Thursday, August 12, 2010

Altered Cardigan

Altered cardigan - crochet band

For a long time now I've been thinking about making a cardigan with crocheted button bands out of one (or more) of my long sleeved t-shirts that are a bit too tight (ehem). On the August long weekend I came across the stash of no-longer-optimal-fit t-shirts and decided to give it a try.

Altered cardigan - crochet band

I used a v-neck shirt with 3/4 length sleeves that I really liked but was a bit too small (don't have ANY idea how that happened)(ehem). I measured and drew a line down the center of the shirt and cut. Then I folded over about 1/4 inch and stitched a line of straight stitches to tack the facing down. I stitched a line of blanket stitch down each edge to give me a foundation for the crochet bands. I used some crochet cotton I had (I lost the label) in a color that in some lights is an exact match for the shirt.

Altered cardigan - button

I worked 6 rows of single crochet and then a scalloped edge. The crochet curled on the corners so I did a line of single crochet across the tops & bottoms to help tame it a bit. I added a button (from the stash I found in my Mom's knitting bag) which fits perfectly in the space in the scallop edge.

Altered cardigan

I'm really happy with how it turned out. I have plans to do another one or two. I love that I am able to extend my wearable wardrobe by reusing items I thought were no longer wearable.

Altered cardigan

Predictably the day after I completed this cardigan, I saw a similar project on one of the craft blogs! Does that happen to other people or just me? I find it really interesting that so many people can come up with the same basic idea (or variations on the same idea) independent of each other.

13 comments:

  1. I LOVE it! It turned out beautifully. I have lots of those shirts that mysteriously shrank over time.

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  2. that's absolutely wonderful! my clothes have also been 'shrinking.' this looks great, i'll give it a whirl too!

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  3. What a great idea and perfect as a light cardi. Now I wish I knew how to crochet, I just don't see it working as well with knitting.

    It would be cute if you added an edging to the sleeve cuffs too.

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  4. This is SUCH a good idea.
    I wanted to do cardigans out of my longsleeves for a while but didn't know how to... now I got a clue.
    THANK YOU!!

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  5. Wow, I would never have thought of that! It looks awesome!

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  6. You are just too clever!!! I can't even crochet, let alone do the amazing things you do but I do enjoy viewing!!

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  7. that is really cute. thanks for the great idea!

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  8. I am just back from vacation and getting caught up on blog reading. Your t shirt is fabulous. Such a creative idea. I know a lady :):) who has the same outgrowing issue. And I love your quilt. Bandanas are a good!!! idea.

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  9. Wow. That turned out great!! Hm...

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  10. Very nicely done! And, yes, that happens to me too - I wonder how it works?

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  11. Wow, that is fabulous! Now I wish I knew how to crochet (much better than my current skill level.)

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  12. help please?
    i printed out your transformers hat pattern and now can't find it on your blog.
    mainly i wanted to contact you to ask if you had any known errata before i cast on? please?
    skdrabant at gmail dot com

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  13. You are so clever, and it turned out beautifully. I love the color too.

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