How to Make a Sweater Coat Out of Vintage Sweaters

Cut up your old sweaters and make them into something new.

Most people who sew have a collection of old sweaters in their closets that they never wear. You can refashion these sweaters into a new sweater coat for fall. Fulling the old sweaters in the washer and dryer before you cut them up and sew them makes them ravel-proof and warmer. Your new sweater coat will be nice addition to your wardrobe that's also warmer than your old sweaters.

Things You'll Need

• Four or five old wool sweaters
• Washing machine
• Dryer
• Tracing paper
• Sharp scissors
• Sewing machine
• Sweater coat pattern

Instructions

Fulling the Wool Sweaters

1. Select some old sweaters from your own closet or from a thrift store, making sure they are coordinated in color and pattern. The sweaters don't have to fit because you are going to cut them up to make the pieces for the sweater jacket. They should be made out of wool so they will full properly in the washer and dryer.

2. Fill the washing machine with hot water and detergent. Put the sweaters in. Agitate for five minutes, then check the progress of the fulling. If the knitting has tightened enough to seem resistant to raveling, remove the sweaters. If not, full another five minutes and check again. Continue until the fulling has reached the desired stage. Spin the soapy water out.

3. Rinse the sweaters in cool water in the washer. Spin the rinse water out. Inspect the sweaters. If they seem fulled enough, dry them on a line. If not, put them in the dryer and dry on low. This will full and fluff the knitted wool further.

Cutting Up the Vintage Sweaters

1. Choose a sweater coat pattern that has simple lines, such as Kwik Sew 3721. Lay the pattern out on a floor or large table and trace the pieces along the lines for your size onto the tracing paper. If there are any pieces that are to be cut on the fold, such as the back or sleeves, make a full-size pattern piece as large as the whole back or sleeve for that piece.

2. Cut the sleeves off the vintage sweaters and set them aside. Cut off the neck binding. Cut the front and back apart at the side seams. If using cardigans, you might want to keep the front and back attached for now, if you can lay the back and front pieces out flat. You also might need to cut the sleeve underarm seams later.

3. Check to see if you can use any of the old sweater sleeves for the new sweater coat. If so, do not cut these sleeves along the underarm seam. Set them aside to use as sleeves for the new coat. Cut the other sleeves along the underarm seam.

Piecing the Fabric Together and Cutting Out the Pattern

1. Lay the back pattern piece for the new sweater on the floor or table. Lay a piece of old sweater underneath it. If the old piece is big enough, pin the back pattern piece to it and cut it out. If it is not big enough, find another remnant and pin it to the first remnant to make a new piece of fabric to cut the back out of. Take these two pieces to the sewing machine and sew them together using a straight stitch. Cut the back pattern out of this pieced-together fabric.

2. Lay out the front pattern for the sweater. Slide pieces of the fulled sweater fabric under the pattern pieces to see if any of them are large enough to cut out a front. It's fine to turn the pieces this way and that to make them fit the pattern. You don't need to worry about the "grain" of the fabric. Sew remnants together until you have pieced fabric large enough to cut out the two fronts. Pin the front pattern to the pieced fabric and cut it out.

3. Piece remnants together to make fabric for the sleeves if necessary. It's good to make handy patch pockets for your sweater coats as well. The ribbing pieces from the old sweaters can be pieced together to make the trim for the new sweater.

Sewing the Sweater

1. Pin the front pieces to the back piece at the shoulder, right sides together. Stitch using a straight stitch. If the raw edges look fragile, finish them with a zigzag stitch. Usually the fulling process makes that unnecessary.

2. Pin the front band or facing to the front cardigan pieces and around the neckline. Stitch with a straight stitch. Press the seam toward the body of the coat. Top stitch the seam down, 1/4 inch from the edge.

3. Pin the sleeve cap to the sleeve opening. Sew with a straight stitch. Finish the seam if necessary.

4. Pin the front to the back at the side seams, right sides together. Pin the underarm seam together, right sides together. Stitch with a straight stitch. Finish the seams if necessary.

5. Sew the short ends of the cuffs together. Fold the cuff wrong sides together and press. Pin the cuff to the bottom of the sleeve right sides together, then stitch. Press the seam toward the sleeve and top stitch. Hem the bottom of the sweater jacket.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a belt if you want to. Begin by cutting a long strip 3 inches wide and as long as you want the belt to be. Fold the right sides together. Stitch along the two short ends and most of the long end, leaving a gap to turn the belt right side out. Turn and stitch the opening closed. Make belt loops in the same manner and stitch them to the side seams.

• Cotton and synthetics don't full well. Trying to cut up a sweater made of these fibers is difficult because the pieces unravel easily.

References

• "The Sweater Chop Shop;" Crispina ffrench
• "Easy Sewing the Kwik Sew Way;" Kerstin Martenssen