How to alter a wool sweater
Here are some step-by-step instructions on how I turned a boxy vintage cashmere cardigan into a much more fitted and flattering sweater.
My grandmother gave me this gorgeous rose pink vintage cashmere sweater a couple years back and though I’ve worn it from time to time, it was really too big for me and felt really frumpy. I finally took action and could not be happier with the result. It’s very quick and simple. I will no longer sadly put those oversized vintage sweaters back on the rack at Thrift Town.
First, turn the sweater inside out and try it on.
Next, pinch off the extra fabric at the side seams, up through the underarm. You’ll want to gently grade the seam toward the wrist so that there are no sharp angles in your seam.
Baste these seams in place and try the sweater on again to insure a good fit. Look for any gaping at the bust, and raise your arms to make sure the sweater is comfortable.
Machine stitch over the basting and trim, leaving a wide allowance of at least 3/4 inch. Now, if your sweater is old and somewhat felted already (as mine is), you don’t need any special finishing, though you can zigzag stitch the selvedge if you like. Otherwise, I recommend serging to prevent fraying.
Here is my new and improved fitted sweater:
With the scraps that are left over from trimming your seams, you can fashion a fabric rose and sew or pin it to the lapel.
Et voila! I may still change the buttons, as I find them a bit stark. But overall, this is much more wearable.
This is so gorgeous! i don’t suppose you know how to dye cashmere? I have inherited a beautifal cashmere top in a blechy beige colour. Oh for garnet red of simple black!
Em, here’s a post I wrote on sweater dyeing:
http://www.sweetsassafras.org/2008/02/15/straw-into-gold/
I haven’t dyed cashmere myself, but since it too is a natural fiber, I don’t see any reason why it would be different. Though you would need to be very gentle with it!
Actually, I washed a cashmere sweater once and it shrank considerably. I could not block it to stretch it back. So I would be afraid of dyeing cashmere!
Great great idea. I am going to put into effect right away! A bit scared tho b/c you say you should use vintage sweaters. I have some sweaters that are 3 years old….. : ) how can you tell if it is not going to fray?? Thank you
Joshua: Are the sweaters wool? If they’ve been washed enough, they may be slightly felted, in which case you can easily cut them up. Take a very close look at the fibers. If they seem to be clinging and matted together a bit, you’re probably safe. This is going to work best on fine gauge knits, nothing too too chunky.
Hi Sarai, Its beautiful what you have done with the sweater, I had one out on the bed ready to cut but didn’t because I didn’t like the neck line.
What I have done with all the old turtle necks I had laying around, is cut off the neck and cuff band and bottom hem;
then cut the neck down 4″ to make a keyhole and and inch or 2 on the sleeve, then go back and surge the edges while pulling gently to make a riffle look.
The only thing I did different, was to lay the one that fit me just right, folded inside out and just lay it over the larger one cut and surge, takes the time out of pinning and basting, my Home EC teacher may be rolling in her grave, but on a t-shirt fabric it’s very easy.
I’ve revamped most of my shirts this way and just did it last night on some knit dresses my girlfriend gave me 2 sizes too big, the results was very flattering.
I think the trick is to find a pattern that fits just right and use it over and over.
Thank Sarai for the help
Yeah all my sweaters are pretty thick. I think I may have to wait : (
Thanks again tho
Cute!!!
Help! Anyone who knows how to sew a knitted sweater smaller? I lost weight (2 sizes) and have an ll bean nordic wool sweater (love it!). Now too big. Sew with machine or by hand? thread, wool yarn or? Any ideas appreciated…
Thanks, Nancy
can email to- oliversboise@msn.com
Oh.My.Goodness!! How fantastic!!
I have altered the sweater. Pray that I do not alter it further.
This is exactly what I am looking for! I bought a too big sweater on e*bay and it cost forty dollars. I didn’t want to ship it back to England where it came from. Instead I wanted to take it in. Your site is extremely helpful, thank you! I will even make a rose for it, what a great idea!
Thanks much. I wanted to do this to so many sweaters I have but I assumed the yarn would unravel. I did have to look up the term “serge.” I’ll check if my sewing machine has anything like that. Lately, I’ve been taking in my sweaters and jerseys with a few stitches at the waist
How can I shorten the neck on a turtle neck? I find they are so bulky when folded over and prefer just to have it go just under my jaw – just one layer. I’m concerned it would lay weird. Any suggestions?
how do I shorten a cashmere sweater that has ribbing on the bottom? I don’t care if the ribbing goes bye-bye…thanks
Thanks Sarai!
I just altered my boyfriends soft (but too small) sweater to fit me!
Hi Sarai, I’m back with another idea, while in Canada last year my daughter gave me a sweater that had a cap sleeve and was short, just under the breast, and the front was cut just to the side of the breast, like a fitted shawl. I found this to be very warm and just where I needed it the most. I wore it every day over another sweater or over a tank top here in Fla.
I cut it and then ziz-zaged it to finish and to keep from stretching and have used many different types of sweaters.
First I cut off the bottom about 8-10 inches (and use this part as a scarf doubled around the neck), then cut off the neck or binding and finish by rounding the front.
I found this part to be a little tricky as so many sweaters have a twist to them and you just have to try it on to see where it lays right.
I believe this was a fashion from the 40′s I found one made by Bettie Paige, Bette Page I believe was a pin-up girl during WWII
LuckyLolaLady, it sounds like you’re referring to a bolero or a shrug perhaps?
Thank you Sarai, I didn’t know a name for it, a shrug or bolero sounds like what I make.
You know you have been an inspiration to me, I would never have dared to redesign a sweater or cut wool, but oh how I love cashmere and angora any time of the year, cool and warm at the same time.
