginning.

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Enjoy making old sweaters new again!

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]]> http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/reuse-cardigan-neck-warmer/feed/ 1 How to Reuse an Old Sweater to Make a Pair of Fingerless Gloves – Second Version! http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/how-to-reuse-an-old-sweater-to-make-a-pair-of-fingerless-gloves/ http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/how-to-reuse-an-old-sweater-to-make-a-pair-of-fingerless-gloves/#comments Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:47:19 +0000 Lauren http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/?p=419 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Continuing on the “Making a Pair of Fingerless Gloves from an Old Sweater” note, I wanted to give a tutorial on using a short sleeved sweater to make longer gloves that include an elastic band.  So, here you go!

Here’s my tutorial on How to Reuse an Old Sweater to Make a Pair of Fingerless Gloves.

1. Measure around your arm just below your elbow; that will be the width of your fabric. Measure the length from the middle of your hand to your elbow; that will be the length of your fabric.

2. Cut and iron your fabric.

3. Cut a piece of elastic 1/2 inch less than the width of your fabric. Place the elastic so that half of it is over the edge of your fabric. Sew it to the fabric.

4. Fold the elastic band over once so that the fabric covers it. Sew the bottom edge of your elastic to the fabric.

5. Fold your fabric lengthwise correct side to correct side. Sew the fabric together.

6. Flip the fabric so that the correct side is now facing out. Put the fabric on your arm. Mark where you want the stitching between your thumb and index to go. Sew it.

7. Do the same thing again to make your second fingerless glove.

Yes, I know, the 80′s called with this pair, but I like them! I’m thinking of adding a few buttons before I list them for sale.

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]]> http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/how-to-reuse-an-old-sweater-to-make-a-pair-of-fingerless-gloves/feed/ 0 How to Reuse an Old Sweater to Make Fingerless Gloves http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/how-to-reuse-an-old-sweater-to-make-fingerless-gloves/ http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/how-to-upcycle-everything/how-to-reuse-an-old-sweater-to-make-fingerless-gloves/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:24:19 +0000 Lauren http://howtoreuseitcreatively.com/?p=445 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> I love sweaters and have a hard time saying good-bye to them after several years of winter use.  I have found a super simple way to extend the life of some of my favorite sweaters.

This is a quick and easy way to use the sleeves on an old sweater to make yourself some short fingerless gloves.

1.  Cut the sleeves from the sweater.  (about half down from the shoulder)

2.  Fold the cut side in towards the inside of the sleeve.  Sew it to create a folded crease/hem.

3.  Put your fingerless glove on to see wear your thumb and index finger are placed.  Mark by memory, other fingers, whatever, that space between your thumb and index finger; sew that space from the top down about an inch.

4.  Decorate your new glove!

5.  Repeat with other sleeve.

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