This is what I should have worn:
Yep, that's right I added a piece - the sweater! I think this wardrobe capsule challenge is very good in the fact that it pushes you to realize that clothing items can be mixed and matched in a multitude of ways and to shake up some of the same combinations time and time again. However, I was so bored!! I needed some more color and pattern (I was so basic in my pickings to downplay the multiple wears of an item during the week). I strive to mix it up all the time and can honestly say I haven't repeated an exact outfit in over two years. So, while I just added one extra item today I think by tomorrow I will be a complete Capsule Failure - I like options, layering and accessories too much to limit myself like this. Big thanks to Jane for coming up with this great challenge though! It taught me I don't do well with limits! :-)
Turtleneck - Meijer, on sale for $6 (Jan. 2010)
Dress - Target, clearance for $12.50 (Jan. 2009)
Sweater - CitiTrends, $13 (Dec. 2008)
Black Belt - NY & Co, on sale for $10 (2008)
Heels - Michael Kors/6pm.com, $55 (Dec. 2009)
Now, about this sweater - I bought it over a year ago and had only wore it once. The pattern of it really spoke to me with its Missoni-esque pattern. However, I had mixed feelings about it. In fact, the first (and only time) I wore it I wrote, "It is one part granny, one party Missoni-esque, one party ugly, one part unusual color mixing, etc."
I saw a picture of Jennifer Lopez this past fall wearing an acutal Missoni Cardigan (below) and it made me think I should turn my sweater into a cardi. After having the picture ripped out of a magazine for 6 months I finally took the 10 minutes and did it last night. I simply cut the front of the sweater up the middle and pressed back the edges with a little Stitch Witch. It actually turned out better than I thought it would, and I've already received a few compliments on it today.
UPDATED: In regards to the comments about fraying - once I cut the sweater open last night I folded back the raw edges and pressed with Stitch Witch to keep the edges folded back and secure so the front of the sweater had a clean edge. Since the Stitch Witch runs from the raw ege of the sweater the fraying is minimal. I snapped this quick picture while still wearing the sweater to show what the raw edge looks like on the inside. Will it last forever? No, but considering I didn't wear it as it was and only dropped $13 on it I'm okay with it lasting for only the few more times I may wear it.
16 comments:
I think you laying today looks brilliant. And I love the idea that you turned a sweater into a cardigan. Very cute.
However, I am going to ask what might seem like the silliest question. Doesnt a knit sweater unravel if you cut it? I love this idea but would have never thought of doing it because I just didnt think you could cut apart a sweater without really bad side effects.
MUCH better as a cardigan. Although I wonder about the unraveling, too! I know a lot of people who recycle wool sweaters they find at thrift stores into wool pants for babies (they're great over cloth diapers). I think they just sew the edges?
I updated the post with a picture and some more info - hope that answers your questions, ladies!
i love this sweater so much converted to a cardi!
thats a little trick i may have to keep in mind when thrifting. ;)
i am slo starting to grow a little bored with the pieces i have been wearing this week, but i think i have been pretty successful with creating outfits that at least look new and different to the people who dont know i am only working with 10 pieces. (well, really just 8 pieces and 2 pairs of shoes!)
i spent some time last night trying on different combinations since i am finally at the point of re-wearing pieces -- many combos "worked" but i just wasnt too excited about them. it did give me a great idea for something i would like to try with my wrap dress another time, when i have a different pair of pants to work with!
I love how you did the cardigan - is it really as easy as it sounds?! I also like how you added more color with the cardigan - looking at my pieces for the challenge I decided they weren't bright enough.
Wow, I'm impressed! Great pattern mixing, too. I'm a sucker for anything Missoni-esque. And I hear you about mixing and matching. Since I started my blog I haven't worn the same combination of items once (although I have repeated garments). Before now, I never would have thought it was possible.
LOVE the sweater/cardigan! Makes me think I need to be a bit more brave about altering clothing. I love the look of a button down under a sweater, but I HATE how the arms look bunched up under a sweater. I always think about just cutting the arms off, but haven't been brave enough to actually do it. Maybe now I will!
it is definitely much better as a cardigan. i really liked it, i was going to go search for one, before i realized that you'd "cardi-d" it yourself!
I love it as a cardigan! I never would have thought to do that... in fact now I'm thinking of all the unflattering sweaters I've dropped off at Goodwill over the years and if this would have worked for any of them! Such a fun idea! I'm with you on the "getting bored" thing, which is why I didn't attempt the capsule challenge - I need to "feel" the outfit I'm wearing or I'm not confident that day.
I love this as a cardi! I would have never known it was a "whole" sweater. Great transformation!
That sweater looks great as a cardi. To avoid fraying, you could iron on some fusible interfacing before cutting. It makes it super easy to fold it over and hem it then also. I recently took a very long cardi and temporarily hemmed it up into a very short one because it went perfectly with a dress I was wearing, but only in the shorter length. For the non-sewists, there's a pic of the fusible interfacing here http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KMoEA0Kgg1I/R0N19AG2xMI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/fECyEuGpg-E/s400/Fuse-WovenSwatch.JPG
Kudos, Kim, for knowing your own style well enough to know when you're feeling boxed in fashion-wise.
I love your mix of stripes--if I saw those two pieces separately I never would have thought they would look good together, but they look great! Also, props to you for transforming that sweater. I love it as a cardigan!
Awesome pattern mixing! I think this sweater looks so much better as cardigan, and it'll be more versatile as well. I had trouble sticking to the rules too. I was really tempted to switch out a couple of things.
Holy cow, that looks awesome as a cardigan! What a great idea to do that. I love how you paired it with the stripes too.
OMGOsh, I HEART that cardigan! It is such a fabulous piece.
love how you did the cardigan - is it really as easy as it sounds?! I also like how you added more color with the cardigan - looking at my pieces for the challenge I decided they weren't bright enough.
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