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You are here: Home / Crafts & Sewing / Change-It-Up Cardigan

Crafts & Sewing

Change-It-Up Cardigan

So when I found out that my second baby was a girl, I went kind of bow/flower clip crazy. I even sat through a bow-making class having contractions five minutes apart. Not smart, I know, but I felt possessed to learn how to make them perfectly. And yes, I did go home and proceed to make four more bows at home that night. And I made another two the night before I was being induced. Whatev.
Change It Up Cardigan

So now my precious girl is 15 months old and wants nothing to do with any and all of the bows and flowers I worked so hard on. Boo. But I needed to come up with a solution so that she can still get use out of my sweat and determination, so I made her a cardigan where you can interchange the embellishment!

I started off with a standard white t-shirt. I bought this one at Target, so nothing fancy.
I started out measuring the width of the shirt at the collar, midway down, and at the bottom hem and marked the center at each point. Next, I used a ruler to “connect the dots,” but then I got smart.
Hello! Fold it in half and cut it up the center. This way will seriously save you way more time. Trust me.
I wanted to make sure that since I wasn’t going to be using buttons on the placket, I wanted to reinforce it and make it stronger. I decided that I was going to use some grosgrain ribbon to line the inside of the hem. I cut the ribbon slightly longer than the length of the shirt so I had plenty of length to tuck in at the ends.
Before I stitched my seam, I ironed in the cut edges twice (Fold in a little, iron. Fold again and iron.). Now all of the rough edges of the fabric are clean and nice and pretty.
Next, I pinned the newly ironed fabric down with the grosgrain ribbon on top.
I stitched down the edge. Now, my original idea was to have the ribbon completely concealed on the inside of the placket, but the ribbon drifted as I was sewing. I actually like the way it turned out with the ribbon slightly peeking out. When I make another one, I’m totally using a more interesting ribbon; maybe some jumbo ric rac or other patterned goodness.
Now come the part that I was dreading most. Thankfully, I’ve met some fabulous ladies that were so helpful. (Go check out Above All Fabric and Brassy Apple!) I can’t really explain exactly how this happened because I basically followed the directions step by step from my sewing machine’s users manual. The overview: Use a button foot. Choose a button that is slightly larger across than the clip that you’ll end up using, that way there is enough space to insert the clip when you’re all done.

Figure out where you’d like your clips to go, and mark near the top and the bottom of the clips so you know where to place the button holes.

Now comes what ended up being the hardest part for me: the actual sewing of the button hole. As it turns out, the shirt I had purchased for Reagan was too thin and the machine kept catching the shirt. Once I added a double layer of interfacing to thicken it up a bit, the machine was able to put my two button holes in like a champ.
Once the button holes are sewn, gently use a seam ripper to cut the fabric between the seams.
And voila! Now Reagan has a cardigan that I can change out the flowers and bows to coordinate with her outfit. I love it!
Now here’s hoping that she doesn’t figure out how to pull the pretties off of her cardigan like she has her hair. A momma can hope…
Linking this up at:
Blue Cricket Design * Today’s Creative Blog
Tatertots and Jello * LollyJane Boutique
seven thirty three * Sugar and Dots
Whipperberry * I {heart} Naptime
Fingerprints on the Fridge * Somewhat Simple
Sumo’s Sweet Stuff * Skip To My Lou
Fabric, Bows, and More * 504 Main

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16 Comments

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Comments

  1. Mattie says

    April 27, 2011 at 3:34 AM

    Such a cute idea! (if only I had a girl…)

    Reply
  2. Katie says

    April 27, 2011 at 3:45 AM

    Thanks Mattie! Maybe your third baby will be a girl. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  3. Lolly Jane says

    April 27, 2011 at 5:23 AM

    Wow! That is one impressive tutorial! I LOVE this idea πŸ™‚ Reagan looks adorable in it!

    Reply
  4. kara@elements-interiors.net says

    April 27, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    I love this! I love your blog too! Im your newest follower:)

    I would LOVE to have you link up to my Whassup Wednesday Par-Tay! And I have a party button you can grab and put on your blog so your friends can come too:)

    If you are NOT already a Follower of Elements Interiors….HELLEEERRRR!

    Click that Google Follow button and YOU will be ENTERED in my

    "Its a SURPRISE!" GIVEAWAY to be announced EVERY MONDAY! Yeppers! You read it right,

    a Winner EVERY MONDAY!!! With GREAT Goodies you wont want to miss!!

    Hope to see ya at Whassup Wednesday!!!

    *ENTER LINKY PAR-TAY Here! *

    xoxokara

    Reply
  5. Lolly Jane says

    April 27, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    kris already commented, but i have to comment too.

    so stinkin cute, katie. holy crap i'd never have patience to MAKE that! and i was literally chuckling out loud seeing you 9 months preggo sitting through a bow making class, that's dedication! πŸ˜‰

    it's darling!!! xoxo.kelli (:

    Reply
  6. Katie says

    April 27, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    Thanks everyone! Kel: I was actually scheduled for one class but went into labor early so a few weeks after I was out of the hospital I went to the class and convinced my mom to go with me. She ended up making some of my bows because I couldn't breathe or talk through the contractions. She thought I was crazy, I thought it was dedication. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  7. Fabric Bows and More says

    April 28, 2011 at 1:08 AM

    Very Cute! come and join our party: http://fabricbowsandmore.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  8. Amy (naptimecrafters) says

    April 28, 2011 at 1:52 AM

    super cute! Thanks for auditioning for American Crafter- good luck:)

    Reply
  9. Charmaine says

    April 29, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    What a brilliant idea – I have to try this for my little girl. Thanks very much for the inspiration.

    http://licklepickle.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  10. Holly says

    April 29, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    So darn cute and what a sweet model! My little girlie still wont do bows in in hair…but she would do something like this! Sharing on FB!

    Reply
  11. Michelle says

    April 30, 2011 at 5:26 AM

    Very pretty!! I am visiting from TT&J and new follower!!!
    Michelle
    http://www.delicateconstruction.blogspot.com
    p.s. I am having a giveaway this weekend, you should come check it out!

    Reply
  12. The Clegg Family says

    April 30, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    What a cute idea!

    Reply
  13. Teresa says

    May 18, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    Super sweet! I have tons of bows and flowers for my 8 year old and she doesn’t wear them unless I bribe her! Maybe I will have better luck with my newest little girl!

    Found you through CSI link-up, if you have a moment check out my blog at http://creativecowgirl.co

    Reply
  14. Jill says

    May 20, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    That cardigan is fantastic! And such a lovely clear tutorial too!

    I would love if you came and linked this project to my clothes upcycling page. It has a long term linky, so your project would stay there for more than just the week of a usual linky. We have over 60 projects linked up now – some fantastic ideas – and this month I’m upcycling lots of clothes and trying to feature lots of the links too!
    Do come and take a look!
    http://jembellish.blogspot.com/p/clothes-upcycling-projects.html

    Reply
    • Katie says

      May 20, 2011 at 10:59 PM

      I am so glad you like it! Consider the link done!

      Reply
  15. SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime says

    May 22, 2011 at 9:53 PM

    Hi, friend! I’m admiring all your creative posts here so can you please share them with us at the Creative Bloggers’ Party & Hop? Hope to see you there at the party πŸ™‚

    Reply

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