Lola;~}
I love your stuff!
What a find! Makes me wonder now about those old sweaters I no longer have! Fantastic results..and a wonderful way to recycle! Thanks
This is so great! I know my readers would love this. I tried emailing you but the link doesn’t work. 8( Would love to post this on VSG. Please get back to me.
How beautiful! Now I don’t have to leave the too big sweaters on the rack, either!
This is a great idea, but I have a beautiful sweater dress I bought and would like to make it a long sweater, but I would need to shorten it. It is a stretchy tight rayon/nylon knit. Can I simply surge the bottom and add some kind of edging to make it look like it was made that way? Please help…or I may have to send the sweater dress back (it is too snug over the bottom!) The neck and arms and bodice fit beautifully though. thanks to all who comment!
To answer Cathy’s question, yes you can serge the bottom of a sweater dress to shorten it, but I would almost recomend sewing a thick binding to keep the edge in shape. Hope that helps!
Oh, this is so great, I get a cashmere sweater almost every from either my mom, aunt or grandmother! They are almost invariably cut too big and boxy so I have a stash of beautiful cashmere that I only wear occasionally. I hope that mine turns out as nice as this, I could use a little more help with the sewing instructions!
They have also given me a few turtlenecks that I would like to know how to refashion.
I too, have been wondering the best way to convert the multitudes of beautiful t-neck sweaters that reside in my closet. Some cashmere,wool and others of soft assorted knits. I love shawl and v-neck styles. I have access to a serger. What do you recommend? Thanks. Very glad a came across your site!!!!
Sarai,
How would you tailor a chunky knit sweater–any ideas? I am ready to felt mine and cut them up to make new sweaters a la Crispina Ffrench…but they were lovingly knitted by my mom, who has passed away, and I would rather make them more fitted.
Then I have some commercial chunky knits that are too thick to felt.
Thanks!
I just finished doing this to a big boxy red cashmere sweater last night (just in time for Happy Heart Day)! Thanks for the great tutorial – I can’t wait to pick up some vintage sweaters!
Hi Sassafras! Loved the tutorial!
I featured it on my blog (zanthie.tumblr.com) I will definately be visiting again!!
z.xoxo
What clear and simple directions to turn something old into something new. Your example is lovely. Many thanks!
I came across this when I was trying to find a way to make my school jumper un-frumpy looking and more comfortable. I’m sure that I will enjoy changing it as much as I enjoyed reading this blog. It makes me wonder what other treasure posts you have hidden…
Would this tutorial work on a thick loose-weave knit cardigan?
(this one in fact: http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=3H6L&dir_id=885&group_id=22497&cat_id=22498&subcat_id=22499)
Did you use straight stitch or a stretch stitch for the seams?
I used a straight stitch… my sweater was felted enough that it didn’t require a stretch stitch. It’s held up fine ever since!
Hi. I have yet another sweater renovation that I love. Lay that too tight cashmere turtleneck out on a table. Mark a center line. I use chalk. Cut. This can take up to 2 days because it’s so hard to be brave enough to cut a cashmere sweater. Have a ribbon that matches or contrasts for the front. Fold the ribbon in half widthwise and stitch the top and bottom. Hand baste the ribbon down each side of the front. Sew the ribbon on nicely. I like doing this by hand. You now have a cardigan with a ribbon front and a wide collar. I have done this several times. It works. Jane
gosh, i feel comfortable to do it myself. I have other bits, you make it look easy. Thanks hun
Hi there. I found a wonderful sweater at Goodwill; bought it because of the color and nubbiness of the wool. It’s made from thick yarn that varies in thickness every centimeter; it goes from thin to thick and creates a great variation. Anyway, the yarn is quite thick. It’s too long and has a slightly smaller border at the bottom. I was wondering how I could make this a more trendy cropped sweater that flares out away from the body. Maybe I could add a ruffle of gauzy ribbon at the bottom. Any ideas? Thanks for sharing your own success with us.
Hi Marlene,
If it is a bit felted I would make some bias tape – perhaps silk. Cut and sew the sweater into the basic shape I wanted it to be. Then I would trim the whole edge with the bias tape. Think Coco Chanel. I hope this helps. You could have a very cool little cardigan. A ruffle could be tucked into the bottom edge. Jane
Hello all! I like this forum, i found tons compelling people on this forum.!!!
Large Community, respect all!
Thanks for this! I just wasted (I thought!) a huge amount of money buying a couple of wool sweaters online. Both of them are far too big and I can’t return them. I was about to try washing them in hot water to shrink them! Now I’ll definitely be brave and take the scissors to them (ouch!). Wish me luck.
I googled to find an article like this one, I do not own a sewing machine, unfortunately, or have the space for one; is it possible to hand-stitch the sides?
I was very impressed by your work here, by the way, thank you for sharing.
Lovely site Sarai. My mother in law knit a beautiful jumper for me when I was pregnant with my first child over twenty years ago. It’s a very heavy cotton Lainey Keogh style. (Mum in law was one of her knitters). I have a huge sentimental attachment to it but it’s far too wide and heavy and the colours are dated. Three bands of moss green, white and coral. I was thinking of chancing using Dylon Intense Violet to give shades of purple but don’t know what to do about narrowing this lovely hand knitting. I’d be grateful for suggestions.
I bought a chunky knit sweater, even though it was too big, because I fell in love with the deep green color. I measured, basted and then took in the side seams and sleeves with my machine. Although my machine zig-zags it does not have serger capability. I wasn’t sure if just a zig-zag stitch would be sufficient to keep the seams from unraveling so I decided to leave the seams uncut. This leaves me with a noticeably bulky seam that’s uncomfortable to wear.
I would love to read any suggestions you might have.
Thanks so much Sarai