Cut up sweaters

I have a secret to tell you.  

I often cut open my pull over sweaters.

Maybe it's the gift of my full figure, but I just feel better in cardigans.

Shopping at Marden's and TJ Maxx often affords me the luxury of

a cashmere or fine wool sweater, but beggars can't be choosers, more often than not

they are crew necks.  So I started to cut them up the front to make them cardigans.

Sometimes I put ribbon on them, but often I just let them roll into an edge of their own.

Except this morning while doing this, I went right thru the back with the scissors!

Fear not, now I can patch it and make it even more uniquely my own.

Here is the mistake slit, and some vintage fabrics for audition

I picked a bold floral graphic, which seemed to really blend 

with the burnt orange of the sweater.  Once I cut the patch to the size

I wanted, I pressed a quarter inch fold all the way around.

 Placed, I stitch it all the way around, using a walking foot,  

within the pressed fold

Once patched, I flipped the sweater over and whip stitched the actual

slit so it wouldn't spread.

Pretty good,

but just so it seemed a bit balanced I decided to put another

patch on the front.

I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, but it is so fun to not follow

all the rules.

Have a great Monday!

Kyra