Tuesday, March 29, 2011

diy: crepe ruffle sweater


This sweater was sitting in my closet lonely and bored. I thought I should lift its spirits with a crepe-ruffle edge to give it new life & ready for Spring. It was surprisingly quick to do and easier than I expected.
1 Choose a fabric that has some texture and is pretty thin
2 Cut two strips of fabric at 4"x 40" or longer depending on length of sweater
3 Iron fabric strips in half so it is about 2" wide
4 Run a wide-stitch... on my machine the stitch was set to 4 and then tension 4
5 Hold the top thread while gathering the fabric so it is evenly ruffled
6 Pin the ruffled fabric to the sweater so that there's 1/4" of the fabric layering overlapping a seam to the left of the buttons on your sweater. That seam is where you will sew so you're stitching isn't seen.
Repeat for the other side of the sweater.
Tip: I ironed the fabric so that one of the layers is shorter than the other so it looks like two layers of ruffles.
I am not a seamstress at all so if I can do it you definitely should give it a try. Plus, your sweater will greatly appreciate it.



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58 comments:

  1. waleskaMarch 29, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    you are so talented, lizzy! i LOVE this :)

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  2. LoriMarch 29, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    how lovely! thanks for sharing!

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  3. MelissaMarch 29, 2011 at 12:46 PM

    I LOVE this! I have some fabric that is just like this, actually, that I was supposed to make into a dress. :) Thanks so much for the idea!

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  4. Carol W.March 29, 2011 at 12:46 PM

    super cute update to the sweater. TFS

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  5. StephanieMarch 29, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    very pretty! I recently learned how to use my sewing machine, I can't wait to try this :)

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  6. Tabitha@InspiredByGivingMarch 29, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    Great idea!! Did you use fabric from another shirt or just fabric on hand? I have a few shirts like that fabric that are too big and they just sit in my closet, but I love their color!!
    You are truley a creative genius!
    Rock it girl!

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  7. ToriMarch 29, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    Totally reminds me of something I saw at downeast but two tone and super cute! You are one talented gal! :)

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  8. Angie BlomMarch 29, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    Oh I just love it.. and the hit of pink is wonderful.

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  9. sophieMarch 29, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    this is so springy!! love the idea! you make everything look so simple!! I love how humble you are!

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  10. AnonymousMarch 29, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    (sigh) This is darling... and you should open an Etsy shop with things like this for people like me with no time to do this ourselves!

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  11. Ann MarieMarch 29, 2011 at 1:18 PM

    Oh come on! How stinkin cute is that little sweater????!!! Love it!!!!!

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  12. UnknownMarch 29, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    SO SO SO Creative!!! Your sweater is adorable... thanks for the tutorial... now I just need a sewing machine... DI here I come...

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  13. amytangerineMarch 29, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    adorable!

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  14. Renee ZwirekMarch 29, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    so pretty!

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  15. AnonymousMarch 29, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Oh my goodness I am in love!! So beautiful!! This is also my kind of stuff... easy peazzy!!

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  16. Unused AccountMarch 29, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    THAT is seriously cute.
    And so are YOU.

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  17. kristinaMarch 29, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    i'm in love! definitely making this!! thanks!

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  18. nicoleMarch 29, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    oooo i love this! sooo cute!

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  19. MegMarch 29, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    oh my i love this! i tried this same thing not so long ago but it did not turn out nearly as cute.... i think i am going to try again!

    hugs

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  20. angie worthingtonMarch 29, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    So CUTE!!!
    Question: Does the ruffle go all the way to the bottom of the sweater?

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  21. StephanieMarch 29, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    What a lovely addition! So cute!

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  22. AnaMarch 29, 2011 at 6:13 PM

    Loved it. Thanks for sharing.

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  23. ValerieMarch 29, 2011 at 6:29 PM

    Super cute! I might have to give a few of my blah cardis a make-over.

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  24. MaryMarch 29, 2011 at 7:45 PM

    Such a great way to make sweaters more fun! Thank you for sharing the how-to :)

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  25. Kim WoodsMarch 29, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    About 8 years ago I worked in a corporate office that was always hot or cold so I had literally 40 twin sets! That is all I wore! In the time in between I got rid of most of them because I was horrified by the number and for a bit wore more jackets than sweaters. I do still have some lovely, lonely sweaters I might be able to jazz up with this idea but if I had this idea just a wee bit earlier...watch out! Ruffles galore!

