Kids Makes
Sweater Hoodies
If you don’t need or want a big, bulky sweater, but you don’t want your arms to get chilly, this little shrug is the perfect in-between garment: warmth for the extremities, without the bulk! This is a great design for a sweater that might have had an unfortunate run-in with food or is starting to come a part at the seams – unintentionally, that is.
GREEN AND WHITE HOODIE
Materials
* Raglan sleeved hoodie sweater with stitched (not overlocked) seams
* Reclaimed yarn or matching thread
* Yarn needle
* Safety Pins
Getting Started
Take the sweater apart at the hood seam. You will use only the hood and sleeves. Save the rest of the sweater for a different project.
Steps to make
1. Create a centre back seam by using safety pins to pin together the top edge of both sleeves (former neckline seams) with right sides together.
Pin the hood to the joined sleeves, matching the centre back of the hood with the new centre back sleeve seam. Try on the new garment to see how it fits. Make any fit adjustments by stretching or gathering the seams. When you are happy with the fit, take the garment off and re-pin the seams so the sides are symmetrical.
2. Hand or machine-stitch the centre back sleeve seam first with the right sides together. Then stitch the sleeve section to the hood as it is pinned. Taper and roll the ends of the hood towards the inside of the sleeves to hide the ends.
HANDY HINT – To prevent the hood from rolling and the seam from being exposed, hand sew a few back stitches from the back through the sleeve and folded edge of the hood, to keep the hood edge flat. (Work the stitches in the back half of the knit stitches so they don’t show on the right side).
VARIATIONS – Cool Cabled Hoodie
The white hoodie is just a bit different from the green one. The sleeves were shorter, so they were stitched to the ends of the hood section. (They don’t meet in the back to form a back seam).
Toasty Turtleneck Shrug
This is another neat idea to keep both your arms and neck warm. Recycle a turtle neck sweater with raglan sleeves into this sporty shrug. This shrug lets you show off a funky T-shirt whilst keeping you warm and comfy.
Materials
- Turtleneck sweater with raglan sleeves (unfelted)
- Yarn taken from the sweater
- Seam Ripper
- Embroidery Scissors
- Yarn Needle
Getting Started
Take part the sweater at the neck and the raglan seams. You won’t need the sweater front or back pieces (again save for a further project). Keep the turtleneck and the sleeves.
Steps to make
1. Slip on the turtleneck and sleeves and safety pin them together so the new shrug fits comfortably. Take off the shrug and adjust the pins so the new seam and sleeves are symmetrical.
2. Lap the sleeves under the neck and hand or machine stitch on the underside along the edge for a smooth flat lapped seam. You might find there is extra sleeve fabric at the neck – this can be trimmed away. A second row of stitching makes a more secure seam.
HANDY HINT: Sometimes, the turtleneck section doesn’t have a seam because it is knot directly into the sweater body. Simply determine the last row of stitches in the sweater body and cut them to release the intact neck stitches.
Further information
This project was taken with kind permission from Search Press and comes from the book Denim Mania by Carmen Webber and Carmia Marshall (ISBN 9780312359911). Denim fans will have a great time working their way through the projects in this super title. There are 25 fun and funky ideas for deconstructing and reconstructing jeans (old or new) into a variety of stylish garments and accessories including jackets, tops, skirts, shorts, bags and belts. This is a very thorough guide with useful information about different types of denim including special finishes and fibres. There is also a handy glossary showing popular styles of jean complete with a guide to selecting the most flattering shape according to figure type. Sewing techniques cover measuring, marking and stitching basics whilst each project includes detailed step-by-step instructions. Those who like plenty of ‘bling’ on their denim will find lots of ideas for embellishing with crystals, appliqué, buttons and trims.
Many of the projects combine denim with other deconstructed garments so this is a great title for those who love to recycle and it’s also an ideal choice for trendy youngsters looking to create individual styles. Published by St Martin’s press, ‘Denim Mania’ costs £12.99 and is available from all good bookshops or contact Search Press on tel: 01892 510850.
