#39 Back to School Wardrobe: Sweater Vest from Small Cardigan

REFLECTIONS: Original details like the ruffle on this cardigan make it prime for re-fashion. 

I would not be able to replicate the ruffle on a start from scratch garment.

This is #4 in a series of sweaters/ blazers / suit jackets / dresses re-fashioned into school days vests.

BEFORE: Too small cardigan from the Re-fashion stash. Thrifted somewhere, sometime when the Christopher Banks tag caught my eye.

STEPS:   

• Use a seam ripper to remove and open the sleeves and side seams.
• Serge exposed seams to prevent fraying.
• Use sleeves to cut side inserts to enlarge the sides. Reverse the sleeve placing the cuff at top of insert. Cuff naturally draws in tighter making the top of insert smaller/tighter.
• Armholes naturally roll inside and are hand stitched in place to finish the edge.
• Original hem rolled outward. Turn hem inside and hand-stitch it down while also turning up the new insert hem.

NOTE: Hand-stitching often helps in putting re-fashions back together without taking even more of the garment apart. It helps to work around factory special machine stitching that we can’t replicate, but can work around with hand-stitching.  

 AFTER:  Easy wear vest fits into the Jan/Feb Back to School wardrobe. 

AFTER: Vest enlarged with side inserts

AFTER: Vest

AFTER 

AFTER: Side insert cut from sleeve

AFTER: Sleeve cuff at top of insert
draws in tighter

AFTER

AFTER: Original hem
Turned in and hand-stitched.

Before:
Original hem bunched / rolled.

Auditioned trims. None were used.

BEFORE: Like new too small cardigan
from the refashion stash

Nice tag caught my eye.