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  26. lizaMarch 29, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    very pretty... i love your idea of giving an 'edge' to your sweater =)
    thanks for sharing... c",)

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  27. PearlMarch 30, 2011 at 2:03 AM

    Thats really adorable Liz!
    I love that coral pink color too!

    ♥
    Pearl

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  28. dmoraimaMarch 30, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    I like that, so cute...

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  29. LibbyMarch 30, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    Great idea! Beautifully executed and modeled.

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  30. krystel/bob376March 30, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    wouahhh c'est juste trop trop beau !!

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  31. TamdsgnsMarch 30, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    I love this! I have a few sweaters I wanted to upcycle and just couldn't decide how. I love this and I am surely going to try this!!!! Such a great idea, I love the way the fabric is inset so I don't have to button sweater(still working on losing my weight).

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  32. sharon gMarch 30, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    How do you keep the edges from unraveling since you didn't stitch them or anything? I'd love to transform a sweater, but wouldn't want it to unravel....

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  33. SheilaMarch 30, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    So Lizzy! Spring is in your heart.
    Sweater is happy, light and ruffly just like you. I bet the girls want a mini version too.
    Keep em coming, love the idea!

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  34. Nicole Underwood GonzalezMarch 30, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    adorable! I need to do this!

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  35. curlyqmosaicsMarch 30, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    What a great way to fancy up a sweater! Love the frills...so fun & fabulous!

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  36. RevlieMarch 30, 2011 at 12:46 PM

    this is gorgeous! can you please inform me about prices & possibilities of sponsoring on your blog, can't seam to find a link or email. revlie.schuit [at] gmail.com thanks!

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  37. Playing with PaperMarch 30, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    So creative!! Great idea and so pretty!!!

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  38. MarionMarch 30, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    So cute!!! Absolutely love this idea and will be sure to steal it :)
    You are so wonderful - talented, funny, creative, sweet... thanks for sharing with us!

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  39. Ella SwanMarch 30, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    This is such a cute idea - can't wait to make some myself as I have tons of those sweaters!

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  40. RosamerlizaMarch 30, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    Ciao! Lizzy sei bravissima sia a scrapbooking che nel cucito creativo...Fantastico e chic maglia! Dall'Italia con affetto ROSA!!

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  41. Charin AdamsMarch 30, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    You clever girl :) Love it!!

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  42. Wati BasriMarch 31, 2011 at 3:30 AM

    awesome idea girlie :)

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  43. AleMarch 31, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    Awesome, love it!! Thanks for sharing Liz!♥

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  44. Jen AvilaMarch 31, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    Adorable! Thanks for sharing. :)

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  45. AmyApril 1, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    I love this! What a fab idea- thanks for sharing!!

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  46. AnonymousApril 1, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    Brilliant and beautiful...

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  47. BApril 1, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    What a great idea - thanks for sharing!

    ~ www.billiemonster.com ~

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  48. UnknownApril 1, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    wow!so cute makeover!i will definitely try to do it on a sweater of mine! :-)

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  49. Steph JacobsonApril 2, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    So cute! This will be perfect to go with the skirt I'm planning on making for Easter (but of course haven't had time to make yet).

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  50. RaquelApril 2, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    Too cute! I wish I had those talents, I just super glued some hems lol

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  51. christyApril 2, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    I would have never even considered changing a cardigan like that and I LOVE the idea. How sweet and creative!

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  52. AnneApril 2, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    So cute!

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  53. AnneApril 3, 2011 at 7:55 AM

    This is so beautiful! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-crepe-ruffled-cardigan/2011/04/03/

    --Anne

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  54. UnknownApril 3, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    So precious! I love this idea ~ thanks for sharing!

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  55. jamieApril 5, 2011 at 4:07 PM

    fabric in hand and i am doing this. love it. i am afeared now that many of my lonely tops and sweaters will not be safe.

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  56. angieApril 6, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    This turned out really cute! What a simple way to revitalize your wardrobe. Great job!

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  57. RobinApril 7, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    Too cool. Going to the thrift stores tomorrow to find some old sweaters. I am going to try this on a pullover sweater and cut an opening down the front then ruffle it. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  58. his little ladyApril 21, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    What a brilliant idea! Too cute. Thanks for sharing!

    http://ericplustanya.blogspot.com

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