Become a Sweatshirt Makeover Expert

Become a Sweatshirt Makeover Expert

Restyling, revising, and repurposing are trending terms. When you tag on the word sweatshirts, you might think of my friend and Sewing With Nancy guest Mary Mulari. Since the early years of my program being on TV, Mary Mulari has been our resident sweatshirt makeover expert, whose ideas are timeless. During the current repurposed Sewing With Nancy series, Mary and I decided to revisit some of our favorite transformations.

Stripes in Motion

A sweatshirt is an ideal palette for expression. Start with a collection of 2-1/2” fabric strips. With creative stitching, turning, and pleating we’ll show you how to convert a pullover into a cardigan that has visual motion. We call this sweatshirt makeover, Stripes in Motion, a segment we recorded in 2010 that still stands the test of time.

Serge and Twist Sweatshirt

Not all sweatshirts, when restyled, end up as shirts! Take a bolder stance and remove the sleeves of a sweatshirt to create an upcycled vest. The Serge and Twist Makeover features 1” strips cut from the sleeve fabric with serging along the edges.  The idea of serging and then twisting the strips before topstitching to the vest front make for subtle, yet crafty embellishment.

Pink Blossom Cardigan

Adapt one of Mary’s innovative techniques to repurpose a pullover into a cardigan. Then add a colorful blossom and a graceful vine with leaves to the sweatshirt front. It’s a simple addition with great impact and one of our favorite sweatshirt makeovers.

Orient Expression Sweatshirt

Now it’s time for an asymmetrical styling of a sweatshirt. We call it the Orient Expression Sweatshirt. Start with a typical sweatshirt and remove the original neckline and hemline. Throwing tradition out the window, use the bottom ribbing to transform the shape of the neckline ribbing. Curious as to how it all comes together? The solution is—watch online.

Denim Do-Over Sweatshirt

Make a casual sweatshirt even better with the addition of another favorite fabric—denim. Bias strips cut from old jeans trim the neckline, sleeves, and the centers of floral appliqués. Sweatshirt and a beloved pair of worn jeans are all you need to create this Denim Do-Over Sweatshirt!

We hope you’ve enjoyed taking a journey through a few of the Sewing With Nancy archives, highlighting our favorite sweatshirt makeovers. As always, thank you Mary for adding your insights on how to upcycle, transform, and repurpose cozy sweats!

Watch Best Sweatshirt Makeovers (Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.

A Collection of Five Books in One—The Best Sweatshirt Makeovers book

Add plackets, zippers, simple appliqués, and so much more. This collection of five books in one boasts 56 sweatshirt transformations for adults and kids. As an added bonus, the book also features a Sweatshirt Gallery with over a dozen designs chock-full of even more fresh ideas! Full-color photos and illustrations accompany step-by-step instructions and full-size pattern pieces. Soft cover, 116 pages. Only $19.99.

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