How to make a sweater
dress out of an old wool
sweater.
start with a wool sweater
• start with a wool sweater
• felt by washing in machine and drying in dryer
• cut out label
pin pattern onto sweater
• pin pattern through both layers of sweater
• allow seam allowance where needed
• avoid making underarm seam part of top if possible
cut top from bottom
cut seams out of bottom
• turn inside out
• cut side seams out of bottom portion
pin and measure
• pin raw edges over
• measure shoulder straps
sew and iron
• sew edges down
• iron when done
• measure or eyeball where you want to place a pleat (I use the inside collar as a reference)• pinch and pin that mark
pinch and pin
pinch and pin x 3
•pin 3 folds on each side
• hold the 3 folds together (picture 1)• turn over and separate the folds (picture 2)• pin for sewing (picture 3)
pin the pleat
1
3
sew top to bottom
• lay top over outside pleats
sew top to bottom
• turn over so pleats appear as above• sew together
should look like this
• after you are done sewing and you take the pins out it should look like this
now sew on back bottom
• just pin on and sew
• should look like this when done
lay flat and cut excess
• lay flat and line up underarm seams
• cut excess fabric from side seams
sew closed
• turn inside out, pin sides and sew them closed
• sew in new label
• voila - new sweater dress!