Child's Cardigan Tutorial {Upcycled Sweater}

I picked up this eyelet cardigan at a garage sale last summer for a buck.  It had a small rust stain on the shoulder, but I thought maybe I could dye it or just bum around the house in it.  But I just never really liked the way it lay--too boxy.  I've been purging the house lately, so I decided to get rid of it.  Then I thought that Grace sure could use a white cardigan, and this upcycled cardigan was born.

The original jersey knit sweater.

First, I cut off the sleeves.

Next, I used a shirt that fit Grace nicely to trace the bodice for the cardigan.  I added an extra 5/8" or so for seam allowances.

I then cut along the red pen lines.

My draftsmen.

First, I sewed the shoulders together.

*I failed to take a picture of cutting down the sleeves, but I cut the sleeves apart, laid them flat on top of on another.  I then cut them about 12 inches long with a gentle slope at the top, about two inches longer than the sides.  I determined the width of the sleeves by measuring the width of the arm openings in the bodice.  I determined the wrist size of the sleeve by measuring a long-sleeved shirt that fits well, and adding an 1-1/2" for ease and seam allowance.  I drew a line from the edge of the shoulder to the wrist to achieve a slightly tapered sleeve.

I pinned the re-cut sleeves at the shoulder.

I sewed the shoulders to the bodice.

I hemmed the sleeve at the wrist by folding it under and sewing.  The beauty of knit is that it doesn't ravel.

I pinned the sleeve seams and the side seams, and sewed them in one continuous seam.

 All done!  Grace wanted it long, or I would have hemmed the bottom of the cardigan too.  This was a pretty quick project.  I'd say about 2 hours maximum time, and the cost -- FREE!