Tutorial: Make a Sweater Better as a......Shrug

Make a Sweater Better as a......Shrug!

Remember the leftover sweater from the last tutorial?

If you didn't make the legwarmers from the last tutorial, all you need to do to get started is cut the arms off your sweater, leaving enough to form a short sleeve!

Cut the band off the bottom of the sweater.

Put the band aside we will be reattaching it shorty.

Find the middle of the front and cut open just the front layer.

 Try the sweater on and decide where you want the bottom to reach.  Don't forget to include the added length of the bottom band we are going to reattach.  Cut your sweater, and you might as well save this piece too because I will probably think of something to make with it later.

Reattach the bottom sweater band back onto the sweater.  To do this, place the band upside down so cut edges are touching the cut edge of the sweater.  Right sides should be touching.

The best way to sew this back on if you don't have a serger like me (but I'm saving my money!)  Use a zig zag stitch first.  Then, when both pieces were attatched, I ran a straight stitch down the length really close to the outer points of the zig zag stitch.

It should resemble something like this.  If you have a lot of lumps and bumps they will usually iron out nicely as long as you sewed a straight line.

Find some coordinating ribbon and cut 4 strips the length of the front of your sweater plus 2 inches.

 

Sew the ribbon strips onto the front opening of your sweater by pinning one on the right side and one on the wrong side and sandwiching the cut edge of the sweater in between.  Tuck the ends inside themselves.  It's important to not stretch the sweater when you are pinning or stitching.  It will cause you to have lumps and bumps that you can't iron out.  Stitch down both edges of the ribbon.   

To finish the arm holes, measure your bicep.  If your bicep is bigger than your sweater arm hole opening, cut 2 ribbons the size of your bicep plus 1 inch.  If you sweater arm hole opening is bigger than your bicep, cut 2 ribbon the the size of the opening.  (my sweater was bigger than my bicep, arm curls anyone?)  

I'm only finishing off the outside of the sleeve, because you aren't going to see the underside, like you possibly could with the front opening.  But if you are so inclined to finish it on the inside too, it's your choice.

Pin your ribbon onto the arm opening starting at the armpit.  

Continue pinning around the arm opening, and finish at the armpit.  Fold your edge under.  Careful not to pull and stretch the sweater or you will get unwanted lumps and bumps.  

Sew around both side of your ribbon.

All done!  I think this would look lovely with a pin made out of repurposed leather.  Gonna write that one down for another time.