DIY an Amazing Turtleneck Sweater

Alisa Shay
by Alisa Shay
9 Materials
$10
2 Hours
Easy

If you have been looking for your next fashion DIY, the search is finally over! I decided to draft and sew the most amazing oversized sweater. I love wearing clothes that are comfortable and cozy and this sweater is just perfect! I decided to add an extra element to this piece by making it a turtleneck. If you want to learn how to make the most gorgeous turtleneck sweater, my tutorial is definitely for you! Follow my simple, step-by-step guide and get started on making this awesome DIY sweater in just 2 hours.

Tools and materials:

  • 2 Yards of stretch fabric
  • Paper
  • Ruler
  • Measuring tape
  • Marker
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Serger/sewing machine
Sewing a sweater
Sketch the sweater


To get started on this amazing, easy DIY I sketched out my idea for this sweater. To draft this sweater, I would start from a simple rectangle. This sweater has a drop shoulder which makes it easier to sew. 

Measure
Take measurements and draw the pattern


Next, it was time to get the measurements I would need for this DIY. I started with the length of the sweater. To do this, I measured starting at the base of my neck to where I wanted the sweater to be. 

Add a few inches


I then used a ruler and marker to mark this measurement on my paper. I added a few more inches because I wanted to make the sweater a little bit longer than I had originally planned. 

Measure across the shoulders


The next measurement I took was across my shoulders making sure that I placed the tape on the points where my shoulder ends. 

How to make a sweater


I marked half my shoulder measurement on my paper and then added about 3 inches to it to create that gorgeous drop shoulder. A great tip is to look at a drop shoulder sweater or top you already own and use it as a cheat sheet for drawing your pattern. 

Draft the neckline


Next, I needed to draft the neckline for this stunning sweater. I always mark 3.5-inches to the right and then 2.5-inches for the depth when marking the neckline. 

Mark 1-inch


I then marked 1-inch above the edge of the neckline and 1-inch below the edge of the shoulder line. 

Mark the front and back necklines


I went ahead and marked the front and back necklines on my pattern. A great tip is to draw with a dashed line so that it’s easier to control. I made sure to mark the front and back neckline so that my DIY would go smoothly. 

Connect the markings


I then connected the two 1-inch markings I had made earlier which created the new shoulder line. 

Draw a straight line


Lastly, I drew a straight line from the edge of the shoulder down the length of the sweater. 

Measure the arm


Now it was time to move onto making the pattern for the sleeves of the sweater. I started by measuring loosely around my arm because I really wanted this to be a comfy, oversized sweater.

How to sew a sweater with a sewing machine


I halved my sleeve width measurement and marked it on my pattern. I then drew a curved line from the shoulder to the bottom of the sleeve measurement to create the armhole. 

Draw the length of the sleeve


Next, it was time to draw the length of the sleeve. I made sure to keep the drop shoulder in mind and then drew the length I wanted my sleeve to be, following from the shoulder marking. 

Draw the sleeve edge


For the bottom of the sleeve, I measure around my wrist, added a few extra inches, and then drew half of that measured length. I made sure the line I drew on the pattern was at a 90-degree angle to the sleeve. I then connected the bottom of the armhole marking to the bottom of the sleeve marking. 

Mark a shorter front


For the last detail, I wanted the front of my sweater to be shorter than the back, so I made sure to mark the front a few inches shorter than the back on my pattern. 

Write notes


Finally, I could cut out my pattern pieces and I made sure to mark them for references when working with my fabric. 

Cut the fabric
Cut the fabric


It was finally time to cut my fabric. I always start with the back piece and I add my seam allowance to the fabric as I cut. 

Sew a sweater
Sew a sweater


Once all my fabric pieces were cut out, I could start putting the fabric together. I placed the front and back pieces, right sides together, and pinned the shoulder seams. I love working with stretch fabric! I then sewed the shoulder seams with a serger but you can use a zig-zag stitch for this type of fabric as well. 

Snip the sleeve


Next, I moved on to the sleeves. I folded the sleeve in half and then marked the center that I would be attaching at the shoulder seam. 

Attach the sleeve


I laid my sweater flat and then lined up the shoulder seam with the small slit I had just made in my sleeve with the fabric right sides together. I pinned the fabric together and then serged the pieces together. 

Sew the side seams


I serged the edges of the split hem as well to give the sweater a really nice finish. I was then ready to serge the sides of the sweater together up until the split hem that I had marked with the serger. While I was at the serger, I serged the sides of sleeves together as well. 

Sew a sweater with a sewing machine
Attach the turtleneck


It was time to measure the neckline. I carefully used my measuring tape to measure around the neckline of the sweater. 

Draw the turtleneck pattern


To draft the pattern for this turtleneck, I marked half the measurement I had just made with an added 0.5-inches for the seam allowance. For the length of the turtleneck, I just played around to see how long I wanted it to be until I was happy with the length. 

Sew along the side


I cut out the fabric for my turtleneck, placed the right sides together, and then sewed the side seam together.

Snip the center front


I folded the fabric, lengthwise, and then made a little slit in the center front. 

Snip the front and back centers


Next, I folded the sweater shoulder seam to shoulder seam and made a small slit in the center front and center back of the sweater. 

Pin the turtleneck


I then matched up the two front slits and pinned them together. I matched the back slit with the back of the turtleneck and then serged all the way around. 

Hem the sweater
Hem the sweater


Lastly, I wanted to hem the split hem and bottom of the sweater. This step was very simple with my serger but if you have a sewing machine, fold in the fabric and sew a zig-zag stitch. 

DIY sweater


I am obsessed with this oversized sweater! How would you style this amazing piece? Let me know in the comments below! 

Suggested materials:
  • Stretch fabric
  • Paper
  • Ruler
See all materials

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Comments
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 2 comments
  • Kare4 Kare4 on Dec 12, 2020

    Thank you for your tutorial, I do not have a sewing machine , but now I am interested in trying, very inspirational, for a wanna be sewer!

  • Polly Polly on Dec 13, 2020

    Great job! Impressed with your pattern making abilities. Would love to try making it. I think this turtleneck would look good worn under a vest or make it longer and make a dress!

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