(image source:www.popularpatchwork.com)
If not, go directly to Youtube and watch the most recent season (You're welcome.)
Every season, they feature a "High Street Remake," If there were an American version, they would probably call it the Mall Remake. Essentially, it is taking a commonly found Ready-to-Wear garment, cutting into it, restyling it, and creating something new and original. I am always amazed by the contestants' creativity. This is a skill I would love to master, but haven't really investigated yet. Until now that is!
I have been wanting to sew up some sweater knit, but haven't been able to find much I would want to wear in my local fabric shops. While going through my sweaters for winter (it has finally gotten chilly here,) I came across a grey marl sweater dress from Old Navy. I never wore it much because the mock turtleneck was uncomfortable and didn't fit well. Oooh, my opportunity for a remake. Spoiler alert; I did not make anything up to Bee standards, but I did change the neckline.
The finished neckline. Sorry I forgot to take a before pic!
Here's how I did it: First, I cut off the offending mock turtleneck. I was careful to keep the neckline high, because I anticipated possible unraveling and that the weight of the knit might pull the neckline down. Then I found center front and center back and marked each with a pin. At center front I cut down to form a slight v. Next, I cut the piece I had removed along the seam so it would lay flat as a rectangle. I cut two strips from the rectangle to form binding strips for the neckline. I joined the two strips using my serger to make one long strip, which I folded in half lengthwise. I placed a length of clear elastic tucked up between the two layers of the folded binding to add strength and reduce stretching. I pinned the binding to the neckline on the right side of the dress, matching raw edges. I started at center back, placing the seam of the binding at the pin. Then I worked forward to the point of the v, stretching the binding piece slightly as I went. When I got close to the v, I estimated where each piece of binding should end then cut the ends of a half inch longer than that point. I serged the two ends together at an angle, then finished pinning the binding. Next, I machine basted the binding strip to the neckline, checked it, then serged it. Finally, I turned the seam to the inside and pressed it down. I tried topstitching a little bit of the neckline with a stretch stitch, but it seemed like it was making the neckline too rigid, so I just left it off. The pressing made the binding lie nice and flat, and it was still flat even after washing. To make a long story short, I basically did the neck just like I would for a tshirt. And it worked.
The wrong side of the refinished neckline
What do you think? Will a sweater restyle be in the works for you?
Xx Piper
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Brilliant idea! I, too, cannot find sweater knit fabric that I'd like to create a garment with. Your post reminded me that I purchased a few sweaters online that are lovely fabric but I don't care for the style on me. I'm going to get to work on restyling these. Carol
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