Quick and Easy Downsize: Waterfall Cardigan
Today’s tutorial will teach you how to take an ordinary shirt and turn it into an extraordinary sweater. I love how simple this tutorial is and how big of a difference the end results make. So stay tuned if you’re looking for your next favorite piece!
Tools and materials:
- Long sleeve shirt
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Sewing machine
Cut your shirt
Take your long-sleeved top and fold it in half - wrong sides together. Measure 15.7 inches from the top of the neckline and cut. Remove the bottom of the shirt (that you just cut off) and lay the top on its back. Now, find the middle point and cut down the middle of the top. (If there are buttons on the top, like on mine, cut them off by cutting around them).
Connect the fabric
Take the bottom of the shirt that you just cut off and lay it flat. Cut along the side seams until you are left with two separate pieces of fabric. Next, align the raw edges of the bottom and the top (so that the hem is facing sideways) and cut the fabric to fit. Place the pieces right sides together and sew along the raw edge. Repeat on the other side.
Downsize the sweater
Turn the sweater inside out and sew along the seams to downsize the sweater. Next, fold the sleeves to your desired length, cut off the excess, and hem the new sleeve. Finally, lay the sweater out flat and cut along the new seam to remove any excess material to finish.
This DIY waterfall cardigan works great for anyone looking to downsize an oversized shirt and sweater. It looks great, is easy to make, and gives whole new life to something that was previously unwearable.
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Meow. What a great idea and beautiful execution.
Super cute, and very clever! One detail - I would have serged the bottom back to look a bit more finished as you did in other spots. Still a terrific upcycle!