Lovely appliqué cardigan tutorial

Lovely appliqué cardigan tutorial

• 7.07.2010

I thought it was time for another tutorial! Today I want to show you a cute hand-sewing technique you can do to embellish a cardigan with a pretty look for summer.  I was inspired by this lovely thing from Anthropologie:

I don't love the sweater itself all that much, but the flowers on the side are just a piece of cotton hand-sewn invisibly down--I like that idea!  Easy and pretty.  So, I tried it myself--here's the tutorial!

• Take a plain sweater, preferably cotton, that needs a little something extra to make it interesting!  This is an old one from Target.

• Use a fabric that goes well in color and style.  The pinks in the print are close to the pink in the sweater, and it's a fresh summery print for the lightweight cotton sweater.  I have this darling vintage cotton print that I got from somewhere ages ago, probably Goodwill Outlet but I don't remember.  The apple and cherry print cracks me up--pretty sure they're not both in season at the same time, but... okay...

• Carefully, with sharp, sharp small scissors, cut around the design you're going to use leaving 1/4"-1/2" extra fabric that we'll turn under.  If the design is simple, with few bends and curves, I'd use closer to 1/2" than I did.  Add little clips toward the design on all of the curved edges, so you don't get wrinkling when you turn under.

• Carefully press under the fabric 1/4"-1/2", whichever you used when cutting.  You may have to add some clips on the curves and the indents to make it lay flat.

• Position and pin the design on your sweater where you think you'll want it.  I didn't get too creative; I just stuck it where the Anthro sweater had a design, but you could use this technique on the hip of the sweater, or on the shoulder... wherever!
• Carefully whipstitch the design down, making sure to keep all sides of the design flat so it doesn't pucker when it's done.  I caught about three threads of the appliqué with each stitch, so my sewing just barely shows on the top.

Ta-da!

Great to pair with a summery skirt and top for going into air-conditioned buildings!