The story of the remixed {and reworked} Land's End cardigan.
One of my new favorite pastimes is perusing the wardrobe remix group on Flickr. I mean, how great is that? So many ideas, so much style, so inspiring. Two of my favorite remixers are Graygoosie (who lives here in Southern California!) and Becktress, who is Green Kitchen's sister. Somehow, through them, I found Lorimarsha, who is the supreme remixer and reworker of all garmentry. Granted, it's what she does for a living, but take a look at her designs, they are amazing!
You can also check out the Wardrobe Refashion blog - lots of inspiration and creative ideas! I just found it and I love it!
And I started to think about some of the items in my wardrobe that I liked elements of, but didn't wear often because there were other elements I didn't like. For instance, this green cardigan I bought a couple of years ago from Land's End. It's one of the fine combed cotton twinset cardy's, it's my favorite color (right now), but I mistakenly bought it a size too big, then washed it in the hopes it would shrink all over. It didn't. It only shrank in the arms. So I started rolling them up. But it was still too long.
Boring, boring, boring! So, I decided to rework it. I figured, I couldn't really ruin it, right? I started by removing the buttons, and found some lace I had from another project idea that never happened.
I cut and pinned the lace to the front and stitched very close to the lace edge (not easy since there was a tiny scallop), and back up the other side (which also had a scallop - I ended up going straight up about 1/8" in).
It was still too boring.
Then, I thought, 'what if I cropped it?' The only problem would be the unraveling of the yarn (small problem, right?!). I don't have a serger, nor do I know how to operate one (confession number one). BUT, I remembered that Kelley does have a serger, and knows how to use it! So, I ran over there and put her to work (Again. That poor girl. If she's not teaching me how to crochet, she's sewing for me. Ack!). We measured, we cut, we serged (well, she measured, cut and serged). Thanks again Kelley!
Then I sewed a band of grosgrain ribbon along the bottom and sleeves where we had cut and serged.
Pressed it under and slip stitched it (by hand - I never hand sew...hate it.)(still do).
I thought the bottom was a little swingy still, so I did a little 1" pintuck on the outside of the arms, and sewed a vintage button on for a little decoration.
Which gave me another idea; I was going to do something else to the front, which I still thought was too boring. Remember last week I had Kelley teaching me how to crochet flowers? Well, I was going to sew on little crochet flowers, but I wasn't happy with the way they looked, and didn't want a bunch of different colors. I wanted something subdued and simple, but classic, with an artsy twist (I'm a simple girl after all...) Then I remembered that great Adorn Magazine cover, with the buttons sewn on the collar of a sweater! Perfect! I had a bunch of vintage white buttons that I had bought on eBay years ago for another project that never happened...and layed them out on the sweater until I was happy...
Then I couldn't figure out how I was going to mark exactly where they were so I could sew them on. So I took a pin, put it through the button hole, and gently lifted the button. The pin held my place, while I marked in chalk where to sew the button.
My chalk dots were pretty too...
I sewed on the buttons (by hand, have I mentioned how I dislike hand sewing? I still do.) and then added a hook & eye closure to the top. It's finished! My first reworked garment!
I think I have another boring sweater somewhere...
I love it! Sounds like you'll be investing in a serger soon, huh?
This is definitely your style. Congrats.
Posted by: Shari | July 25, 2007 at 07:33 AM
This is such a great transformation. And now you've made me want a serger, because - well, imagine the possibilities!
Posted by: chez shoes | July 25, 2007 at 07:34 AM
Owh Wow!!Now that is clever. I dont think i would even think of doing that. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: feli | July 25, 2007 at 08:13 AM
It's gorgeous! Such clever ideas.
Posted by: June | July 25, 2007 at 08:21 AM
Very clever!
Posted by: pam | July 25, 2007 at 08:37 AM
carrie, i love it! going to look in my closet when i get home because i think there is a black sweater in there that could use some kind of fun treatment too!
Posted by: erin | July 25, 2007 at 08:59 AM
that is super adorable! See, this is why crafters have to deal with what I like to call 'the curse of the crafter' you HAVE to hang on to ALL those little crafty tidbits, even if you have 5 big tubs filled with them, because you just NEVER know when you need them!
Posted by: kiona | July 25, 2007 at 09:19 AM
Congratulations on a job well done! So beautiful and fun!
Posted by: Barbara | July 25, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Perfect! What a great remix for a plain, boring sweater. I hope you don't mind if I copy that bit with the vintage buttons on the sleeves - pure genius!
Posted by: Mary | July 25, 2007 at 10:16 AM
look at you! this sweater is sweet! ... and now I wish I could wear green. :o( makes me look like death warmed over.
Posted by: laura dodson | July 25, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Oh that was fun.. The lace trim was a wonderful touch and the final product is just darling.
Posted by: deb | July 25, 2007 at 11:51 AM
Well, isn't that cute!
Posted by: beki | July 25, 2007 at 01:19 PM
the sweater is now stunning! great work. i love your banner, too.
Posted by: Jessica Hood | July 25, 2007 at 01:48 PM
That is so cute! I also hate hand sewing, but I would even hand sew if the final result looked like this! Thanks for sharing the project...I'm going to go look in my closet for cardigans that I can transform.
Posted by: Sharon | July 25, 2007 at 05:27 PM
So neat! I have a bunch of those LE sweaters too :D. The cropping idea is great and I love the pin tick on the sleeves. Tres coolio.
Posted by: jean | July 26, 2007 at 02:50 AM
Love the new sweater. I'm so impressed and inspired! I have a few (dozen) of those lying around- desperate clothing buys when I had to come up with dressy work clothes 5 days a week. (And I just got a new serger- jealous?) Hate hand sewing too- so inefficient.
Posted by: j. caroline | July 26, 2007 at 07:37 AM
So creative! I love it. I need to look into my own closet for something to refashion.
Posted by: Lorrie | July 26, 2007 at 12:34 PM
I am so impressed. That looks great!
Posted by: Lallee | July 26, 2007 at 02:27 PM
that*is*adorable!
Posted by: kim | July 26, 2007 at 09:53 PM
What an adorable sweater I love it!!! Now when I want to get rid of sweater cardigan I will know what to do with it Thanks
Jen
Posted by: Jennifer | July 27, 2007 at 06:23 AM
Brilliantly darling!! (Off to rumage through goodwill bag now)
Posted by: jona | July 27, 2007 at 10:59 AM
What a grand change and beautiful.
Posted by: Maureen | July 28, 2007 at 09:29 AM
just beautiful!
Posted by: Andrea S. | July 28, 2007 at 09:37 AM
FRICKIN' ADORABLE, Carrie! Can you remake a bunch of my clothes?
Posted by: Lisa Braithwaite | July 28, 2007 at 05:41 PM
Thanks for sharing the flickr group, I haven't seen that one yet. I love the remix you did, it looks awesome. Look at how many more clothes we all would have if we took the "remix plunge"!!
Posted by: lucy | July 29, 2007 at 05:09 AM