my craft room floor is barely noticable under the piles of wool jumpers/sweaters i've been collecting. felting. chopping and sewing! be prepared for me to unleash my obsession in many, many future blog posts! but first up - this funny little old man cardigan i made for banjo...
it was easy, and so satisfying! if you too like to pat yourself on the back for completing a project (from start to finish no less!) after your little people go to sleep at night, then read on!
*i took one little boy jumper/sweater with a too-small neck hole (no way banjo's noggin would go through that!), and the waistband and some scraps from a bigger men's jumper...
*i cut off the neckband and then right down the middle of the sweater...
*then eyeball cut (ie cut general shape then keep trimming until it looks normal - really, who does anything sensible like draw a pattern first when working late at night?) two pockets from the neck of the men's jumper and sewed them to the cardy.
*starting at the bottom of one side, i folded the long waistband strip around the cut edge and sewed using a straight stitch. pinning this first would probably help. keep sewing all the way up and around to the other side.
*using the grey neckhole scraps, i cut 4 strips and secured them to one side to be button loops, and sewed on some buttons (by far the hardest part of the night! do i use red? yellow? an assortment of colours?)
i couldn't wait for the morning to try it on my little boy! arrr! i love it!
...and i'm sure he does too ;)
Beautiful sweater!!! What stone(s) is Banjo's necklace? It's beautiful too!
Posted by: Andria B | February 01, 2011 at 02:20 PM
So Cute! You amaze me everytime!
Posted by: DeVonne LaDue | February 01, 2011 at 02:22 PM
Too cute and no other little guy will have one like it!
Posted by: judy in carefree | February 01, 2011 at 02:40 PM
darling!! you are one talented mama!
Posted by: stacy | February 01, 2011 at 03:33 PM
You legend!!
Posted by: jaz | February 01, 2011 at 03:34 PM
Too cool and might I add that Banjo looks quite dapper!:)
Posted by: Still Lily | February 01, 2011 at 03:48 PM
I don't comment on blogs a lot, and while the timing of this comment might seem suspect, I SWEAR its just because that is the CUTEST and SMARTEST thing I have ever seen! I honestly amaze me!! :)
Posted by: rebecca | February 01, 2011 at 04:09 PM
You clever lady!!! That's the fabbest (it that a word? Now it is)cardy ever!!!
Posted by: louise | February 01, 2011 at 04:10 PM
I need to make one of these for Eric. I love it.
Posted by: Shayna Proctor | February 01, 2011 at 04:18 PM
So cute! (banjo and the sweater) I love your free and easy way of creating. Thank you for inspiring other mommas. :)
Posted by: Jill | February 01, 2011 at 04:32 PM
a brilliant idea! i cannot wait to make one of these for my girl ... really blows open my mind to the possibilities!
Posted by: Lis | February 01, 2011 at 04:59 PM
That is just great...you must have a great stash to be able to pull together the great colour combo?
Posted by: Bron | February 01, 2011 at 05:56 PM
That is a gorgeous little cardi for a gorgeous little boy! What a clever Mama you are x
Posted by: Emma | February 01, 2011 at 06:55 PM
That is adorable - love what you've done with it!
Posted by: Angie | February 01, 2011 at 06:57 PM
You are too clever!!! That is the cutest boy and the cutest cardigan
Posted by: Tracey Hespe | February 01, 2011 at 08:02 PM
that is awesome. really awesome. i am thinking i may have to give this a try! :)
Posted by: Karen | February 01, 2011 at 09:06 PM
BRilliant!!!
Posted by: Georgia | February 01, 2011 at 09:43 PM
amamzing
I wish I could sew like that
Posted by: Cry | February 01, 2011 at 10:02 PM
That is ridiculously cute!
Posted by: Ash Ladd | February 02, 2011 at 01:11 AM
That cardi is so super cute!
Posted by: Fauve van Maanen | February 02, 2011 at 07:14 AM
brilliant! i absolutely adore it! must give this a try for my lil' man...
Posted by: Sylvia | February 02, 2011 at 08:46 AM
making this tonight.... perfect snowy day project
Posted by: anna | February 02, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Very funky!
My nephew had a large head up to two...not like freakishly large or anything...just would simply NOT go into any over-the-head item of clothing that didn't have buttons! So glad to report that he has "grown into his head size" now that he's 3 and a bit :-)
Posted by: Juanita | February 02, 2011 at 12:46 PM
this looks amazing! and not too hard either..
Posted by: Carla | February 02, 2011 at 05:48 PM
In love with your tie dyeing and baby cardi! aack!
Posted by: kristen Van Dyke | February 02, 2011 at 11:27 PM