Hi all – happy holidays from It’s Always Autumn! Because it’s been a busy month for all of us I decided to share an extremely simple sewing project today. I’ll show you how to turn a plain cardigan into a party-worthy sweater with some pretty gold trim.
This is super easy and makes a big difference in the look of a sweater. I especially like how gold looks on black, so I used this cardigan I thrifted a few months ago. I found the gorgeous gold lace trim at Joann’s. It was pretty pricey at $15/yd, but I used a half off coupon and got 3/4 of a yard for just over $5.
NOTE: be sure the lace you choose can follow the curve of the neckline and still lay flat, as you see in the photo below.
Start by pinning the lace around the neckline of your cardigan, then try it on to see if the lace lays flat. Adjust if needed (if your sweater is on the small side and you want to button the top button you may need to repin the lace while stretching the neckline just a touch). I cut the lace so it came close to the top button on one side and the buttonhole on the other. I dabbed just a tiny bit of fray check on the cut edges (careful not to get any on the sweater itself) and let it dry.
Then I sewed the lace trim to the sweater using a straight stitch on my machine (and matching thread). I ended up sewing around it twice – you can see the stitch holes in the photo above – but that may not have been necessary. Then I grabbed a needle and hand tacked the cut edges in place with just a few stitches each. The whole thing was easily completed in less than half an hour (plus a little drying time for the Fraycheck). A nice, easy project to start out the new year.
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It looks very professional! Nice job!
Fun look!! I've linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-add-gold-trim-to-a-plain-cardigan/2013/12/27/
–Anne
Gorgeous! Quick question – did you tack down the points of the trim, or just the cut ends? Thanks for the tutorial!
I had planned to tack down the points of the trim, but in the end I decided not to. I was worried that if I tacked them all down, then when I wore the sweater and moved around they might get stretched and/or bunched up. When I wear it the trim lays nicely even without tacking. Thanks!
Can you wash it?
As long as you purchase washable trim you'll be able to wash the sweater! I plan to lay mine flat to dry, however.
love the silhouette giveaway contest!
Love the silhouette giveaway!
SO cute!!
That is so clever and cute as heck love it!