#RefashionFriday Cardigan to Open Back Sweater

Happy Friday! Here is New Jersey, we are prepping for a snow storm - which in Jersey could be a dusting or a full on blizzard. There's really no telling what we are going to get, but I'm hunkered down with a bunch of sewing projects and wedding planning!

When I'm working from home, my every day look in winter is jeans and a sweatshirt. I rotate three pairs of jeans, and about 5 different sweatshirts. Comfort, but still put together enough if someone knocks on my door. But sweatshirts can get a little boring, and I had this cardigan just sitting around so a new refashion it is!

I haven't worked with knits in awhile, and Janome sent over their new AirThreader a few weeks ago that I wanted to test out! I personally own the Janome New Home 8002D serger that I've been using for a few years, and love it to pieces, but the part I dislike most about serging, threading! The Janome AirThreader is so easy to thread, I thought it was too good to be true. But after one quick video on youtube, I was threading in no time! I can't believe how easy it is, and it will be a sad day when this machine goes back to Janome!

Onto the refashion!

For this refashion, all you need is an old cardigan! This one came from my dad's closet, (which came from my Grandpa's closet!) and at a size Large, it was more material than I needed, but this refashion would work best with something a little bigger than your size. The trick to this refashion is turning the back into the front! I have a youtube video showing the process, and to break it down, here are the steps!

https://youtu.be/XOcp5dWy9Fs

1- Cut off button placket.

2- On the back of the cardigan (which will become the new front) cut a scoop neck, about 2" down in the center front.

3- Cut off bottom ribbing, save for later. If you have front pockets, cut right above taking pockets off.

4- Using a serger (or zig zag stitch on your sewing machine) finish raw edges, and re-attach ribbing to new hemline.

5- On the new back of the cardigan, fold "neckline" 1/2" and stitch, giving you a clean edge.

6- To finish bottom of sweater, overlap one edge over the other, about 3", or however tight you wish to make your sweater.

7- Stitch the overlap, and stitch as far up as you want your back to overlap. I stitched until the natural curve of the neckline, but for more drape, stitch less, for more coverage, stitch more. You may need to pin and try on for this step, to get the fit even.

8- If needed, hem the sleeves. I wanted to keep the original wristband, so I measured how much of the sleeve I would need to take out to sew the wristband back on. I took out 3".

9- Cut off wristband and extra sleeve length. Re-attach wristband, making sure to spread fabric evenly.

10- Optional: Using one of the cut off sleeve portions, create your back band. Fold fabric right sides together, lengthwise and stitch long edge creating a tube. Turn right side out and press.

11- Try your sweater on to determine where to pin back band. Stitch down and you are done!

I decided not to re-size the full sleeve because I like my athleisure larger and comfier, and didn't see the need to make the arms skinnier.

It even looks cute with a sports bra!

Open back sweaters are a huge trend in athleisure right now, and there are so many cute versions!

{All images from Pinterest, links are either broken or spam sites, but look up 'open back cardigan' for even more inspo!}

I'll be talking more about the Janome AirThreader in the coming months, but for my first into project, it was a breeze!

And here's a quick tip for sewing with lighter weight knits- turn your presser foot tension down to keep the knits from getting wavy! The lighter the presser foot, the easier the fabric feeds through!